Artificial intelligence is making sophisticated cyberattacks cheaper and easier to scale, raising new risks for crypto platforms, banks and digital infrastructure.
More than 100 technology, financial and cybersecurity companies, including OpenAI, Anthropic, Microsoft, Google and Cloudflare, have backed an industry warning calling for stronger AI-powered defenses and closer cooperation between governments and private companies.
A Reuters report said the group also wants trusted security organizations to receive greater access to advanced AI models for defensive work.
AI Lowers the Barrier for Hackers
The concern is that AI can automate tasks that once required experienced attackers, including reconnaissance, phishing and movement through compromised networks.
Anthropic found that among 832 banned accounts, the share involving medium-risk or more serious threat actors rose from 33% to 56% within a year.
AI is also being used defensively. A Bitcoin team recently used AI to flag 4,962 potential vulnerabilities across 390 projects in about 30 hours.
Crypto Remains a Major Target
Digital assets are especially exposed because stolen funds can often be moved quickly across borders.
TRM Labs recorded 201 crypto hacks in the first half of 2026, up from 83 a year earlier. July alone saw about $247 million stolen across wallets, bridges and lending protocols.
North Korean-linked attackers have also experimented with locally hosted AI tools to improve phishing and attack automation. Recent AI phishing research shows how these tools can make malicious campaigns harder to detect.
For investors, cybersecurity is becoming part of the broader AI stocks story. Rising AI adoption may support demand not only for chips and cloud infrastructure, but also for security software designed to defend increasingly automated systems.
Bottom line: AI is strengthening both attackers and defenders. For crypto firms, banks and digital businesses, cyber risk is becoming a core financial and operational issue.
