2026's Largest DeFi Hack: Kelp Protocol Breached
Written by Ohris M. Greyoon, Blockchain & Crypto Expert
Source: Coinmarketcap
Updated: Apr 21 2026
- Hack Overview: On April 18, 2026, the Kelp protocol was hacked, resulting in a loss of approximately $293 million, with hackers using the stolen funds as collateral to borrow $195 million from Aave, leading to extreme user frustration and significant disruption across the DeFi market.
- Market Impact: Aave's total value locked (TVL) plummeted from $26.396 billion to $20.114 billion, a loss exceeding $6.28 billion, reflecting a sharp decline in market confidence in DeFi platforms and triggering panic withdrawals from other services.
- Token Price Fluctuation: The price of the AAVE token crashed from around $113 to a low of $86.99 following the incident, currently trading at $93.43, indicating market concerns about the platform's future viability and stability.
- Risk Management Advice: 1inch co-founder Sergej Kunz emphasized that DeFi protocols should move away from shared pool models and adopt intent-centric models to mitigate risk spread, urging users to avoid markets with weak risk management practices to safeguard their assets.
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Technical Analysis for 1INCH
Technical Sentiment Analysis for 1inch Network (1INCH). As of , 1inch Network (1INCH) is exhibiting a Neutral technical sentiment. Our proprietary analysis, which aggregates 6 technical signals, shows that 3 indicators are flashing buy, while 3 are indicating sell.
Momentum Indicators: RSI, MACD & Overbought/Oversold Status. Currently, the Relative Strength Index (RSI) for 1INCH stands at -, which suggests a Neutral condition. Meanwhile, the MACD (12, 26) indicator is at -, providing a Neutral signal for short-term momentum. Other oscillators like the Stochastic Oscillator at - and the Commodity Channel Index (CCI) at - further confirm a - outlook for the crypto.
Support, Resistance & Moving Averages. From a structural perspective, 1INCH is trading below its 60-day moving average of $- and below its 200-day long-term moving average of $-. Key price levels to watch include the immediate resistance at $- and strong support at $-. A break above $- could signal a bull continuation, while falling below $- may test the next Fibonacci floor at $-.
1inch Network (1INCH) Support & Resistance Level
| Name | S3 | S2 | S1 | Pivot Points | R1 | R2 | R3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Classic | 0.0814 | 0.0846 | 0.0878 | 0.091 | 0.0942 | 0.0974 | 0.101 |
| Fibonacci | 0.0846 | 0.0871 | 0.0886 | 0.091 | 0.0935 | 0.095 | 0.0974 |
About 1INCH
The 1inch Network unites decentralized protocols whose synergy enables the most lucrative, fastest, and protected operations in the DeFi space.The 1inch Network's first protocol is a decentralized exchange (DEX) aggregator solution that searches deals across multiple liquidity sources, offering users better rates than any individual exchange. The 1inch Aggregation Protocol incorporates the Pathfinder algorithm for finding the best paths across over 400+ liquidity sources on 12 chains: Ethereum, BNB Chain, Polygon, Avalanche, Optimism, Arbitrum, Fantom, Gnosis Chain, Klaytn, Aurora, zkSync and Base.In just over two years the 1inch DEX aggregator has reached 1M users and surpassed $150B in overall volume on the Ethereum network alone.The 1inch Limit Order Protocol facilitates the most innovative and flexible limit order swap opportunities in DeFi. The protocol’s features, such as dynamic pricing, conditional orders, and extra RFQ support, power various implementations, including stop-loss and trailing stop orders, as well as auctions.The 1inch Wallet is a multichain mobile platform that provides an easy-to-navigate interface with secure storing, transaction, and staking capabilities. This versatile wallet was built from the ground up to streamline interacting with 1inch’s features.The 1INCH token is the governance and utility token of the 1inch Network. 1INCH holders can stake their tokens to participate in the 1inch Network's DAO governance, including the 1inch DAO Treasury management. Also, holders can choose resolvers and earn a part of their fees.With the 1inch Fusion, users can stake 1INCH tokens to receive Unicorn Power (UP), then subsequently delegate their UP to any 1inch Fusion Resolver to start receiving rewards from them. When staking, there is the option to set a custom or preset lock period. User’s st1INCH tokens cannot be unstaked/withdrawn without penalty until the designated lock period expires.In December 2020, 1inch raised $12 million in Series A funding, led by Pantera Capital, with others including ParaFi Capital, Blockchain Capital, Nima Capital, and Spartan Group. The funding round was conducted through a SAFT (simple agreement for future tokens) sale.In December 2021, 1inch has closed a $175 million Series B round, led by Amber Group. Among about 50 investors that participated in the funding event are Jane Street, VanEck, Fenbushi Capital, Alameda Research, Celsius, Nexo, Tribe Capital and Gemini Frontier Fund.
About the author
Ohris M. Greyoon
Ohris M. Greyoon holds a Master’s in Computer Science from MIT and has 10 years of experience in blockchain technology and cryptocurrency markets. A pioneer in decentralized finance (DeFi) analysis, he leads Intellectia’s Crypto News, offering cutting-edge insights into digital assets.
