Crypto attacks have reached record levels in 2026, creating what OpSec.io founder Pablo Sabbatella describes as the worst period yet for self-custody security. Sabbatella warns that conditions will deteriorate further before improving, highlighting significant vulnerabilities facing individual asset holders. The surge in breaches is directly linked to the integration of artificial intelligence in attack vectors. AI-driven tools are enabling more sophisticated and frequent exploits against self-custody solutions, outpacing current defensive measures and raising urgent concerns about personal crypto security protocols.