Fusaka Upgrade Fuels Record Address Poisoning on Ethereum
The Defiant
by Denis OmelchenkoFebruary 20, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
Ethereum’s recent Fusaka upgrade has significantly reduced gas fees, making transactions cheaper and more accessible for users. However, this improvement has inadvertently created a new challenge: record levels of address poisoning, where scammers exploit thousands of wallets daily due to lower costs and increased network activity. Leon Waidmann, head of research at Lisk, highlighted the paradox in an X post, noting that while transaction fees remain under $1, stablecoin volume surged to $7.5 trillion in a single quarter, signaling unprecedented usage and cheapness.
The upgrade has transformed Ethereum into a hotspot for malicious actors, as scammers take advantage of the lower costs to execute mass address poisoning attacks. This phenomenon raises concerns about security and trust within the ecosystem, despite the positive developments in transaction affordability. Waidmann pointed out that the divergence between fundamental metrics like usage and price has reached an all-time high, underscoring the need for further measures to protect users from these emerging threats.
For crypto enthusiasts and investors, this situation highlights the dual-edged nature of technological advancements in blockchain. While cheaper fees are a significant step forward for accessibility and scalability, they also create new vulnerabilities that require immediate attention. The rise in address poisoning underscores the importance of robust security protocols and user education to mitigate risks. As Ethereum continues to evolve, addressing these challenges will be crucial to maintaining its reputation as a reliable platform for DeFi and Web3 innovations.
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Originally published on The Defiant on 2/20/2026