In 2016, a hacker exploited a flaw in a popular Ethereum smart contract known as the DAO and stole $50 million worth of ether. The hard fork that followed caused a split in the Ethereum community, with some people remaining on the original blockchain and others switching to the new version.

Since then, there have been a number of other high-profile hacks of Ethereum smart contracts, including the Parity Wallet hack in which $30 million worth of ether was stolen, and the Coindash ICO hack in which $7 million worth of ether was stolen.

So, can Ethereum smart contracts be hacked?

The answer is yes. Smart contracts are just code and like any code, they can have vulnerabilities that can be exploited by hackers.

That being said, it is important to note that not all smart contracts are vulnerable to hacks. The vast majority of smart contracts are secure and have not been hacked.

The best way to protect yourself from smart contract hacks is to do your due diligence before sending any ether to a smart contract. Make sure to research the contract to ensure that it is safe and secure.

In conclusion, yes, Ethereum smart contracts can be hacked, but this does not mean that all smart contracts are vulnerable to hacks. The best way to protect yourself is to do your research before sending any ether to a smart contract.