04/15/2026
Bridge Exploit Highlights Cross-Chain Security Risks
A hacker exploited a Polkadot-Ethereum bridge, minting $1.
What happened: A hacker exploited a Polkadot-Ethereum bridge, minting $1.1 billion worth of DOT tokens but only managing to cash out $237,000 due to liquidity constraints and rapid detection measures.
Why it matters: This incident exposes the ongoing vulnerability of cross-chain bridges, which have lost over $2.5 billion to exploits since 2021. The massive mint versus tiny cashout demonstrates how protocol safeguards can limit damage, but fundamental bridge security remains a critical infrastructure challenge.
Source: Decrypt