Hackers targeted a cross-chain bridge on Saturday, draining nearly $293 million from decentralized finance (DeFi) infrastructure, marking it as the largest DeFi exploit of 2026. The attack involved the theft of about 116,500 rsETH, a token issued by Kelp DAO that represents 'restaked' Ether. Kelp DAO announced the suspension of rsETH contracts across its mainnet and several Layer 2 solutions while investigations are underway. The interconnected nature of DeFi protocols led to a contagion effect, impacting at least nine other platforms. Cyvers, a security firm, emphasized the need to address the risks associated with interconnected systems in DeFi, as assets like rsETH are commonly used across multiple services. Aave, which manages over $20 billion in locked assets, took immediate action by freezing markets related to rsETH to mitigate potential losses. The situation could have escalated further, as the protocol was reportedly just three minutes away from losing an additional $100 million. This incident surpasses a previous breach of the Solana-based project Drift, highlighting ongoing vulnerabilities in the DeFi sector.