Vulnerability in Hyperbridge Allows $1 Billion Polkadot Tokens Minting, Results in $250,000 Theft
Attacker mints $1 billion Polkadot tokens on Ethereum, ends up stealing just $250,000
Coindesk
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An attacker exploited a vulnerability in Hyperbridge's Ethereum gateway, minting 1 billion bridged Polkadot tokens valued at $1.19 billion but only managing to steal approximately $237,000. The incident highlights ongoing security issues in cross-chain bridges, which can pose significant risks if exploited on deeper liquidity pools.
- 01An attacker minted 1 billion Polkadot tokens on Ethereum, exploiting a flaw in Hyperbridge's contract.
- 02The attack yielded a profit of approximately $237,000 due to shallow liquidity in the Ethereum DOT pool.
- 03The vulnerability did not affect Polkadot's core network or its native token, DOT.
- 04Security firms warn that similar vulnerabilities could lead to larger losses in deeper liquidity pools.
- 05This incident adds to a series of bridge vulnerabilities reported in 2026.
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On Sunday, an attacker exploited a vulnerability in Hyperbridge's Ethereum gateway contract, minting 1 billion bridged Polkadot tokens worth approximately $1.19 billion. However, due to limited liquidity in the Ethereum DOT pool, the attacker only managed to extract about $237,000 in ether. The exploit involved a flawed validation process for cross-chain messages, allowing the attacker to gain admin control over the bridged token contract. This incident underscores the ongoing security challenges faced by cross-chain bridges, which are often seen as weak links in blockchain architecture. The vulnerability was isolated to the Hyperbridge contract and did not impact Polkadot's core network. Security experts caution that similar flaws in deeper liquidity pools could result in significantly higher losses. The attack is part of a broader trend of bridge vulnerabilities, with notable incidents, including a $270 million exploit on the Drift Protocol last month.
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This incident raises concerns about the security of cross-chain bridges, which could lead to greater scrutiny and potential regulatory actions in the cryptocurrency space.
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