A forged message bypassed the Polkadot token contract's admin controls on Ethereum, allowing unlimited minting. Hyperbridge paused operations after the attack — notable because the protocol markets itself as a "full node security" bridge.
The $150 million recovery plan will fund user reimbursements as Drift relaunches with USDt as its settlement asset. Circle faced heavy criticism for not freezing $232 million in USDC that the North Korea-linked attacker moved through its own bridge.
A 9-of-12 council vote moved 30,766 ETH tied to the KelpDAO exploit into a frozen wallet. It recovered funds, and it forced an uncomfortable question about what decentralization actually means on Layer 2.
Choosing the right crypto exchange is no longer about brand recognition. Security architecture, fee transparency, and regulatory compliance now separate platforms worth trusting from those worth avoiding.
