Hackers stole over $31.6 million across two separate crypto bridge exploits targeting AFX and Verus Protocol within hours. Blockaid reported AFX lost $24.15 million and Verus Ethereum Bridge lost $7.5 million, highlighting ongoing security risks for cross-chain bridges.
Hackers stole over $31.6 million in two separate crypto bridge exploits targeting AFX's Arbitrum bridge ($24.15M) and the Verus Ethereum Bridge ($7.5M) within hours. Blockaid detected both attacks, with the AFX incident likely due to compromised validator keys, underscoring persistent security risks for cross-chain bridges.
Security exploits on DeFi bridges are deterring institutional investors, despite stablecoin and tokenized asset growth. Losses from bridge hacks total $328.6 million in 2026, making 'Do Your Own Research' difficult due to system complexity. Institutions demand traditional finance-like controls, potentially undermining DeFi's core principles.
