Previous Module
State Channels Interactive

🌉 Bridge Attack Scenario

Learn from billion-dollar bridge hacks

🚨 Bridge Attacks: The $2B+ Problem

⚠️ What are Bridge Attacks?

Bridge attacks are exploits targeting cross-chain bridges – protocols that enable asset transfers between different blockchains. Since 2021, bridge hacks have resulted in over $2 billion in stolen funds, making them the single largest attack vector in crypto.

💡 Why Bridges are Targeted: Bridges act as honeypots, holding massive amounts of locked assets. A single vulnerability can drain hundreds of millions in minutes, and the complexity of cross-chain communication creates multiple attack surfaces.

💰

$2B+ Stolen

Total funds lost to bridge attacks since 2021

🎯

#1 Attack Vector

Largest source of DeFi exploits by dollar value

Minutes to Drain

Once exploited, funds vanish almost instantly

🎮 Bridge Attack Simulation

Step through a typical bridge attack to understand the four stages of exploitation. Navigate at your own pace to see how quickly a bridge can be compromised.

🌉

Bridge Operating

Step 1/4

Cross-chain bridge facilitates $500M in transfers

Estimated Loss:$0
💡 Navigate at your own pace

🎯 Why Bridges Get Hacked

🍯

Honeypot Effect

Bridges hold billions in locked assets, creating an irresistible target. A single exploit can yield hundreds of millions.

🔗

Complexity

Cross-chain communication involves multiple systems: validators, relayers, smart contracts, and oracles – each is a potential attack surface.

⚠️

Centralization Risks

Many bridges rely on small validator sets or multisig wallets. Compromising just a few keys can unlock all funds.

🐛

Novel Technology

Bridge technology is relatively new and rapidly evolving. Smart contract bugs and protocol design flaws are common.

🚨 Major Attacks (Top 5)

  • Ronin Bridge: $625M stolen via compromised validator keys
  • Poly Network: $611M exploited through contract bug
  • BNB Bridge: $586M from proof verification flaw
  • Wormhole: $325M due to signature verification bug
  • Nomad Bridge: $190M from initialization error

🛡️ What You'll Learn

  • Common attack vectors and exploit techniques
  • How major bridge hacks actually happened
  • Technical vulnerabilities in bridge designs
  • Security best practices and prevention methods
  • How to evaluate bridge safety before using
Section 1 of 5