Kelp restaking platform exploited, $293M drained in attack

Attack Overview

Kelp, a liquid restaking protocol built on Ethereum, was the target of a cyber attack on April 18, 2026. The breach resulted in approximately $293 million being drained from the platform, with attackers reportedly seizing 116,500 rsETH worth of assets.

Impact and Contagion

The attack triggered a “cross-protocol contagion” that has impacted at least nine other cryptocurrency protocols. This widespread effect has raised significant concerns about the security of decentralized finance (DeFi) systems and cross-chain bridges.

Response and Industry Reaction

• Justin Sun, a prominent figure in the crypto space, has publicly addressed the incident, urging the hacker to engage in dialogue to resolve the matter.
• Security firm Cyvers has confirmed the severity of the breach and its ripple effects across multiple blockchain ecosystems.
• Platforms such as Binance, MEXC, and ForkLog have reported on the incident, highlighting the vulnerability of cross-chain bridges as a critical weakness in DeFi infrastructure.

Current Status

As of the latest reports, the Kelp platform has paused smart contracts to investigate and mitigate the damage. The incident has prompted increased scrutiny of restaking protocols and the need for stronger security measures in DeFi environments.

來源：https://cointelegraph.com/news/restaking-platform-kelp-exploited-293-million