Verus Bridge Exploiter Returns 4,052 ETH, Retains $2.8 Million Bounty: Onchain Analyst

Exploit Overview

The Verus-Ethereum bridge has been exploited, resulting in an estimated loss of $11.58 to $11.6 million in cryptocurrency. The attack is part of a growing trend of cross-chain infrastructure vulnerabilities in DeFi protocols.

Attack Details

According to cybersecurity firm Blockaid, the attacker used a forged cross-chain message to execute the exploit. The breach occurred between May 17 and 18, 2026, and the stolen funds were reportedly transferred through Tornado Cash.

Exploiter’s Actions

Following the breach, the attacker returned 4,052 ETH to the bridge. Despite this, the attacker retained a $2.8 million bounty, as reported by onchain analysts.

Industry Impact

The incident has raised significant concerns about the reliability and verification mechanisms of cross-chain DeFi infrastructure. It highlights recurring issues in the security of bridge protocols and the need for stronger onchain monitoring systems.

來源：https://www.theblock.co/post/402319/verus-bridge-exploiter-returns-4052-eth