A bridge transfers your crypto from one blockchain to another. You send Ethereum on Ethereum. Bridge locks it. Mints wrapped ETH on Solana. You can now use that ETH on Solana.
Bridges must verify: 'Did the user REALLY lock their tokens on the source chain?' If verification fails, attackers mint unbacked tokens. This is counterfeiting. $200k+ per exploit.
Auditors test common scenarios. Attackers find edge cases—weird sequences of transactions that testnet never simulated. By the time real money flows, the flaw is live.
Some bridges use DEX-like pools where deposits mint wrapped tokens automatically. If validation is weak, unbacked tokens enter the pool. LPs lose millions.
Multiple validators sign off on deposits. Safer if validators are diverse. Risky if they collude. Still vulnerable if validation logic itself is flawed.
Hold tokens on their home blockchain. Bitcoin on Bitcoin. Ethereum on Ethereum. Solana on Solana. Avoid wrapped tokens and bridges unless absolutely necessary.
Read More →