Bitcoin- and Ethereum-Linked Protocols Lose $35 Million in Separate Exploits
Key Takeaways
- •Three cryptocurrency protocols connected to Bitcoin and Ethereum ecosystems lost a combined $35 million in separate exploits occurring on the same day.
- •AFX Trade experienced the largest breach with approximately $24.15 million drained by attackers.
- •VerusCoin's Ethereum bridge lost roughly $7.55 million, while Bitcoin Layer-2 rollup project B² Network lost approximately $3.86 million.
- •Several affected projects paused parts of their services while security teams investigated the breaches and worked to prevent additional losses.
- •Cross-chain bridges remain among the most exploited components in decentralized finance due to their complex infrastructure connecting different blockchain networks.

Multiple cyberattacks hit cryptocurrency protocols connected to the Bitcoin and Ethereum ecosystems on the same day, causing combined losses of about $35 million across three separate exploits. The incidents reinforced ongoing security concerns in decentralized finance as attackers continued to target infrastructure, bridges, and smart contracts.
Blockchain investigators began monitoring stolen funds soon after the breaches were identified. Although each attack involved a separate project and a different vulnerability, the rapid sequence of exploits showed how quickly security incidents can spread across the digital asset sector.
Three Protocols Report Losses
The largest incident involved AFX Trade, where attackers reportedly drained approximately $24.15 million. VerusCoin's Ethereum bridge was hit shortly afterward, resulting in losses of roughly $7.55 million. A third exploit affected B² Network, a Bitcoin Layer-2 rollup project, which lost about $3.86 million.
Security researchers identified suspicious transactions and started tracing asset movements across multiple blockchain networks. Several of the affected projects paused parts of their services while technical teams investigated the breaches and worked to limit further damage.
The attacks highlighted the risks facing cross-chain infrastructure and decentralized finance protocols, which remain frequent targets for sophisticated threat actors. Bridges present particular security challenges because they allow assets to move between different blockchain ecosystems and often rely on complex infrastructure. Cross-chain bridges have historically been among the most exploited components in decentralized finance, with several of the sector's largest thefts involving bridge protocols.
Security Risks Remain in Focus
The latest exploits add to a difficult period for the digital asset industry. Cybersecurity firms have reported hundreds of hacking incidents affecting crypto platforms in recent months, with infrastructure compromises and wallet breaches representing a significant portion of reported financial losses.
Industry experts have repeatedly said that operational security is as important as smart contract auditing. As decentralized finance becomes more interconnected, attackers are increasingly looking beyond conventional coding flaws and targeting bridge systems, administrative controls, infrastructure weaknesses, and key management practices.
The succession of attacks is likely to renew calls for stronger security standards across blockchain projects. Developers and security firms continue to recommend regular audits, stronger monitoring, and more resilient infrastructure to reduce the risk of future exploits. The incidents also show that cybercriminals remain active and are able to exploit vulnerabilities before affected teams can patch them.