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Crypto Hacker Mints $1.1 Billion in Polkadot via Ethereum Bridge, But Can Only Cash Out $237K
TL;DR
A hacker exploited a vulnerability in Hyperbridge to mint 1 billion Polkadot tokens worth over $1.1 billion, but only managed to cash out $237,000 due to low liquidity.
Key points
- Hacker exploited Hyperbridge vulnerability
- Minted 1 billion Polkadot tokens
- Total value exceeded $1.1 billion
- Only $237,000 was cashed out
- Low liquidity affected cash-out amount
Hyperbridge
In brief
- A vulnerability on Hyperbridge led to the loss of around $237,000 of bridged Polkadot (DOT) on Ethereum.
- A hacker gained access to the bridged DOT token contract, allowing them to mint 1 billion tokens valued above $1.1 billion.
- They then sold the tokens, walking away with only $237,000 on account of low liquidity.
A technical exploit of blockchain token bridge Hyperbridge led to the artificial creation of 1 billion Polkadot (DOT) tokens valued above $1.1 billion—but it only saw around $237,000 in losses due to limited liquidity, the firm reported on Monday.
The protocol, which allows users to transfer funds to and from distinct blockchains—like Ethereum to Polkdaot—said the exploit was as a result of a vulnerability in its proof verification logic. The malicious actor has not yet been identified.
“This flaw allowed invalid proofs to be incorrectly accepted as valid,” Hyperbridge posted on X. “As a result, a malicious message was processed that granted the attacker administrative control of the bridged DOT token contract on Ethereum.”
Once the exploiter gained access to the bridged DOT token contract, they proceeded to mint 1 billion bridged DOT tokens—which exceeded the actual bridged DOT token supply by around 2,800 times. For reference, the total native, non-bridged DOT supply is only 1.6 billion tokens.
This incident was isolated to only bridged DOT on Ethereum. Hence, native DOT on the Polkadot relay chain, parachains, and other assets across Hyperbridge remain completely secure and unaffected.
— Hyperbridge (@hyperbridge) April 13, 2026
The firm and the team behind the Polkadot blockchain confirmed the exploit was confined to only bridged DOT on the Ethereum blockchain.
After minting the tokens, the attacker then sold them directly on decentralized exchanges, making away with around $237,000—the amount that was available in trading liquidity.
Q&A
How did the hacker exploit Hyperbridge to mint Polkadot tokens?
The hacker took advantage of a flaw in Hyperbridge's proof verification logic, allowing them to create invalid proofs that were accepted as valid.
What was the total value of the minted Polkadot tokens?
The minted Polkadot tokens were valued at over $1.1 billion.
Why did the hacker only cash out $237,000 from the exploit?
The hacker could only cash out $237,000 due to limited liquidity in the market for the minted tokens.
