Polkadot confirms security vulnerability on Hyperbridge’s Ethereum gateway contract

April 13, 2026

Polkadot has confirmed the occurrence of an exploit on Hyperbridge’s Ethereum gateway contract, resulting in the minting of over $2 billion in DOT and other tokens. However, the attacker was only able to successfully cash out about $237K. The Polkadot team reassured users that native DOT and the wider Polkadot ecosystem were not compromised by the incident.

Hyperbridge also acknowledged the exploit in a post, announcing that bridging activities have been paused while they address the issue. CertiK initially identified the exploit and reported that the attacker had minted 1 billion DOT, valued at approximately $1.17 billion, but managed to cash out a significantly smaller amount.

Hyperbridge, an interoperability protocol operating on the Polkadot network, specified that the exploit was contained within the Ethereum-side gateway contract and did not impact the overall integrity of Polkadot, including its parachains and native DOT. According to findings from on-chain analyst Verso, the attacker not only targeted DOT but also minted substantial amounts of other assets on Hyperbridge, such as around $1 billion in ARGN, as well as MANTA and CERE tokens.

Interestingly, this incident occurred shortly after Hyperbridge made an April Fool’s joke about a hack, which sparked controversy among community members. The misleading post, suggesting a breach, was swiftly followed by the genuine announcement of the protocol breach, prompting criticism for the project’s communication practices.

As more information becomes available, updates on this developing story will be provided. It is essential to note that this article was created using an AI news system, drawing from publicly accessible sources. The incident serves as a reminder of the ongoing challenges and risks within the crypto space, emphasizing the importance of robust security measures and transparent communication.

Please note that this article is for informational purposes only and should not be taken as financial advice. Stay informed and cautious in the ever-evolving landscape of cryptocurrency and blockchain technology.