Aethir, a decentralized GPU cloud network, has successfully contained a malicious attack on its cross-chain bridge contracts. The exploit, which targeted the platform's ATH bridge linking Ethereum to other chains, was detected and halted by the team, who promptly disconnected all compromised contracts. The main ATH token supply on Ethereum remains fully secure and unaffected.
Initial reports from blockchain security firm PeckShield estimated losses at around $400,000. However, Aethir's official update confirms that user losses were limited to under $90,000. The platform credited a rapid response from major cryptocurrency exchanges including Binance, Upbit, Bithumb, and HTX, which assisted by blacklisting identified attacker wallets to help freeze funds and trace the perpetrators.
Aethir is now working with authorities and these exchange partners to track the attackers. The company has committed to announcing a full compensation plan for affected users next week. A detailed memo outlining the incident, the affected users, and the compensation process will be posted in the project's Discord channel.
The hack follows a concerning trend in crypto security. PeckShield reported that total losses from crypto-related breaches in a recent period climbed to roughly $52 million from 20 incidents. The security firm highlighted an emerging pattern of "shadow contagion," where a single exploit's impact spreads across interconnected DeFi platforms, creating bad debt and weakening liquidity pools.
