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THORChain Hit by $10M Exploit, RUNE Crashes Double Digits — Here's What Happened and What It Means for DeFi

(140 days ago) · 1 source · Summarized by CryptoBipto

THORChain, a decentralized cross-chain liquidity protocol, suffered a $10 million exploit that forced the network to halt trading. The protocol's native token RUNE plunged by double digits in the aftermath as traders rushed to exit positions amid security concerns.

WHY IT MATTERS

Imagine a currency exchange at an airport that lets you swap dollars for euros, yen, or pounds — THORChain does something similar but for different cryptocurrencies across different blockchains. A hacker found a vulnerability and stole about $10 million, forcing the exchange to shut down temporarily. RUNE is like a membership token that powers this exchange, and its price dropped sharply because people lost confidence in the platform's safety. This matters because it highlights a recurring problem in crypto: protocols that move money between different blockchains (called 'cross-chain' protocols) are frequent targets for hackers. If you're new to crypto, this is a reminder that DeFi platforms — while innovative — carry real risks, and it's important to understand the security track record of any protocol before trusting it with your funds.

THORChain has once again found itself in the crosshairs of an exploit, with attackers draining approximately $10 million from the protocol. In response, the THORChain team halted trading on the network — a move that, while necessary to prevent further losses, raises questions about the degree of decentralization in a protocol that can be paused by its operators.

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RUNEDeFi SecurityCross-Chain ProtocolsCrypto ExploitsTHORChainToken Price Crash