The multi-chain future once promised seamless interaction between different blockchain networks. But in reality, we are left with a patchwork of vulnerable bridges, becoming prime targets for hackers. As someone who has spent years building distributed systems processing billions of dollars in value, I have witnessed this issue evolve from a theoretical concern into a $2.8 billion nightmare.
Cross-chain bridges have been hacked for over $2.8 billion, accounting for nearly 40% of the total value hacked across Web3, and the situation has not improved. But it is important to emphasize: bridge hacks are not an inevitability of the multi-chain future. They are merely symptoms of a misguided approach to interoperability, treating cross-chain communication as an add-on rather than a core infrastructure.
The real solution is not to make bridges better but to eliminate the need for bridges entirely through modular interoperability. Let's explore why this is important and how to build a truly secure multi-chain ecosystem.
Why blockchain bridges are continuously hacked
The uncomfortable truth is: blockchain bridges are inherently vulnerable because they rely on flawed assumptions about trust and security. Every major bridge hack follows a familiar pattern: they create a central point of failure in a system that is supposed to be decentralized.
For example, the Ronin Bridge hack, one of the largest in crypto history, caused nearly $600 million in losses from the Axie Infinity Ronin Bridge. The hacker did not need to break advanced cryptography or exploit a zero-day vulnerability but only needed to control enough validator keys to take over the bridge, a classic example of centralized control within a supposedly decentralized layer.
The repeat scenario with Wormhole, where hackers exploited a vulnerability bypassing signature verification to steal $236 million. The flaw was not in the core blockchain technology but in the centralized verification mechanism of the bridge.
Recently, a similar incident occurred with Orbit Chain, a cross-chain bridge project that lost over $80 million in a preventable hack. Again, it was the familiar scenario: exploiting centralized control mechanisms to withdraw funds.
These are not isolated incidents or ultra-sophisticated attacks; they are predictable results of architectural choices prioritizing speed to market over foundational security.
The problems with bridge-based interoperability today
What most people don’t understand: blockchain bridges are not native infrastructure. They are merely 'add-ons' from the outside to patch interoperability after the blockchain has been built, akin to trying to install plumbing in a house after the walls are finished.
Traditional bridges operate by creating wrapped tokens and rely on trusted intermediaries to maintain the peg between the original asset and the wrapped asset. This leads to several serious issues:
Centralized trust assumptions: most bridges force users to trust a small group of validators or a multisig wallet controlled by a few parties, instantly breaking the decentralized security model that is the core value of blockchain.
Cannot perform atomic transactions: when transferring assets across chains via a bridge, atomicity cannot be guaranteed. Transactions may succeed on one chain but fail on another, leaving assets stranded.
Liquidity fragmentation: bridges create multiple synthetic copies of the same asset, causing liquidity to be dispersed.
Increased attack surface: each bridge adds new smart contracts, new verification mechanisms, and new potential points of failure. Cross-chain bridges and vaults remain the most exploited components of DeFi, with billions lost due to private key theft and contract manipulation.
At Altius Labs, we have witnessed firsthand how these limitations constrain developers. When they have to worry about the reliability of bridges, wrapped token mechanisms, and cross-chain transaction coordination, they spend more time 'fixing plumbing' than building innovative applications.
What is modular interoperability
Modular interoperability is a fundamental shift in how we think about cross-chain communication. Instead of treating interoperability as an add-on, the modular system builds it from the ground up.
Imagine: instead of connecting two houses with a rickety suspension bridge, we build them on the same foundation from the start. Modular chains are designed with a modular architecture, allowing for greater flexibility, scalability, and better interoperability.
In a modular architecture, multiple blockchains can share common layers while retaining their unique characteristics. This enables native cross-chain communication without the need for trusted intermediaries or wrapped tokens. Assets can move between chains with the same level of security as transactions on a single chain.
The key point: interoperability is not a supplementary feature, but a property that arises from proper architectural design. When chains share common standards for execution, consensus, or data availability, they can communicate natively without needing bridge contracts or external validators.
How modular interoperability addresses bridge vulnerabilities
Instead of patching vulnerabilities, modular interoperability eliminates the root cause:
Eliminating trusted intermediaries: in a modular system, cross-chain transactions do not require bridge operators or external validators. Security comes from the native blockchain protocol itself.
Moving native assets: no more wrapped tokens. ETH remains ETH regardless of the chain, eliminating complexity and risk.
Atomic cross-chain transactions: ensuring that cross-chain transactions either succeed in full or fail in full, eliminating the stranded asset scenario.
Shared security model: when chains use a common security infrastructure, cross-chain transactions are protected similarly to single-chain transactions.
Instead of building bridges between isolated systems, we build interconnected systems from the start to eliminate the need for bridges.
Why this matters for builders and the next generation of protocols
For developers, modular interoperability is not just about security; it also unlocks possibilities that bridge-based systems cannot achieve.
True cross-chain DeFi: DEX can access liquidity from multiple chains without requiring users to bridge assets. Lending protocols can collateralize assets from any chain without needing wrapped tokens.
Seamless experience: Users do not need to worry about which chain their assets are on or wait for fees and bridge times.
Composable infrastructure: When chains communicate natively, developers can leverage the unique strengths of each chain, using one chain for consensus, another for execution, and another for data availability.
Reducing development complexity: No longer needing to integrate custom bridges or coordinate cross-chain transactions. Developers can focus on application logic instead of infrastructure.
This is why modular blockchains and native interoperability are gaining increasing attention. Improving the programming experience is compelling enough, while the security benefits are indispensable.
Altius Labs' perspective: Interoperability is infrastructure
Altius Labs' perspective is clear: the future is not just multi-chain, but modular and interoperable. We build high-performance execution infrastructure that operates across chains because we believe that interoperability must be a foundational attribute, not just an added feature.
The modular execution approach reflects this philosophy: separating execution from consensus and data availability, allowing chains to share execution infrastructure while retaining their unique properties. This creates natural interoperability without the need for bridge contracts or intermediaries.
The performance benefits are clear — by leveraging cross-chain parallel execution, you achieve gigagas throughput per second that no single chain can match. But the security benefits are equally important: when chains share execution infrastructure, cross-chain transactions have the same level of security as single-chain transactions.
Our early partners have proven this in practice. Developers building on Altius' infrastructure do not need to worry about bridge security or the complexities of cross-chain coordination. They can create multi-chain applications with the same confidence as when building on a single chain.
This is not just a technical improvement — it is a paradigm shift, unlocking the full potential of the multi-chain ecosystem. When interoperability becomes infrastructure rather than a feature, it enables innovation that goes beyond bridge-based approaches.
The path forward: building for native interoperability
The shift from bridge-centric to modular interoperability will not happen overnight, but momentum is building. Cross-chain DEXs like Squid, LI.FI, and Router Protocol have enabled native asset swaps across chains without relying on centralized exchanges or traditional bridges. This is proof of what is possible when breaking free from bridge thinking.
For builders, the question is no longer whether to support multi-chain, but how to do it safely and efficiently. Bridges may be convenient in the short term, but they come with a high cost in terms of security and long-term experience.
The alternative solution is to design for native interoperability from the outset: choose infrastructure that supports seamless cross-chain communication without intermediaries, plan for atomic cross-chain transactions, and build on a foundation that treats interoperability as a core attribute.
Conclusion
The multi-chain future is inevitable, but bridge hacks are not. We have lost billions due to preventable exploits, as the industry has taken shortcuts with interoperability. Instead of building the right infrastructure, we have constructed bridges and hoped for the best.
The good news is that there are now better solutions. Modular interoperability paves the way for native, safe cross-chain communication without intermediaries or complex bridge mechanisms. This is not just a technical improvement — it's a foundational change, unlocking the full potential of the multi-chain ecosystem.
The question is not whether this transformation will happen, but how quickly builders will embrace it. Those who adopt modular interoperability early will have a significant advantage in building the next generation of cross-chain applications.
The era of bridge hacks is ending. The era of modular interoperability is just beginning.