Out of that, $3.3 billion came from CEXs and $2 billion from bridges.
To put it simply, the root cause of these hacks is centralization. For bridges, this usually involves the collateral that backs wrapped tokens💸. Since early 2023, bridges with wrapped tokens have lost popularity, which is why the number of hacks has also decreased.
So what makes DEXs secure, and what can replace bridges🤔?
Take DEX STON.fi as an example. All trades on it are executed through smart contracts on the blockchain. If the contract is written correctly, it can’t be hacked — unless someone hacks the $TON blockchain itself.
STON.fi is also actively developing cross-chain swaps without bridges or wrapped tokens. Instead, it uses HTLC and RFQ👇.
◾HTLC ensures atomic swaps — either both users receive tokens or neither does.
◾RFQ eliminates slippage by locking in the trade price in advance.
This setup removes all centralized elements from the system. All swaps happen peer-to-peer through smart contracts, giving users strong security and full control📈.
