On September 13, 2025, the Shibarium bridge suffered a sophisticated flash loan attack, resulting in significant asset loss.
Flash Loan Attack on Shibarium Bridge
On September 13, 2025, the Shibarium bridge was hit by a flash loan exploit, leading to the loss of approximately $2.8–3 million. Attackers utilized 4.6 million BONE tokens to manipulate validator controls.
Kaal Dhairya, a Shibarium developer, stated that immediate actions were taken to lock affected funds due to unstaking delays. "Because the BONE was delegated to Validator 1, it remains locked (due to unstaking delays), giving us the chance to freeze those funds.”
Market Consequences Post Fund Drain
Funds valued at $2.8–3 million were drained, impacting liquidity and causing immediate market volatility in BONE and SHIB prices. Financial ramifications include a temporary decline in Total Value Locked (TVL) on Shibarium, affecting users and liquidity providers. Negotiations with attackers are ongoing for fund recovery.
Security Review Following the Incident
Flash loan attacks and validator compromises have precedents, such as those involving Ronin and Poly Network, resulting in swift interventions and asset recovery efforts. Experts suggest that improved governance protocols and validator security could mitigate similar risks. Enhanced multisig wallets and secure protocols are necessary to protect against future threats.
The attack on Shibarium bridge highlights the need for improved security measures within the cryptocurrency sector to prevent similar incidents in the future.
