Axelar has temporarily disabled all bridge routes connecting to the Secret Network following a $4.7 million exploit that occurred on June 19, 2026. The cross-chain interoperability protocol took the measure to contain potential further damage and protect users while it investigates the incident.
According to initial reports, the attacker exploited a vulnerability in the bridge contracts between Axelar and Secret Network, allowing the unauthorized transfer of assets. The stolen funds primarily consisted of various tokens routed through the bridge. Axelar’s security team moved quickly to pause the affected routes, and the company stated that the vulnerability was isolated to the Secret Network integration and did not impact other connected chains.
Axelar confirmed it is working closely with the Secret Network team and external security auditors to analyze the root cause. The firm also engaged blockchain security specialists to trace the stolen funds. As a precautionary step, all bridging activity involving Secret has been suspended until a full review and necessary upgrades are completed. Users with pending or locked assets have been advised through official channels on next steps for recovery or manual withdrawal where possible.
This marks another setback for cross-chain bridges, which remain high-value targets for hackers due to their complex smart contract interactions. Axelar, which connects over 60 blockchain ecosystems, has maintained a strong security record until now and emphasized that the majority of its infrastructure remains unaffected.
The incident highlights ongoing challenges in achieving secure interoperability between different blockchain environments, particularly those with privacy features like Secret Network. Axelar said it aims to restore the routes as soon as safeguards are strengthened. The company has not yet provided a specific timeline for resumption but committed to transparent updates as the investigation progresses. No user funds on Axelar’s core network were directly at risk beyond the bridged assets involved in the exploit.