Amidst concerns of a potential multimillion-dollar exploit, the Multichain MPC bridge platform has experienced abnormally large outflows, triggering alarm among observers and blockchain security experts.
On July 6, a series of substantial withdrawals from the Multichain bridges caught the attention of observers. Approximately $102 million worth of crypto was withdrawn from Multichain’s Fantom bridge on the Ethereum side, with $666,000 from Dogechain and $5 million from Moonriver.
Hi @MultichainOrg you may want to take a look: https://t.co/D4GKGpuBtw pic.twitter.com/3qURqGmes8
— PeckShield Inc. (@peckshield) July 6, 2023
The Fantom bridge’s Ethereum smart contract witnessed the withdrawal of 7,214 Wrapped Ether (WETH) tokens worth $13.6 million, 1,024 Wrapped Bitcoin (WBTC) worth $31 million, and $58 million worth of USD Coin USDC. These significant outflows, totaling $102 million, have raised concerns about a possible exploit.
Exploit suspicions grow as Binance takes action
The withdrawal activity and potential exploit led to heightened scrutiny from the crypto community. The situation escalated as Binance, a leading cryptocurrency exchange, temporarily suspended withdrawals and deposits for tokens associated with the Multichain protocol. This move has sent shockwaves through the market, impacting investors and casting doubt on the long-term sustainability of cross-chain bridges.
Blockchain security firm PeckShield even tagged the Multichain team in a post on Twitter, urging them to investigate the transactions. This move additionally disrupted the market and caused substantial disruptions to investors’ financial strategies.
Multichain’s turmoil and impact on the market
Rumors of potential arrests involving Multichain’s team triggered investor anxiety, leading to a 50% drop in the value of MULTI, Multichain’s native token, over a month, and a further 13% in the past 24 hours, according to Coinmarketcap data. The disruptions in cross-chain transfers within Multichain further intensified confusion and dissatisfaction among its user base.
Uncertainty looms over cross-chain bridges
Multichain, formerly known as Anyswap, emerged as a pioneering project focusing on cross-chain bridges, enabling the seamless transfer of digital assets across various blockchain networks. Despite securing significant funding and boasting compatibility with 65 chains, recent events have cast doubts on its long-term sustainability. Even influential figures like Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin have once cautioned against over-reliance on bridges, urging users to keep their assets on their original chains.
The recent exploit concerns and the subsequent actions by Binance have left the crypto market uncertain. With regulators worldwide shaping crypto policies, investors may face further turbulence as they navigate the unpredictable fluctuations of cryptocurrency prices.
The abnormally large outflows from the Multichain MPC bridge platform and Binance’s decision to suspend tokens associated with the Multichain protocol have triggered fears of a potential exploit. The incident has highlighted the vulnerabilities of cross-chain bridges and raised concerns about the long-term sustainability of projects like Multichain. Amidst the uncertainty in the crypto market, investors must navigate these challenges while regulators continue to shape the future of cryptocurrencies.
and then