The $292 million exploit tied to KelpDAO is the latest in a long line of crypto bridge hacks, underscoring how the systems designed to connect blockchains have become some of the easiest ways to break them.

The incident involved KelpDAO’s use of LayerZero’s cross-chain messaging system, a type of infrastructure widely used to move data and assets between blockchains.

Bridges are meant to let users move assets from one blockchain to another, like from Ethereum to a different network. But instead of acting as seamless connectors, they have repeatedly turned into weak points, draining billions of dollars over the past few years.

So why does this keep happening?

Crypto ecosystem leaders say the answer is not just bad code or careless…