Hackers exploited NEAR Intents infrastructure on October 1, 2026, making off with $3.8 million worth of assets. As an emergency measure, the development team decided to freeze all of their cross-chain services. The suspension severed the attacker’s access and prevented further fund transfers out of the ecosystem.
Reports from CoinDesk and The Block noted the breach as part of an ongoing wave of latest crypto hack incidents. The attack directly targeted NEAR Intents’ core infrastructure. The internal team cut cross-chain routes to halt the movement of assets outside the ecosystem after their system was compromised.
Incident Separate from Bitget Case
The $3.8 million exploit is a standalone incident and separate from the Bitget exchange hack. In the earlier Bitget case, NEAR took a proactive stance by blocking the movement of $50 million in assets tied to malicious actors. The team intercepted the flow of stolen funds passing through their network.
However, during the October 1 incident, the tables turned as the attack targeted the NEAR Intents protocol itself. The entity that had previously helped intercept other hackers has now suffered losses, highlighting a shifting threat landscape that increasingly targets bridging infrastructure.
Promise of Full Compensation
Responding to the loss of user funds, NEAR Intents quickly pledged remediation. Developers committed to fully compensating all victims who lost assets due to the incident. A security evaluation is underway alongside the process of logging affected wallets.
The compensation process proceeds while cross-chain services remain closed. Developers temporarily suspended operations to prevent further victims, while ensuring that code fixes have patched the vulnerability exploited by the attacker.
Aftermath of September’s Wave
The breach of NEAR Intents’ infrastructure adds to a worsening crypto security climate. The incident continues a widespread wave of exploits from the preceding month. Throughout September 2026, cumulative losses from various hacks across the crypto market reached $768 million.
The string of attacks underscores the vulnerability of bridging protocols. When systems that helped secure other exchanges are breached themselves, infrastructure providers face a real test in maintaining operational resilience against hackers.
Reported via CoinDesk.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational and educational purposes only, not financial advice. Cryptocurrency assets are highly volatile and carry significant risk. Always do your own research (DYOR) and never invest more than you can afford to lose.
