zkLink Nova Bridge Loses $786K in Forged Batch Root Exploit
An attacker exploited a vulnerability in zkLink Nova's Ethereum bridge to steal $786,000 in crypto assets.
An attacker exploited a vulnerability in zkLink Nova's Ethereum bridge to steal $786,000 in crypto assets. Ethereum (ETH) is trading at ₹2,21,175 ($2,320.92). This is an original Token Times brief based on reporting by Crypto Adventure, with live market data added, as of Thu, 29 Oct 2026 06:00:01 UTC.
The exploit highlights vulnerabilities in cross-chain bridges, which are critical for interoperability but remain high-risk targets for attackers. Such incidents can undermine trust in DeFi infrastructure.
- Attacker stole $786K from zkLink Nova Ethereum bridge.
- Exploit involved forging batch root via public relayer.
- Ethereum and ERC-20 tokens were unauthorizedly withdrawn.
- Market remains flat amid security concerns.
The zkLink Nova 
Ethereum bridge was exploited, resulting in the theft of approximately $786,000 in cryptocurrency. The attacker manipulated the cross-chain verification process to authorize fraudulent withdrawals.
Blockchain security firm Blockaid identified the attack, which involved submitting a forged batch root through a publicly accessible relayer. This malicious transaction enabled the unauthorized withdrawal of Ether (ETH) and various ERC-20 tokens.
While the exact technical details of the exploit are still under investigation, the incident underscores the potential risks associated with cross-chain bridges. These bridges are essential for interoperability between different blockchains but are often targeted by attackers due to their complexity and the large amounts of funds they handle.
In the broader market context, the total crypto market cap stands at $2.75 trillion, with 
Bitcoin down 0.79% in the last 24 hours. Ethereum, the platform on which zkLink operates, is also experiencing a downturn, currently trading at $2320.48, a 1.29% decrease over the past day.
The incident may lead to increased scrutiny of cross-chain bridge security measures and could prompt further development of more robust verification protocols. Investors and users should monitor developments in this area closely.
Since this brief published about 1 hour ago, Ethereum (ETH) has moved from ₹2,21,132.81$2,320.48 to ₹2,21,174.74$2,320.92 — +0.02%.
The chart plots ETH's price: grey is the move before this brief published, the vertical dashed line marks the moment it published, the horizontal dashed line is the price then, and the coloured area is the move since — from Token Times's market data (daily resolution). It shows what happened after the news, not that the news caused it; many factors move prices. Not financial advice.
At today's peer-to-peer rate, 1 ETH ≈ ₹243,580.55 (about $2,320.92), down 1.2% over 24 hours. The rupee itself trades about 10.1% above the official rate on the P2P market, so a Indian buyer's effective cost differs from the headline dollar price.
Live market data
Current prices for the asset in this story — live, source-stamped, updated every 15 minutes.
Figures and sectors in this story, checked live against on-chain aggregators · October 29, 2026.
Token Times reads these figures directly from on-chain aggregators (DeFiLlama, mempool.space) at build time — independent of what any outlet reported. Sector totals aggregate every protocol DeFiLlama tracks in that category. Values are live and will change.
zkLink Nova Bridge Loses $786K in Forged Batch Root Exploit — questions & answers
How much was stolen in the zkLink Nova exploit?
Approximately $786,000 in cryptocurrency was stolen.
What was the method of the exploit?
The attacker exploited the cross-chain verification process by submitting a forged batch root through a public relayer.
What is the current status of zkLink Nova?
Details on the current status of zkLink Nova are not provided, but the incident is under investigation.
How much is 1 Ethereum worth in rupee today?
About ₹243,580.55 at the live peer-to-peer (P2P) USDT rate, which is what Indians typically trade at — equivalent to roughly $2,320.92. The rupee price moves with both ETH's US-dollar price and the USDT/INR rate; use our Ethereum in rupee page for any amount.
Which outlets reported this story?
This is an original Token Times brief that synthesises reporting from Crypto Adventure. It is not a copy of any one article — follow the source links above for the original reporting.
Original summary — not financial advice. This is an original Token Times brief that summarises a development reported elsewhere and adds live market data for context; it is not the original article and reproduces no part of it. Follow the source link above for full details. Crypto is volatile and high-risk — always do your own research.