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Hyperbridge bridging pause follows Polkadot parathread upgrade, triggered by BEEFY light client verification gap.
Author: Akshat Thakur
February 16, 2026 — Hyperbridge bridging pause was initiated across Polkadot-connected networks after the protocol detected a verification gap linked to Polkadot’s BEEFY light client system. The pause affects cross-chain transfers between Polkadot and multiple EVM networks. The action matters because Hyperbridge operates as a non-custodial interoperability layer, and the pause reflects a security-first approach to prevent unverified cross-chain transactions during a network upgrade.
High Signal Summary For A Quick Glance
Thein Sein
@Thein_Sein
@hyperbridge "deliberate safe pause of bridging" sounds like very very decentralised. Lately, Polkadot is the pure embodiment of unstoppable decentralisation.
🚨 Hyperbridge Operations Update 🚨 On Feb 14, 2026, Hyperbridge initiated a deliberate safety pause on bridging. This was not a breach or a failure. It was our security protocols working exactly as designed to protect your transfers and ensure 100% cryptographic certainty. https://t.co/naKSalJuh7
09:08 AM·Feb 16, 2026
Giles 🇺🇦 Slava Ukraini!
@gilescope
@hyperbridge Ideally this would be detected in an earlier network, but one glitch in a few years is pretty darn good.
🚨 Hyperbridge Operations Update 🚨 On Feb 14, 2026, Hyperbridge initiated a deliberate safety pause on bridging. This was not a breach or a failure. It was our security protocols working exactly as designed to protect your transfers and ensure 100% cryptographic certainty. https://t.co/naKSalJuh7
11:01 PM·Feb 15, 2026
La blockchaine Crypto
@LablockchaineC
@hyperbridge Very good work ! #Hyperbridge is Amazing game changer , one of best dapp on crypto space ! Polkadot need more project like hyperbrigde.
🚨 Hyperbridge Operations Update 🚨 On Feb 14, 2026, Hyperbridge initiated a deliberate safety pause on bridging. This was not a breach or a failure. It was our security protocols working exactly as designed to protect your transfers and ensure 100% cryptographic certainty. https://t.co/naKSalJuh7
12:21 PM·Feb 15, 2026
Hyperbridge launched in April 2025 as Polkadot’s native proof-based bridge, enabling asset transfers and message passing across multiple chains. The protocol uses the Interoperable State Machine Protocol to verify transactions using cryptographic proofs rather than multisig custody.
By early 2026, Hyperbridge had processed millions of cross-chain messages annually and integrated with several EVM ecosystems including Ethereum, Base, Arbitrum, Optimism, Polygon, BNB Chain, and Gnosis. The bridge has also been part of Polkadot’s broader liquidity and DeFi expansion initiatives.
Polkadot’s shift toward parathreads introduced a flexible scaling model using on-demand coretime instead of dedicated parachain slots. However, this change exposed limitations in the BEEFY light client system, which is responsible for generating verifiable finality proofs for external chains.
The Hyperbridge bridging pause was triggered when the protocol identified that Polkadot’s BEEFY system did not include parathread data in its parachain heads root. As a result, external light clients could not verify state transitions related to parathreads.
Without verifiable finality proofs, Hyperbridge’s security model cannot confirm the validity of cross-chain transactions. To avoid any risk of unverified transfers, the protocol paused all bridging operations.
The issue affects asset transfers across multiple connected chains, although user-held funds remain secure due to Hyperbridge’s non-custodial design.
Key milestones in Hyperbridge’s parathread transition and safety pause
Hyperbridge transitions to a parathread and detects a BEEFY verification gap, triggering a safety pause to prevent potential risk.
A forum post details the verification issue and warns of a potential $5M freeze risk within 21 days; PR #1073 is submitted and approved.
Hyperbridge shares updates on X explaining the pause and mitigation steps, prompting discussion and reactions across the community.
The safety pause remains active while governance fast-track procedures move forward; further updates are expected soon.
Hyperbridge is expected to resume operations following the Polkadot update and completion of verification fixes.
Developers and community members noted a potential 21-day window before BEEFY consensus clients expire if the issue is not resolved. If left unaddressed, this could lead to desynchronization and a freeze of bridged assets across external networks.
Estimates suggest that several million dollars in tokens across multiple chains could become locked if verification proofs cannot be restored. The risk is tied to light client expiration rather than direct protocol compromise.
The situation highlights how relay-chain upgrades can impact downstream interoperability infrastructure.
The Hyperbridge team communicated that the pause was a deliberate safety mechanism and not a security breach. The protocol committed to frequent updates and confirmed that a fix had already been prepared within the Polkadot runtime repository.
The proposed solution includes updating BEEFY proofs to incorporate parathread data, enabling external light clients to validate state again. The change requires fast-tracked governance approval within the Polkadot ecosystem. The team indicated that bridging could resume once the network update is deployed and verification is restored.
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