Millions in Crypto Assets Left Unclaimed on Bridges

Arkham Intelligence, a prominent crypto analytics firm, has discovered that large sums of cryptocurrencies are languishing unclaimed in various bridge contracts. These bridges, crucial for transferring assets between different blockchains, have seen significant amounts forgotten by some of their users, including high-profile DeFi and NFT players.

Significant Amounts Forgotten

The report highlights several staggering cases where substantial amounts of cryptocurrency remain unclaimed. For example, the account thomasg.eth has about $800,000 worth of crypto untouched for nearly two years in Arbitrum’s native bridge. Another case involves an Ethereum address linked to Bofur Capital, which has not moved its 27 wrapped bitcoins, valued at $1.8 million, from the Arbitrum bridge for over two years.

High-Profile Cases of Neglected Crypto

A particularly eye-catching case involves an account that received 50 ETH from Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin. These funds, now worth approximately $1.05 million, have been left in the Optimism bridge for about seven months. Arkham’s playful reminder to Buterin was a standout moment in the report: “Vitalik, if you own this address, PSA: you have a million dollars of ETH in the Optimism bridge.”

Call to Action for Crypto Holders

Arkham has urged all individuals and entities involved to revisit their transaction histories and bridge activities to ensure all assets are accounted for. This call to action is aimed at preventing further neglect of substantial assets that could impact the financial stability of users across the blockchain ecosystem.

The findings by Arkham Intelligence serve as a crucial reminder for crypto holders to manage their assets carefully, especially when utilizing bridge contracts for transferring cryptocurrencies between blockchains. The firm’s report not only highlights the amounts forgotten but also underscores the importance of diligent asset management in the volatile world of cryptocurrencies.