Articles
Ethereum

Aave risk manager models 2 bad debt scenarios from Kelp DAO exploit

User Image

익명에 의해

생성됨 April 21, 2026|2 분 독서
Main Image

The first scenario is far cheaper but runs the risk of rsETH depegging an estimated 15%, while the second is costlier but better protects Ethereum mainnet and concentrates losses at the layer 2 level.

Decentralized lending platform Aave’s risk management provider has outlined two scenarios on how bad debt from the Kelp DAO exploit over the weekend could impact the ecosystem, depending on how the losses are allocated.

The incident began on Saturday when hackers stole 116,500 Kelp DAO Restaked ETH (rsETH) tokens worth $293 million from Kelp DAO’s LayerZero-powered bridge and used them as collateral on Aave V3 to borrow wrapped Ether (wETH).

On Monday, LlamaRisk modeled two possible scenarios for how this “bad debt” could materialize on Aave, noting that the final decision rests with Kelp DAO.

The incident highlights the contagion risk in DeFi, where a single bridge exploit can trigger liquidity crunches and mass withdrawals across interconnected protocols like Aave, which has seen nearly $10 billion in value leave the protocol since the Kelp DAO exploit took place.

The first scenario would see losses spread across all rsETH token holders on Ethereum mainnet and Ethereum layer 2s, resulting in roughly $123.7 million of bad debt on Aave while risking a 15% depeg in rsETH relative to Ether (ETH).

LlamaRisk said this first scenario would spread losses more thinly across all chains, while noting that wrapped Ether (wETH) would be “absorbing the bulk in absolute terms but barely noticing it relative to its reserve depth.”

Aave could also use its Umbrella security model to cover losses in wETH under the first scenario, noting that 18,922 Aave Wrapped ETH (aWETH) tokens worth nearly $43.7 million have entered the unstaking cooldown phase.

The second scenario would shift the entire shortfall to Ethereum layer 2 networks, such as Arbitrum and Mantle. However, the bad debt would be significantly higher at $230.1 million.

LlamaRisk also noted that Aave has around $181 million in its treasury that could be used to address a potential bad debt shortfall.

Related: Aave DAO backs V4 mainnet plan in near-unanimous vote

On Monday, Kelp DAO said it is still assessing the financial impact of the exploit and how to safely unpause the protocol, adding that it is working with Aave, LayerZero and other stakeholders on a path forward.

Kelp DAO also shared more details about the incident, saying that two nodes tied to the LayerZero bridge were compromised, while a third was hit with a distributed denial-of-service attack.

The attacker forged a seemingly valid transfer message that the system approved, allowing 116,500 rsETH to be minted on one of LayerZero’s bridges.

Kelp said it paused all relevant contracts on Ethereum and Ethereum layer 2s and blacklisted all wallets tied to the exploiter shortly after, preventing them from stealing another 40,000 rsETH worth $95 million.

Magazine: Are DeFi devs liable for the illegal activity of others on their platforms?

Source: CoinTelegraph


최근에 발행된 다른 기사들

Crypto lost $1.26 billion in hacks while bitcoin bulls enjoyed a monster quarter
Crypto lost $1.26 billion in hacks while bitcoin bulls enjoyed a monster quarter

Bitcoin

Your day-ahead look for Oct. 1, 2026Source: CoinDesk...

Another Trump memecoin dinner advertised for token's top investors
Another Trump memecoin dinner advertised for token's top investors

Meme Coins

The company managing the memecoin calls the November event the "most exclusive dinner in the world."...

SEC proposes new crypto custody rules for investment advisers and funds
SEC proposes new crypto custody rules for investment advisers and funds

Crypto Market Analysis

The regulator issued a proposed rule for custody, marking a swan song for its inaugural Crypto Task ...

Illinois will postpone implementation of crypto tax following lawsuit
Illinois will postpone implementation of crypto tax following lawsuit

Crypto Market Analysis

State officials agreed to delay the 0.2% crypto tax for six months after lawsuits and industry pushb...

50,000 Europeans call on EU to ease stablecoin rewards restrictions in MiCA review
50,000 Europeans call on EU to ease stablecoin rewards restrictions in MiCA review

Crypto Market Analysis

A 50,000-letter campaign is pressing Brussels to rethink stablecoin rewards as EU central banks seek...

Trump to host 3rd ‘exclusive’ memecoin event amid corruption claims
Trump to host 3rd ‘exclusive’ memecoin event amid corruption claims

Meme Coins

The president is scheduled to appear at his golf club in Washington, DC, at a Nov. 22 dinner for his...