ether.fi to shut down weETH bridging on smaller chains in post-exploit risk reset

ether.fi will disable weETH bridging across several lower-activity networks, marking a shift toward tighter risk controls as DeFi protocols reassess multi-chain exposure.

The protocol said bridging will be deprecated on Scroll, Swell, Bera, zkSync, Mode, Blast, Morph, and Sonic, with the changes taking effect on 30 June 2026.

Users holding weETH on these chains have been asked to bridge assets back to Ethereum or other supported networks before the deadline.

Bridge cuts target low-usage chains

ether.fi said the decision is part of efforts to “harden” its cross-chain infrastructure by consolidating activity onto fewer, higher-usage networks.

The affected chains were selected based on usage, total value locked [TVL], and integration depth. The protocol added that further deprecations may follow under similar criteria.

After the deadline, users who fail to migrate funds will still be able to recover assets through a manual process, though a fixed fee of 0.5 weETH will apply.

Data shows liquidity concentrated on Ethereum

Data from DefiLlama shows why the move may have been necessary.

As of late April, ether.fi holds over $5.1b in TVL on Ethereum, compared to roughly $183m on OP Mainnet. Also, chains such as Scroll had just a few hundred thousand dollars.

The imbalance suggests that the majority of liquidity remains concentrated on Ethereum. Also, several supported chains are contributing a negligible share of total value locked.

Maintaining bridge infrastructure across these networks, therefore, introduces additional complexity and security overhead without meaningful capital efficiency.

Post-exploit tightening across DeFi

The decision follows heightened scrutiny of cross-chain risk following recent incidents involving restaking assets.

The rsETH-related exploit linked to Kelp DAO earlier this month triggered broader concerns about how vulnerabilities can propagate across interconnected DeFi protocols, including exposure on lending platforms such as Aave.

Against that backdrop, ether. fi’s move signals a broader shift away from aggressive multi-chain expansion toward liquidity consolidation and tighter operational control.

Security over expansion

Cross-chain bridges remain among the most vulnerable components of DeFi infrastructure, often serving as entry points for exploits.

By reducing the number of supported chains, ether.fi is effectively narrowing its attack surface while focusing resources on securing its core liquidity hubs.

The move also reflects a changing priority across the sector, where protocols are increasingly favouring deeper liquidity and stronger security guarantees over wide but thin multi-chain distribution.

Final Summary

• ether.fi will disable weETH bridging on several low-activity chains by 30 June, citing risk reduction and infrastructure consolidation.
• The move highlights a broader DeFi shift toward concentrating liquidity and reducing cross-chain exposure following recent exploits.