Why bridges keep getting hacked & Why Modular Interoperability is the way out

Blockchain bridges, designed for seamless multi-chain experiences, have become vulnerable targets, resulting in over $2.8 billion in losses. These hacks stem from flawed trust models and centralized mechanisms inherent in bridge designs, prioritizing speed over security. Bridges act as bolt-on solutions with trusted intermediaries, breaking atomicity and fragmenting liquidity. Modular interoperability offers a solution by building cross-chain interaction into the foundational architecture, eliminating the need for bridges. This approach separates execution, consensus, and data availability layers, enabling native cross-chain communication without wrapped assets or trusted parties. Modular designs eliminate intermediaries, allow native asset movement, ensure atomic transactions, and provide shared security models. Developers can build true cross-chain DeFi applications with improved user experience and composable infrastructure. Altius Labs advocates for modular interoperability, building high-performance execution infrastructure across chains for robust security and performance. The shift toward modular interoperability is gaining momentum, enabling secure and scalable cross-chain communication. The era of bridge-based systems is ending, paving the way for a modular, natively interoperable Web3.