Millions of dollars in unclaimed cryptoassets in DeFi bridge contracts: Arkham Intelligence

Millions of dollars in crypto assets remain unclaimed in several bridge contracts, according to a recent report from Arkham Intelligence. As the firm noted, DeFi whales, nft collectors, and even prominent entities have left significant sums in these contracts, potentially without knowing of their existence.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet” data-width=”500″ data-dnt=”true”>

G.M.

There are dozens of accounts with between 6 and 7 figures trapped in bridge contracts, forgotten.

These include prominent DeFi whales and even an account connected with twitter.com/VitalikButerin?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw” target=”_blank” rel=”nofollow noopener noreferrer”>@vitalikbuterin.

If you are on this list, you may have lost a few million dollars.

Don't worry, it happens. pic.twitter.com/YaLb5pjtzF

– Arkham (@ArkhamIntel) twitter.com/ArkhamIntel/status/1782456570518933907?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw” target=”_blank” rel=”nofollow noopener noreferrer”>April 22, 2024

According to Arkham Intelligence, a striking example includes the owner of the ENS domain name thomasg.eth, which has not recovered $800,000 from the Arbitrum bridge for almost two years.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet” data-width=”500″ data-dnt=”true”>

thomasg.eth twitter.com/thomasg_eth?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw” target=”_blank” rel=”nofollow noopener noreferrer”>@thomasg_eth

Blocked amount: $800K
Stagnant time for: ~1 year 10 months
Transaction: https://t.co/8CVkzluq27

I think you could have $800,000 on the Arbitrum Bridge. It happens to everyone. pic.twitter.com/EXxmqqZPdn

– Arkham (@ArkhamIntel) twitter.com/ArkhamIntel/status/1782456574901993816?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw” target=”_blank” rel=”nofollow noopener noreferrer”>April 22, 2024

Similarly, investment fund Bofur Capital has been holding 27 btc wrapped in the same bridge for over two years, and its wallet contains tokens worth up to $14 million.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet” data-width=”500″ data-dnt=”true”>

Capital of Bofur

Stalled amount: $1.8 million
Time stagnant for: 2 years 3 months
ADDRESS:https://t.co/meGmbHhxmp

Bofur Capital's 27 bitcoin have been on the Arbitrum bridge for over 2 years and are now worth almost $2 million. pic.twitter.com/IPe4PNQt6O

– Arkham (@ArkhamIntel) twitter.com/ArkhamIntel/status/1782456577598885916?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw” target=”_blank” rel=”nofollow noopener noreferrer”>April 22, 2024

The firm also identified an nft collector who also left $117,000 from a CryptoPunks sale unclaimed for five months.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet” data-width=”500″ data-dnt=”true”>

Connected to twitter.com/mike_macdonald?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw” target=”_blank” rel=”nofollow noopener noreferrer”>@Mike_Macdonald (receives profits from the sales of his Cryptopunks)

Blocked amount: $117K
Stagnant time for: ~5 months
Transaction: https://t.co/mxUoQBh0CRtwitter.com/mike_macdonald?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw” target=”_blank” rel=”nofollow noopener noreferrer”>@Mike_Macdonald If you own the account you sent 5 cryptopunks to, then you might also own the account you… pic.twitter.com/nRgVjXfQIP

– Arkham (@ArkhamIntel) twitter.com/ArkhamIntel/status/1782456580136477148?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw” target=”_blank” rel=”nofollow noopener noreferrer”>April 22, 2024

Another notable case is a wallet connected to ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin. The wallet, which previously received 50 eth from vitalik.eth, has yet to claim more than $1 million on the Optimism bridge.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet” data-width=”500″ data-dnt=”true”>

Connected to twitter.com/VitalikButerin?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw” target=”_blank” rel=”nofollow noopener noreferrer”>@vitalikbuterin (receive 50 eth from vitalik.eth)

Stalled amount: $1.05 million
Stagnant time for: ~7 months
ADDRESS:https://t.co/0m6w8bQ5o0

Vitalik, if you own this address, PSA: you have a million dollars of eth on the Optimism bridge. pic.twitter.com/AWMUbCKGJ5

– Arkham (@ArkhamIntel) twitter.com/ArkhamIntel/status/1782456582552354840?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw” target=”_blank” rel=”nofollow noopener noreferrer”>April 22, 2024

Additionally, Arkham Intelligence discovered that the Coinbase wallet address bridged 75,000 USDC with eth, but did not complete the transaction to receive eth on the Optimism bridge six months ago.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet” data-width=”500″ data-dnt=”true”>

Coinbase

Blocked amount: $75K
Stagnant time for: ~6 months
ADDRESS: https://t.co/xRbBZ1qE5n

Seems twitter.com/coinbase?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw” target=”_blank” rel=”nofollow noopener noreferrer”>@coinbase I tried to link $75,000 USDC to eth; for now he is still on Optimism's bridge contract, waiting to be claimed at L1. pic.twitter.com/Pt9qCxU8Ot

– Arkham (@ArkhamIntel) twitter.com/ArkhamIntel/status/1782456585677427179?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw” target=”_blank” rel=”nofollow noopener noreferrer”>April 22, 2024