Blockchain’s Defense Dilemma: Tackling Present-Day Attacks and the Emerging Quantum Challenge

Port3 Network, a decentralized AI data layer initiative, has reported a major security incident that led to an 82% drop in the value of its PORT3 token. On November 23, the project revealed that a hacker exploited a flaw in the BridgeIn protocol, allowing them to create an extra 1 billion PORT3 tokens. These tokens were quickly sold off in liquidity pools before being destroyed. As a result, the token's price crashed from $0.037 to $0.0066 in just a few hours, slashing its market cap from $18.5 million to $4.05 million

.

Blockchain analysis traced the attacker to wallet address 0xb13a, who generated 1 billion PORT3 tokens and sold 162.75 million of them for 199.56

(roughly $166,000) before the Port3 team was able to respond. The team removed liquidity from pools and worked with exchanges to freeze PORT3 deposits, stopping further sales. The attacker later burned the remaining 837.25 million tokens, which helped limit additional losses . Despite these actions, the token has not fully rebounded and was trading at $0.0086 at the time of the latest update .

This exploit in the BridgeIn protocol highlights the persistent dangers within decentralized finance (DeFi), where vulnerabilities in smart contracts can be swiftly exploited. The Port3 team clarified that user assets were not affected, but stressed the necessity for more rigorous security reviews. "This event is a clear warning about the critical role of proactive security in DeFi," a spokesperson mentioned in an internal message.

At the same time, the wider crypto sector remains alert to the risks posed by quantum computing, which could undermine current cryptographic defenses. In a related development, QANplatform—a blockchain project prioritizing quantum-resistant technology—announced that its QAN XLINK protocol successfully completed a thorough audit by cybersecurity firm Hacken. This protocol, which uses lattice-based post-quantum cryptography (PQC) and works with Ethereum-compatible wallets,

from quantum threats.

Hacken's review confirmed that QAN XLINK can defend against quantum risks by enabling quantum-secure signatures, all without forcing users to switch from their current setups. The audit also pointed out that about 25% of Bitcoin and more than 65% of

addresses are already at risk from quantum attacks due to exposed public keys . With organizations like the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and BlackRock raising alarms about quantum threats, QANplatform’s solution positions itself as a vital security layer for Web3.

The Port3 breach and QANplatform’s advancements in quantum security illustrate the dual challenges confronting blockchain: immediate threats from exploits and the looming issue of technological obsolescence. As Port3’s team works to recover, the incident highlights the pressing need for strong security measures in the industry. For investors, it also serves as a reminder of the high volatility in DeFi tokens, where a single exploit can wipe out millions in value in a matter of hours.