KelpDAO ditches LayerZero for Chainlink CCIP after exploit tied to LayerZero infrastructure cost DeFi $300M+.

KelpDAO has migrated its rsETH token bridging infrastructure to Chainlink's Cross-Chain Interoperability Protocol (CCIP), directly attributing the move to LayerZero's infrastructure being identified as the origin point of an April exploit that triggered over $300 million in DeFi losses.

The decision marks a significant public rebuke of LayerZero at the protocol level — not a quiet backend swap, but an explicit statement of cause. For the broader cross-chain bridging landscape, it raises pointed questions about which messaging layers DeFi protocols can rely on when the stakes are nine figures.

Chainlink CCIP, which has positioned itself on security-first messaging guarantees, stands to gain credibility from the migration. How LayerZero responds — technically or publicly — will be worth watching.