During 2026, cross-chain bridges were the target of eight major hacks that resulted in the loss of over $328M. Even though these bridging protocols represent just a tiny fraction of the overall value in DeFi, they are astonishingly responsible for 42% of all funds lost to exploits. These striking numbers clearly explain why relying on native issuance goes well beyond being a simple preference. In reality, it stands as an essential security posture.