Clear DefinitionsBridge Slashing Mechanism
1 min read
Pronunciation
[brij slash-ing meh-kan-iz-əm]
Analogy
Like fining a delivery driver who intentionally delivers the wrong package and keeping their security deposit.
Definition
An economic penalty system that confiscates a misbehaving validator’s or relayer’s bond if they produce fraudulent or malicious cross‑chain messages.
Key Points Intro
Slashing aligns incentives by financially deterring bridge operator misconduct.
Key Points
Bond posting: Operators stake collateral before participating.
Fraud detection: Proven via on‑chain fraud proofs or challenge protocols.
Penalty execution: Contract seizes part or all of the staked bond.
Reward redistribution: Slashed funds may go to challengers or insurance pool.
Example
In a proof‑of‑stake bridge, if a relayer signs an invalid state root, a fraud proof triggers and the contract slashes 10% of their bonded tokens.
Technical Deep Dive
Implement `slash(validator, amount, proof)` on‑chain, verifying the proof (e.g. Merkle fraud proof) before reducing `balances[validator]`. The mechanism requires on‑chain storage of stakes and challenge timeouts.
Security Warning
Incorrect slashing logic can punish honest actors due to network delays; include safe‑exit windows and dispute resolution.
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