Ronin Network has decided to integrate Chainlink’s Cross-Chain Interoperability Protocol (CCIP) to improve the security of its Ethereum bridge.
The move comes after a history of security breaches on the platform, including a major hack in 2022 that resulted in a significant loss of funds.
Chainlink’s protocol was chosen through a voting process, with security being the primary concern for the Ronin ecosystem’s developers.
Rebuilding After Past Breaches
Ronin Network, developed by Sky Mavis, has faced repeated security issues over the past few years. In March 2022, the platform suffered one of the largest hacks in the decentralized finance space, losing $622 million in assets. The attack was later attributed to the Lazarus Group, a hacking organization linked to North Korea.
In August 2024, ethical hackers exposed further vulnerabilities by taking $12 million from the network to demonstrate weaknesses, though the funds were promptly returned. Additionally, earlier this year, $9.5 million worth of Ethereum was stolen from wallets belonging to Sky Mavis executives.
These incidents prompted the network to search for a more secure cross-chain infrastructure.
Why Chainlink’s CCIP?
After evaluating proposals from Chainlink, LayerZero, and Axelar, Ronin’s validators selected Chainlink’s CCIP as the new security protocol for its Ethereum bridge. Chainlink received 10 votes in the selection process, whilst LayerZero obtained 3 votes, and Axelar received none.
The decision was largely based on Chainlink’s multi-layered security approach, which includes decentralized oracle networks and risk management features.
“Security was the number one most important factor when deciding which cross-chain protocol would secure the future of the Ronin ecosystem,” said Phuc Thai, Head Researcher at Sky Mavis.
The integration of Chainlink’s CCIP will begin with bridge transfers between Ethereum and the Ronin Network. The full transition is expected to take two to three months, with no required actions from users as all existing tokens on Ronin will be upgraded automatically to utilize CCIP for secure cross-chain transfers.
