TL;DR
- Threshold Network began restoring tBTC onchain operations after a nine-day security pause, with patched node operators reconnecting following maintenance related to a Linux kernel vulnerability.
- New deposits, minting and redemptions remain unavailable until enough operators return, while roughly 4,320 BTC backs about 4,185 tBTC in circulation.
- Aave’s Ethereum Core tBTC reserve, holding about $120 million, remains restricted to new deposits and borrowing power until Threshold returns to fully normal operations.
Threshold Network has begun restoring the tBTC bridge after a nine-day security pause triggered by maintenance around a Linux kernel vulnerability. In an official update, the project said patched node operators were reconnecting and onchain bridge operations had resumed. The restart is gradual rather than a full reopening of every user-facing function. Requests submitted before the shutdown remain safe and will be processed as operators return, while new deposits, minting and redemptions remain unavailable until sufficient operators are online. The incident interrupted a bridge that brings Bitcoin liquidity into DeFi.
tBTC Bridge Update: November 8, 2026
The tBTC bridge has resumed onchain following the completion of security maintenance. Node operators are reconnecting on patched systems, and the bridge will return to full operation as more of them come back online.
Redemption requests and…
— Threshold Network ✜ (@TheTNetwork) November 8, 2026
tBTC Restart Leaves Aave Restrictions in Place
Threshold paused new BTC deposits, tBTC minting and new Bitcoin redemption requests on October 30 as operators addressed the kernel vulnerability. The project said it found no evidence that the flaw had been exploited against tBTC nodes. Threshold reported no unauthorized Bitcoin transfers or irregular tBTC minting during the maintenance period. Approximately 4,320 BTC remained in bridge wallets against roughly 4,185 tBTC in circulation. The restart follows earlier efforts to expand institutional access through the upgraded tBTC bridge, making the pause relevant to infrastructure supporting Bitcoin activity across onchain markets.
Aave responded on October 31 by restricting its tBTC reserve on Ethereum Core. The measure prevents new tBTC deposits and stops the asset from adding borrowing power, while existing users can still withdraw and repay loans. Those restrictions remain in place even as Threshold’s bridge network reconnects. The affected reserve holds about $120 million in tBTC, and risk provider LlamaRisk said it would propose restoring normal access once Threshold returns to full operation. The episode highlights why cross-chain bridge security can create downstream risk for lending markets even when the lending protocol itself is not the source of the issue.
Threshold has not announced a time for fully reopening the bridge interface. The project said deposits and redemption requests submitted before the pause will continue processing as more patched operators rejoin, with the UI returning once enough participants are available to handle activity promptly. Full normalization therefore depends on operator connectivity rather than the initial restart alone. Aave’s limits illustrate the additional safeguards DeFi protocols can apply while infrastructure recovers, consistent with broader efforts to strengthen asset-listing and bridge-risk controls. For tBTC users, the key remaining milestone is restoration of new deposits, mints and redemptions alongside removal of Aave’s restrictions.
