The Verus bridge exploiter has returned 4,052 ETH, valued at approximately $8.5 million, which constitutes 75% of the funds stolen in a recent exploit. This return follows a negotiated settlement in which the exploiter agreed to retain 1,350 ETH, worth about $2.8 million, as a bounty. In exchange, Verus has agreed not to pursue legal action against the individual. This resolution highlights a growing trend in the crypto space where projects negotiate with exploiters to recover stolen assets, often offering a portion of the funds as a reward for cooperation. The Verus team has expressed relief at the recovery of the majority of the stolen funds, which will be used to restore the affected bridge operations.