In this study, we investigated an innovative bioleaching process that aims to improve the leaching performance of chalcopyrite by in situ mechanical abrasion of passivating layers. This technology uses millimetre-sized grinding glass beads to erode particles continuously, thereby applying shear stresses that continuously remove and refresh surface layers. To this end, a hybrid bioreactor (6 L) was constructed with a stirred mill impeller to perform bioleaching and attrition concomitantly inside a single reactor. Bioleaching tests were carried out with a Cu concentrate containing 71% chalcopyrite and the BRGM-KCC bacterial consortium. Using a fixed glass beads charge in all experiments, slurry solids concentration was set to either 10 wt% or 5 wt%, corresponding to concentrate/beads (C/B) mass ratios of 1.25 and 0.625. With a C/B mass ratio of 1.25, bacteria were strongly inhibited. With a 0.625 C/B mass ratio, microbial activity and growth were observed after a latency phase of 6 days. At the end of the test, Eh was close to 840 mV (SHE), and Cu yield reached 80%, versus 10.5% in conventional bioleaching STR tests. These results show that (i) microbial growth and activity are possible in an intense attrition-induced shearing environment, (ii) attrition allows chalcopyrite dissolution to continue when Eh exceeds the passivation threshold.