New AI Tool Can Help Keep Crypto's Code Safe from Hackers
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| By Beth Canova |
AI has been a great tool for hackers.
It helps them find weak spots in software. Write fake emails. And fool even the most careful users.
Take the recent Trezor data breach, for example.
Hackers were able to get their hands on personal data, including emails, of anyone who had bought a Trezor hardware wallet going back years.
Then, they sent fake emails to those addresses from a real Trezor domain. AI can help crooks write emails that look and sound real. It can also fake voices and videos.
Our own Mark Gough got one. And even he said the scam was well done.
But the threat goes much deeper than scams.
In August, Bitcoin swap service Boltz paused its work after a wave of attacks. Not because the team couldn’t close ranks. But because hackers were finding ways in faster than it could fix the flaws.
That’s what happens when AI is in your bad-buy toolkit.
Now, though, there’s been a new breakthrough. And it brings good news: The same tech that helps hackers break into crypto projects … may soon help keep them safe.
And that could be a big win for your favorite decentralized crypto projects.
A New Tool to Fight Back
This week, Anthropic launched a new tool called OSS Scanner.
Its goal is simple: Find flaws in open-source software before hackers can use them.
If you’ve been around the blockchain, you’ll know that open-source code is the backbone of much of crypto. Especially in the realm of decentralized finance (DeFi).
It means anyone can view the code. Check it. And help make it better.
It’s the very thing that makes crypto open to everyone and free from the control of one government or company.
And it’s what allows smart contracts and security protocols on your favorite exchange or lending platform to be verified and audited by millions of watchful eyes.
Up to now, however, that openness has meant an easy time for hackers. Because the use of AI means they can scan that code for flaws with ease and at incredible speeds.
That's where Anthropic comes in.
Its new tool uses some of its most powerful AI models, including Claude Mythos, to scan code and flag weak spots.
It then sends reports to the teams that build and run the software. That gives them a chance to fix flaws before hackers strike.
Think of it like an AI white hat hacker.
And crypto teams are keen to use AI in their defense.
Nethermind, which helps run the Ethereum (ETH) network, has applied to have its code scanned.
So has ZEUS, a software wallet that supports the Bitcoin (BTC) and Lightning (LIGHT) networks.
Both want to find and fix flaws that could put users at risk. Though, as of writing, neither has been cleared to join.
Still, it's a good sign.
To be clear, this is just one step in on-chain protection. No AI assist can stop every hack. And it won't replace the skilled people who actually check the results and fix the code.
But it could give open-source teams a better shot at staying one step ahead.
On-Chain Security in the Age of AI
Don’t take this as a sign to buy. Your focus should be on the bigger story …
AI — in the right hands — can help crypto grow stronger.
As an investor, this adds another box for you to check when you review your next potential investment.
Some security questions you’ll want to have on hand include …
- How does a project keep its open-source code safe?
- How often does it audit or invite others to audit its code and security measures?
- How fast does the team fix flaws?
- And are they using the latest tools to stay a step ahead of hackers?
These questions will become more important as AI and quantum computing develop further.
And for your own funds, the old rules still hold.
Keep your wallet up to date. Guard your keys. And check each link before you click.
And don’t forget to check out the rest of this week’s big highlights and updates from your crypto team …
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The Tokenized Stock Boom Has a Hidden Winner
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But that’s all for this week. Be sure to look for your next Weiss Crypto Daily update tomorrow.
Best,
Beth Canova
