The rise of generative artificial intelligence has led to an unprecedented surge in decentralized finance (DeFi) hacks, according to Mitchell Amador, CEO of Web3 security firm Immunefi. The latest AI models, including Claude Opus 4.8 and ChatGPT 5.5, are empowering attackers to find and exploit vulnerabilities at an alarming rate.
Amador warns that the next three to four years will be a critical test for the cryptocurrency industry as hackers continue to use AI to rapidly scan smart contract code for weaknesses. He emphasizes that the current asymmetry between offense and defense must be addressed, with defenders needing to build impenetrable systems from every angle.
One potential solution Amador points to is crowdsourced security, which involves bug bounty programs and coordinated vulnerability disclosure platforms. By leveraging a global network of ethical hackers, DeFi projects can identify and patch vulnerabilities before malicious actors exploit them.