Bug Bounties Hit Limits as AI Puts Crypto Hackers on Equal Footing

**AI Revolution Threatens Cryptocurrency Security as Bug Bounties Lose Effectiveness**

The cryptocurrency security landscape faces unprecedented challenges as artificial intelligence democratizes hacking tools, according to Immunefi CEO Mitchell Amador. Speaking to Decrypt, Amador revealed that AI has fundamentally shifted the balance of power between security researchers and malicious actors, reducing attack costs to mere pennies while traditional bug bounty programs struggle to keep pace.

This development poses significant implications for the broader cryptocurrency ecosystem, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, and DeFi protocols that rely heavily on community-driven security research. Previously, sophisticated hacking tools were exclusive to well-funded security firms, creating a natural barrier to entry for bad actors. However, AI accessibility has leveled the playing field, enabling amateur hackers to execute complex attacks on blockchain infrastructure with minimal investment.

The cryptocurrency market, valued at over $1 trillion, now faces heightened vulnerability as bug bounty programs—once considered the gold standard for proactive security—prove insufficient against AI-enhanced threats. This paradigm shift demands immediate attention from cryptocurrency exchanges, DeFi platforms, and blockchain developers to reassess their security frameworks and protection mechanisms against increasingly sophisticated AI-powered attacks.