Saving DeFi from financial hacks, with Quantstamp CEO Richard Ma

Lex chats with Richard Ma, CEO of Quantstamp -a leading
blockchain security company. Richard kicks off by discussing the
origins of the company and the importance of security in the
blockchain space. He explains that the idea for Quantstamp came
after he invested in Ethereum and witnessed the hack of the DAO,
which prompted him to focus on the security side of Ethereum.
Richard describes how Quantstamp conducts audits of blockchain
projects, identifying vulnerabilities and providing
recommendations for improvement. He emphasizes the importance of
reading audit reports and understanding the risks associated with
projects. Richard also discusses different types of adversaries
in the blockchain space, including nation-state actors,
developers seeking recognition, and financially motivated
hackers. He believes that while established projects will become
more secure over time, new experimental projects will always
carry some level of risk. Richard suggests that AI-based
debuggers could help improve security auditing in the future. He
highlights EigenLayer, ZK-rollups, and the development on Solana
as exciting sectors to watch in the coming years.


 


MENTIONED IN THE CONVERSATION


 


Quantstamps's Website: https://bit.ly/3Iv6zX4


Richard's LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3IvaxyO


 


Topics: blockchain, security, audit, hacking, hacks, crypto,
cryptocurrency, digital assets, Web3, DeFi


 


Companies: Quantstamp, Ethereum, MakerDAO, Compound, EigenLayer


 


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Twitter: https://twitter.com/LexSokolin


 


TIMESTAMPS


 


1’30: From High-Frequency Trading to Fintech Innovator: The
Journey to Creating Quantstamp


 


9’26: Demystifying the Audit Process: Inside Quantstamp's
Approach to Securing Blockchain Projects


 


15’04: The Art and Challenge of Blockchain Audits: Navigating the
Complex World of Code Review


 


19’37: The Nomad Hack: A Case Study in Preventability and the
Importance of Diligence in Code Auditing


 


24’39: Web3's Adversarial Landscape: Unpacking the Motivations
Behind Crypto Hacks and Security Breaches


 


29’13: The Ethical Dilemma of Crypto Hacking: Navigating the Fine
Line Between Exploitation and Market Manipulation


 


34’59: Exploring the Frontier: Key Innovations Shaping the Future
of Blockchain in 2024 and Beyond


 


36’34: The channels used to connect with Richard & learn more
about Quantstamp


Disclaimer here — this newsletter does not provide investment
advice and represents solely the views and opinions of FINTECH
BLUEPRINT LTD.


Contributors: Lex, Laurence, Matt, Farhad, Mike, Daniella


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