Is Your Crypto Safe From Hackers? - Dyma Budorin | ATC #609

Dima Budarin, a veteran of Ukrainian cyber‑defense and co‑founder of Hacken, pivoted to Web3 after a 2017 ICO that awarded his team 33 BTC. That early win sparked a career focused on protecting crypto infrastructure, from smart‑contract audits to the broader operational hygiene that many projects neglect. Budarin emphasizes that while contract code has hardened, the real threat now lies in poor key management, supply‑chain weaknesses, and social‑engineering tactics that bypass technical safeguards.

To address these gaps, Budarin’s new venture Core3 functions like a Moody’s for crypto. It aggregates public data—cold and hot wallet balances, GitHub repositories, AML/KYC practices, and even social‑media authenticity—to generate risk scores for exchanges, brokers, and DeFi protocols. The platform highlights mis‑configurations such as single‑point‑of‑failure multisig setups and missing transaction simulations, offering remediation roadmaps that go beyond traditional ISO certifications. By publishing transparent dashboards, Core3 aims to give institutional investors the confidence to allocate capital to projects rated “AA” rather than speculative “D”‑grade assets.

The broader impact could reshape market behavior. With clear risk metrics, investors can avoid wash‑trading platforms and poorly secured brokers, while projects are incentivized to adopt industry‑standard operational practices. Core3 plans to monetize through premium subscriptions, on‑demand due‑diligence reports, and priority listings, ensuring a sustainable, unbiased model. As the crypto ecosystem matures, such public risk infrastructure may become as essential as financial audits, fostering accountability, reducing hack‑related losses, and paving the way for mainstream institutional participation.