Ethereum Foundation announces $2M 'attackathon'
The team dedicated to safeguarding the Ethereum protocol, known as the Ethereum Protocol Security (EPS) group, broadcasted their intentions for a programming competition in a blog announcement dated July 8. Their ambition is to amass a bounty pool exceeding $2 million. With a generous starting contribution of $500,000 from the Foundation itself, they’re appealing to the wider community to pitch in with the additional $1.5 million by the deadline of August 1.
Throughout this Security Marathon, expert researchers will delve into the protocol’s underlying code to unearth any flaws, adhering to a set of predetermined guidelines. The kickoff of this challenge will be marked by a preparatory segment, enriching participants with live demonstrations and insightful sessions courtesy of the Attackathon Academy, aimed at equipping them with the skills necessary to spot potential security weaknesses.
Participants are expected to adhere to the competition’s governed rules, with rewards being issued exclusively for significant and compliance-abiding reports. This segment prioritizes the application of acquired insights to tackle issues in real-time.
The task of overseeing the contest has been entrusted to Immunefi, a platform celebrated for its proficiency in Web3 security. Once the challenge wraps up, Immunefi is tasked with the review of submissions and will compile a comprehensive report that not only documents the unearthed security gaps but also accolades the stand-out contributors.
Aimed at bolstering security with each significant update to the Ethereum network, the EPS group is determined to organize parallel security events coinciding with all future hard forks. This proactive approach is in anticipation of Ethereum’s forthcoming major update, the “Pectra” hard fork, which is slated for release towards the end of 2024 or the beginning of 2025.
