Leading cryptocurrency companies are pressing AI research labs to grant security researchers access to advanced models to bolster defenses against cyber threats.
Over 30 firms in the cryptocurrency sector, including notable names like Coinbase, Block, and BitGo, have signed an open letter calling on AI labs to provide early access to their most sophisticated models for security research. The firms argue that the current safety measures imposed on AI tools create a significant disadvantage for those defending the cryptocurrency ecosystem against cyber attacks.
This initiative, spearheaded by the Bitcoin Policy Institute, emphasizes that Bitcoin Core developers lack access to the resources available to trusted security partners, limiting their ability to identify vulnerabilities in their software. Publicly available models often come with safety filters that hinder their effectiveness, leaving them reliant on less powerful open-weight models.
In contrast, attackers have greater access to advanced tools, which can give them a considerable edge. The letter highlights that while defenders are often working with outdated resources, attackers can utilize new offensive capabilities well before they are made available to the public.
