DeFi Fund leads new coalition to improve crypto security

DeFi Education Fund, Security Alliance (SEAL) and Asymmetric Research launched the Open Protocol Security Coalition, or OPSeC, on Tuesday to strengthen cryptocurrency security and provide resources as crypto legislation advances through Washington.

OPSeC said it will build a free central hub that consolidates best practices, technical frameworks and recommendations for on-chain software development and decentralized projects. The coalition plans to gather industry security experts and expand access to existing tools and guidance for developers, auditors and policymakers.

Organizations that join OPSeC must sign a pledge to contribute cybersecurity resources to the effort. That commitment can include making personnel available to present practices, contributing technical materials and proposing defensive measures. Investors that join pledge to ensure their portfolio companies meet a baseline of security practices, the coalition added.

Amanda Tuminelli, CEO and chief legal officer of the DeFi Education Fund, described OPSeC as a way to “amplify access to these resources and bring together industry experts so that we can ensure that security remains at the forefront of onchain software development and that teams of every size have access to excellent cybersecurity tools.”

samczsun, founder and CEO of SEAL, noted that “the security knowledge and tools this industry needs already exist, but what’s been missing is a clear path to get that expertise in front of policymakers.” He added that OPSeC will contribute technical frameworks to policy discussions.

OPSeC plans to host educational sessions for lawmakers and their staff to introduce technical practitioners and provide practical frameworks that can inform rulemaking without imposing uniform rules on software developers or decentralized infrastructure teams.

The coalition launched while congressional lawmakers negotiate a bill intended to regulate the cryptocurrency industry and address illicit finance. Some legislators say current proposals do not go far enough to reduce criminal activity, while many in the crypto sector are calling for rules that distinguish centralized financial services from open-source software and decentralized systems.

Beyond the hub and briefings, OPSeC members will share ongoing research, security playbooks and incident response guidance. The group said it will curate and amplify work from established security teams so policymakers and builders can quickly access vetted technical documentation and operational guidance.