With the rise of cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology has come a slew of security issues, including thefts, hacks, and fraudulent activities. These incidents have harmed the industry’s reputation and hampered mainstream adoption.
Hackers engaging in illicit crypto-related activities are on the rise. The vulnerabilities of cryptocurrency exchanges and the assets they trade are once again in the spotlight. The $400 million hack at FTX last November was a critical factor in the company’s demise, from which the industry is still reeling. Hot wallets are especially vulnerable, and Bitcoin ATM manufacturers have suffered massive reputational damage as a result of recent exploits.
Overall, the crypto industry faces a slew of security issues. Some of the most significant security challenges confronting the crypto industry are: Hacking is one of the crypto industry’s most serious security issues. Cryptocurrencies are stored in digital wallets, which can be hacked and the funds stolen if they are not adequately secured.
Phishing Scams: Another major security issue confronting the crypto industry is phishing scams. Phishing emails and websites are frequently used by cybercriminals to trick people into giving them access to their cryptocurrency wallets.
Insider Threats: Insider threats can also pose a significant security risk to the cryptocurrency industry. Employees who have access to sensitive data or cryptocurrency wallets may abuse their privileges or leak information to third parties. Malware, such as viruses, trojans, and ransomware, can also pose a significant threat to the crypto industry’s security. Malware can be used to steal digital wallet private keys or other sensitive information.
Regulatory Issues: The crypto industry faces regulatory issues, particularly in the areas of money laundering, terrorist financing, and tax evasion. These difficulties can have an impact on industry security by making adequate security measures more difficult to implement.
The crypto industry faces complex and multifaceted security challenges. To begin the journey, addressing them requires a comprehensive approach that includes technological solutions.
Several technological advancements can help to protect customer assets and keep exchanges and businesses one step ahead of hackers. BeInCrypto consulted with industry experts to identify the areas where improved security is most needed.
Multi-party computation (MPC) technology is one of the most promising new developments. MPC enables multiple parties to jointly compute a function while keeping their private inputs private. MPC protects private keys required to access a user’s funds in the blockchain and crypto context. MPC can prevent a single point of failure and improve security by splitting the key into multiple parts and distributing them to different parties.
BeInCrypto inquired about the topic with Halborn, a blockchain cybersecurity firm. When asked about the key features and benefits of MPC, the team responded: “If a user’s private key is lost or stolen, funds in the wallet may be stolen or rendered inaccessible indefinitely.” MPC wallets attempt to solve the problems of traditional cryptocurrency wallets by distributing ownership of a private key between n parties in a redundant manner.”
Threshold signatures are another innovation that can protect customer assets (TSS). Threshold signatures, like MPC, divide a private key into multiple parts and distribute them to different parties. In this case, however, the essential parts are used to create a signature rather than to access funds. Threshold signatures can prevent unauthorized access and enable secure transactions by requiring a certain number of signatures to complete a transaction. Moving on, homomorphic encryption is another technology that can improve security.Â
Homomorphic encryption allows computations on encrypted data to be performed without decrypting it. Homorphic encryption can protect sensitive data in the context of blockchain and crypto, such as transaction details and user identities. Homorphic encryption, by encrypting this data, can prevent unauthorized access and enable secure storage and transmission.
Sunscreen co-founder and CEO Ravital Solomon believes fully homomorphic encryption (FHE) is even more promising in terms of enhancing blockchain privacy. According to Solomon, the technology enables individuals to perform computations on encrypted data without decrypting it.
Security in the crypto industry is also improved by zero-knowledge proofs. Zero-knowledge proofs allow one party to demonstrate to another that they are aware of a secret without revealing it. Zero-knowledge proofs can be used in blockchain and crypto to verify transactions without revealing the identities of the parties or the transaction’s details. This can enable secure and private transactions while maintaining the blockchain’s transparency and immutability.
Finally, in the crypto industry, decentralized identity (DID) solutions are important. DID solutions give users control over their identities and personal data without the need for centralized authorities or intermediaries. DID solutions can prevent identity theft, improve privacy, and enable secure access to digital services by utilizing decentralized identifiers and verifiable credentials.
Technological advancements are critical in protecting customer assets and assisting exchanges and businesses in staying one step ahead of hackers. The crypto industry is confronted with numerous security challenges. Nonetheless, several technological innovations can protect customer assets while also allowing businesses and firms to stay one step ahead of hackers.
Multi-party computation, threshold signatures, homomorphic encryption, zero-knowledge proofs, and decentralized identity solutions are among the innovations. The crypto industry can increase trust, promote mainstream adoption, and realize the full potential of blockchain and crypto by adopting these technologies and investing in security.
