On The Brink with Castle Island Giovanni Vignone (Octane Security) on Protecting Onchain Assets (EP.682)
Nov 3, 2025
Giovanni Vignone, founder of Octane Security and a crypto security expert, dives into the evolving landscape of cybersecurity in the cryptocurrency space. He discusses the major threats hackers pose today and how teams can improve their security practices from day one. Giovanni emphasizes the importance of continuous vulnerability analysis, budget recommendations for startups, and the role of AI in both scaling attacks and defenses. He also highlights the risks of centralization and how effective security spending can prevent costly breaches.
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Crypto's Uniquely High Risk Profile
- Crypto has the highest risk profile because hacks directly steal real user funds on-chain.
- No single manual audit equals security; teams must map risk and build defenses continuously.
Shift Security Left Into Dev Pipelines
- Bake security tooling into your development pipeline from day one and shift security left.
- Use automated detectors, AI analysis, and at least two manual audits before going live.
Staff A Full-Time Security Lead
- Hire a full-time security lead (CISO or head of security) to think about security continuously.
- Dedicated staff improves decision-making and enforces security across product and ops.