Innerworks and Bittensor Launch RedTeam: A Decentralized Cybersecurity Initiative
In a significant development in the realm of cybersecurity, Innerworks and Bittensor have announced their partnership to launch RedTeam, a decentralized platform that leverages blockchain technology to enhance online security. This innovative initiative aims to reward ethical hackers for identifying vulnerabilities, transforming their findings into robust defenses against the ever-evolving landscape of cyber threats. With an alarming increase in cybercrime, where hackers stole $2.2 billion in cryptocurrencies in 2024 alone, the need for such a platform has never been more critical.
RedTeam combines the expertise of Innerworks in bot detection with Bittensor’s blockchain-based machine learning capabilities. The platform introduces a decentralized model that incentivizes white-hat hackers with TAO, Bittensor’s native cryptocurrency, for their contributions. These contributions are then integrated into an open-source library, allowing security models to adapt to new threats, including bots that mimic human behavior. The operational structure of RedTeam includes interconnected roles such as miners, validators, and subnet owners, each receiving TAO based on their effectiveness in addressing security challenges.
The launch of RedTeam comes at a time when cybercriminal activities are on the rise, particularly in the cryptocurrency sector. According to blockchain analytics firm Chainalysis, there were 303 hacking incidents in 2024, marking a 21% increase from the previous year. Centralized platforms have also become prime targets, with notable thefts including $305 million from DMM Bitcoin and $234.9 million from WazirX. As Innerworks founder Oli Q stated, RedTeam aims to harness the collective intelligence of ethical hackers to create market-leading cybersecurity tools that can be rapidly adopted in real-world applications.