In 2024, a staggering $2.36 billion was lost across 760 on-chain security incidents. Notably, according to Cointelegraph, smart contract exploits were responsible for nearly 19% of the lost funds last year.
As DeFi matures, so do the techniques of hackers and scammers. That’s why, for any Web3 startup that deals with token contracts, liquidity pools, or DeFi protocols, security audits are a must.
Our team has prepared a list of 10 standout smart contract auditing companies a Web3 founder should know—security partners who don’t just scan code, but safeguard your blockchain project.
CertiK
Backed by leading investors like Sequoia, Coatue, Goldman Sachs, Shunwei Capital, and Insight Partners, CertiK has grown into the largest Web3 security services provider. CertiK stands at the forefront of combining traditional manual code review with formal verification and advanced real-time on-chain monitoring tools.
CertiK is also known for its “Hack3d” series—regular in-depth reports that analyze exploit trends, ecosystem vulnerabilities, and shifting risk dynamics across the blockchain ecosystem. By publishing this data openly, CertiK helps blockchain projects and investors stay informed about the latest threats and industry security posture, and encourages industry transparency.
In addition, CertiK has established key regulatory relationships in Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong, Abu Dhabi, and South Korea, contributing to policy discussions and frameworks on stablecoins and Web3.
CertiK embeds continuous monitoring, AML/KYC services, and incident-response frameworks into its modular suite, providing services for all stages of project development. Web3 founders benefit from faster remediation of vulnerabilities, greater user trust, and stronger positioning for regulatory or institutional integrations.
Hacken
Hacken is a blockchain-native security firm best known for uncovering complex, hard-to-find smart contract vulnerabilities—including 400+ critical issues. Founded by Ukrainian ethical hackers in 2017, Hacken is now a global brand, trusted by the world’s leading blockchain projects, regulators, and enterprises.
While the company has expanded into end-to-end security and compliance, smart contract auditing remains its flagship. Audits combine deep manual analysis with invariant checks and fuzz testing, then are reinforced by DualDefense Assurance—a post-audit, crowdsourced attack simulation run by 45,000+ researchers with bounties funded by Hacken. Ongoing protection is powered by Hacken’s in-house AI-driven real-time monitoring and threat intelligence. Delivery is streamlined via one portal with a dedicated delivery manager, real-time progress, and unlimited in-scope fixes during remediation.
Hacken is ISO 27001 certified, operates globally (EU, North America, MENA), and has delivered smart contract audits for the European Commission (EBSI). Notable partners include MetaMask, Ethereum Foundation, Bybit, OKX, Sui, Linea, and SG Forge, alongside 1,700+ public audits. The firm is also recognized for shaping smart contract auditing standards through work with industry alliances and regulators.
Hashlock
Hashlock is a leading blockchain cybersecurity and smart contract auditing company, having completed 300+ audits and secured over $2.3 billion on-chain. Known for detailed, project-specific reviews, Hashlock breaks the mould of typical Web3 auditing firms by maintaining an active presence in the community and working in close, transparent collaboration with clients and partners.
Beyond audits, Hashlock provides ongoing protection through on-chain monitoring, bug bounty management, upgradeable contract security, and more. Its audits are valued for their depth, often uncovering complex issues such as transaction front-running, logic edge cases, and cross-protocol inconsistencies that lighter reviews might miss.
Clients benefit not only from secure, production-ready code but also from post-audit support and knowledge transfer that strengthens internal testing practices and code standards. Recent innovations, like the free AI Audit Tool for instant vulnerability scanning, demonstrate Hashlock’s commitment to making advanced security accessible for blockchain projects of all sizes.
Cyfrin
Cyfrin is dedicated to scaling security, development, and education at every stage of the Web3 journey. From foundational learning to building, auditing, monitoring, and tooling, Cyfrin products and services level up protocol security and teach Web3 developers how to build safely, sustainably, and securely.
Cyfrin Audits help secure billions in TVL through smart contract security audits conducted by the industry’s leading security researchers. Cyfrin’s team of elite security researchers are trusted by the world’s biggest protocols and institutions to harden their defenses and safeguard assets. Additionally, Cyfrin offers protocols and institutions significant value-add services including formal verification, protocol architecture analysis, threat model analysis, permissions model hardening, test suite creation and enhancement, economic analysis, and support for defining protocol and contract invariants.
Cyfrin Solodit is the largest open source database of blockchain vulnerabilities, exploits, and mitigations, giving builders free access so they can reinforce the security of DeFi protocols and dApps.
If you’re building in Web3, Cyfrin is your security edge — protecting protocols with world-class audits, open-source tools, and elite researchers.
CyberScope
CyberScope stands out with its blend of quantitative and qualitative security metrics. Proudly claiming over 3,400 completed security audits and the safeguarding of more than $1 billion in assets, the firm serves multiple blockchain ecosystems—from Ethereum to Solana—bringing valuable cross-chain experience to each assessment.
By performing thousands of team KYCs and integrating best practices from compliance frameworks, CyberScope adds a layer of institutional rigor that newer token projects often need. The audit deliverables include a prioritized risk matrix, development-friendly remediation recommendations, and follow-up verification to ensure fixes are implemented thoroughly and not merely acknowledged.
CyberScope’s approach balances specialist-level scrutiny with framework-driven consistency, making its offering especially attractive to Web3 startups that juggle regulatory oversight and technical complexity.
QuillAudits
QuillAudits is a leading blockchain security company specializing in expert Web3 security audits that protect smart contracts, DeFi applications, and blockchain infrastructure, making them more resilient, investor-ready, and secure against evolving threats. With over 1.4 million lines of code reviewed and more than $3 billion in assets secured, the company works across a wide range of decentralized applications, from DEXs and lending platforms to token launches, combining speed with thoroughness to deliver high-impact results.
The firm’s audit methodology prioritizes clarity and usability. Each engagement includes a detailed breakdown of vulnerabilities ranked by severity, accompanied by step-by-step remediation guidance tailored to the project’s architecture. To ensure objectivity and maintain the highest standards, many audits are supplemented by independent reviews from external security researchers.
QuillAudits also places a strong emphasis on communication. Throughout the audit process, they keep both technical and non-technical stakeholders informed, ensuring that Web3 founders understand the business impact of security issues and developers have clear, actionable instructions for fixes. This commitment to transparency and collaboration enables teams to address vulnerabilities quickly and confidently, strengthening their security posture and boosting stakeholder trust ahead of public launches or investment rounds.
Halborn
Halborn is an award-winning, industry-leading security solutions firm, trusted by more than 10 of the world’s largest banks and financial institutions. The firm has discovered several zero-days, which, in addition to the 2,500+ engagements completed, amount to $1 trillion in value protected.
Founded in 2019, Halborn treats every assurance engagement as a strategic security project rather than a routine compliance exercise. Its expertise extends well beyond on-chain security, advanced penetration testing, and smart contract assessments, with a specialized off-chain practice capable of reviewing APIs, web and mobile applications, cloud environments, and other critical infrastructure components.
Halborn also offers advisory services to secure all aspects of technology, processes, and people, including real-world assets, stablecoins, and various other DLT initiatives requiring both a blockchain-native and a traditional, more robust approach. In this practice, the firm performs risk assessments, technical due diligence, training, digital asset custody reviews, architecture design, and compliance advisory.
With its blockchain-native yet robust and expanded capabilities, Halborn is a key player driving the digital transformation of financial institutions and securing the future of finance.
SlowMist
SlowMist is a long-standing cybersecurity firm with a deep specialization in Web3 ecosystems and blockchain infrastructure. Founded in 2018 and headquartered in China, the company has become a security mainstay in the Asian market, offering an extensive suite of services that includes smart contract auditing, blockchain infrastructure monitoring, wallet security, and on-chain threat intelligence.
What sets SlowMist apart is its operational readiness and proactive defense posture. Beyond code review, the team deploys anti-phishing systems, tracks illicit wallet activity, and issues real-time attack alerts during token launches and major events.
SlowMist is also known for its SlowMist Hacked database, a publicly accessible tracker that catalogs blockchain security incidents across the industry. By combining auditing expertise with continuous monitoring and public transparency, SlowMist offers a security partnership that extends well beyond a one-off engagement.
Quantstamp
Quantstamp is one of the earliest dedicated blockchain security firms, founded in 2017 to advance the adoption of secure smart contracts. Known for the team’s pioneering work in formal verification and automated vulnerability detection, its reach extends across major blockchain networks including Ethereum, Binance Smart Chain, Solana, and Avalanche.
Qyantstamp’s audit process blends automation with hands-on expert analysis. Proprietary scanning tools can rapidly detect known vulnerability patterns, while human auditors focus on complex logic flaws and system-wide security risks. For projects facing tight deadlines, this balance is especially valuable, delivering both speed and depth.
Over the years, Quantstamp has audited hundreds of protocols, securing billions in on-chain value. Its commitment to standards compliance, clear reporting, and developer-focused remediation guidance has made it a trusted partner for both emerging startups and large-scale DeFi platforms. Whether safeguarding a high-profile token launch or a niche protocol upgrade, Quantstamp’s methodology adapts to the risk profile and operational needs of each client.
Trail of Bits
Trail of Bits is a cybersecurity consulting and research powerhouse with expertise that extends far beyond blockchain, covering AI/ML, cryptographic protocols, application security, and security research. In the DeFi and Web3 space, the team leverages this broad knowledge to deliver highly thorough security auditing and consulting for both blockchain-native projects and traditional enterprises exploring decentralized technologies.
Its holistic approach combines manual analysis with novel testing methodologies and cutting-edge tooling. They’ve also developed industry-standard security tools like Slither and Echidna, which power its own audits and are shared openly with the developer community, strengthening security practices across Web3.
Known for balancing academic rigor with practical solutions, Trail of Bits produces audit reports that are clear, highly technical, and actionable. For blockchain projects with high regulatory requirements, large total value locked, or complex contract logic, Trail of Bits remains one of the most trusted names in blockchain security.
Final Words
In crypto, smart contract audits are no longer a formality—they’re the foundation for launching and scaling trustworthy Web3 projects. With billions in total value locked across DeFi and countless new protocols deploying every month, the margin for error has never been smaller
As the Web3 space continues to mature, security will be a defining competitive edge. Teams that integrate auditing as an ongoing process—not a one-time hurdle—will be better positioned to attract investors, satisfy regulatory expectations, and earn the trust of their communities. In an industry where reputation is everything, proactive security is a growth strategy
Disclaimer: This list is not ranked and does not imply a hierarchy of expertise. It is intended as an informational resource, not an endorsement. Always conduct your own due diligence (DYOR) before selecting an auditing partner.
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