The work of ethical hackers in the Web3 space is bringing them millions of dollars, significantly surpassing salaries in traditional cybersecurity.
Income of Ethical Hackers
According to Mitchell Amador, co-founder and CEO of the platform Immunefi, some researchers earn millions annually, while traditional cybersecurity roles typically offer salaries ranging from $150,000 to $300,000.
Platforms and Payouts
The Immunefi platform has processed over $120 million in payouts from thousands of vulnerability reports. So far, thirty white hats have become millionaires through these programs. Amador noted that critical bugs can yield bounties as high as 10% of the affected assets, highlighting the high stakes associated with DeFi.
Trends in Cyber Threats
In 2025, there has been a rise in attacks involving 'no-code' exploits such as social engineering and operational security vulnerabilities. DeFi projects with significant total value locked (TVL) but weak bounty programs are particularly vulnerable.
Thus, ethical hackers play a crucial role in the Web3 ecosystem, safeguarding users' funds from attackers, while their work is rewarded with significant financial benefits.
