Key facts
- Dozens of crypto firms are asking AI labs for early access to advanced AI models.
- The request aims to improve cybersecurity for Bitcoin and other open-source financial infrastructure.
- Signatories argue that current public AI models have limitations for security research.
- The letter highlights that vulnerabilities in open-source infrastructure can endanger life savings.
- Advanced AI is reportedly being used by sophisticated actors to target open-source maintainers.
More than three dozen bitcoin and crypto companies have formally requested that leading AI labs grant open-source security researchers early access to their most powerful models. The letter, organized by the Bitcoin Policy Institute and signed by firms including Coinbase, Block, and ARK Invest, argues that defenders of digital asset infrastructure are using weaker tools than attackers.
The signatories contend that Bitcoin Core developers, who maintain the network's software, are excluded from trusted-partner programs and face limitations with publicly available AI models due to safety filters. This forces them to rely on less capable open-weight models, potentially leaving critical infrastructure vulnerable.
Recent exploits against BTCPay Server and Lightning nodes, some uncovered with AI-powered assistance, underscore the urgency of the request. The firms are seeking early access to advanced AI models, sufficient computing resources, secure testing environments, and direct communication channels with AI lab security teams.
The letter highlights that advanced AI can accelerate the discovery of vulnerabilities in large codebases, posing a significant challenge for defenders. The firms are concerned that sophisticated actors, potentially including foreign adversaries, are already leveraging these capabilities to target open-source maintainers.