Smart contract audit found 5 vulnerabilities — developers fixed all. A month later, the protocol was hacked via a new vector: the attacker used an unusual call sequence that auditors hadn't modeled. Audit is a snapshot in time. To launch a successful Bug Bounty program for your DeFi project, you need clear rules, a well-defined scope, and integration with platforms like Immunefi or HackerOne to attract skilled white hat hackers. Bug Bounty is a constant live check by thousands of eyes. It's a necessity for projects managing millions of dollars. Without it, you risk losing funds due to a vulnerability an auditor missed. We help build a program that attracts top researchers and protects your protocol.
How Bug Bounty Works for DeFi?
The program rests on three pillars: rules (scope), reward system (rewards), and platform (Immunefi or HackerOne). Rules define what can be tested — which contracts, transactions, off-chain components. The reward system sets payouts per severity level: critical up to $1M+, medium up to $50k. The platform manages reports, verification, and payouts.
Platform Comparison: Immunefi vs HackerOne
| Feature | Immunefi | HackerOne |
|---|---|---|
| Focus | DeFi, smart contracts | Universal (web2 + web3) |
| Community | >50,000 researchers | >600,000 |
| Average critical payout | $80k | $20k (Immunefi pays on average 4x more) |
| Integrations | Tenderly, Etherscan | Wide API set |
Developing Rules and Scope
Common scope mistakes:
- Implicit out-of-scope: oracles, bridges, frontend not listed. Hacker finds a bug in Chainlink integration, but it's rejected.
- Vague triggers: "substantial loss of funds" — no specific threshold. Better: "critical vulnerability — ability to steal more than 100 ETH".
- Overloaded scope: 20 contracts but documentation is lacking. Optimum: 3-5 main contracts + a link to auxiliary ones.
We integrate rules as a YAML file (example):
scope: smart_contracts: - address: "0x..." name: "LendingPool" severity: critical - address: "0x..." name: "PriceOracle" severity: high off_chain: - service: "API endpoint" severity: medium exclusions: - type: "frontend" reason: "no control" Reward System
Standard payout grid depends on scope complexity. For example:
| Level | Example | Reward |
|---|---|---|
| Critical | Direct theft of funds | $50k – $1M |
| High | Blocking withdrawals | $10k – $50k |
| Medium | Griefing attack | $2k – $10k |
| Low | Informational | $500 – $2k |
We don't fix prices — each project is unique. But we give estimates based on experience: a program across 12 projects showed average critical payout of $80k.
Why Start with Immunefi?
Immunefi is the DeFi standard: over $90M in rewards paid, integration with Tenderly for attack simulation. HackerOne is broader, but its crypto audience is smaller. We match the platform to the client's profile. For a young protocol with simple architecture, HackerOne gives more web2 specialists. For complex contracts, Immunefi is better.
What Is Scope and Why Is It Critical?
Scope defines testing boundaries. If too broad, researchers scatter on low-priority bugs. If too narrow, a critical vector goes unnoticed. We develop a scope that balances depth and coverage, with clear criteria for each severity level.
Work Process
How to Launch Bug Bounty in 4 Steps
- Analysis and program design (1 week): Study your stack: Solidity, Foundry, Hardhat. Identify critical functions, assess risks. Produce a "Scope of Work" document with rules and reward grid.
- Configuration development and integration (1 week): Set up platform: scope, roles, notifications. Write documentation for hackers: how to test, how to report.
- Closed launch (1 week): Publish program invite-only to 10–20 vetted researchers. Collect first reports, adjust rules.
- Open launch and monitoring (2 weeks): Open to all. Analyze reports daily, alert team on critical ones. Set up automatic pipeline via Tenderly for verification.
Full cycle: 4–6 weeks. Result: a working program with configured infrastructure. Request a preliminary analysis of your protocol – it will help determine scope and budget.
What's Included
- Program documentation (rules, scope, rewards)
- Integration with Immunefi or HackerOne
- Setup of automatic report verification (Tenderly + webhook)
- Dashboard for tracking metrics
- Training the client's team: how to respond to reports
- 30-day support guarantee after launch
Program development and integration typically costs between $5,000 and $15,000, with ongoing maintenance at $1,000/month.
We work with projects that have undergone at least one external audit. Without an audit, launching bug bounty is like shooting without aim: hackers find trivial bugs, you pay, but the critical vector remains.
Typical Startup Mistakes
- Overly broad scope: all contracts allowed — hacker wastes time on low-hanging bugs. Narrow scope yields quality reports.
- Unrealistic payouts: $500 for critical — researchers go to competitors. Follow Immunefi median: $50k for critical.
- No triage: report sits in queue for 3 days — hacker moves on. We set up auto-triage: critical → immediate Telegram alert.
Experience and Guarantees
We have launched programs for 12+ crypto projects with total rewards over $2M. Our team consists of senior developers with experience in auditing and creating smart contracts. We guarantee: the program will attract qualified researchers, and you will receive only relevant reports.
"After launching the program on Immunefi, we received 3 critical reports in the first month. Two of them uncovered potential loss of funds worth $300k." — example from practice (data anonymized).
Checklist for Launching a Bug Bounty Program
- Pass at least one external smart contract audit.
- Define scope: which contracts, functions, off-chain components.
- Set severity levels and corresponding rewards.
- Choose platform (Immunefi or HackerOne).
- Set up automatic report verification.
- Train team on incident handling.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Bug Bounty program?
It's a program where independent security researchers (white hat hackers) receive rewards for finding vulnerabilities. For DeFi projects, it's a key security layer after audits.
How much does it cost to launch a Bug Bounty program?
Cost depends on your protocol's complexity and scope depth. We assess each project individually and fix a budget for rule development, platform integration, and initial analysis. Contact us for an estimate.
How to choose a Bug Bounty platform: Immunefi or HackerOne?
Immunefi is the industry standard for DeFi: focused on smart contracts with a vast community. HackerOne is more versatile, suitable for both web3 and web2. We help you choose based on your risk profile.
What types of vulnerabilities does the program cover?
Scope typically includes critical smart contract vulnerabilities (reentrancy, flash loan, oracle manipulation), tokenomics bugs, and permission admin issues. Each level has a fixed reward.
How often should the Bug Bounty program be updated?
After every major upgrade of smart contracts. Also review scope, reward levels, and rules quarterly based on new attack vectors. We offer ongoing maintenance.