Security by Design: Certora, Cork, and Hypernative Redefine DeFi Safety Standards

Certora, Cork, and Hypernative have announced a strategic partnership to redefine security standards in the Web3 ecosystem, aiming to embed "security by design" principles into blockchain protocols. The collaboration seeks to create systems that are not only resilient against threats but also scalable for developers and transparent for users. By combining Certora's formal verification tools, Cork's programmable risk infrastructure, and Hypernative's real-time threat detection, the trio is positioning itself as a leader in addressing the growing complexity of decentralized finance (DeFi) security challenges according to reports.

Certora, a blockchain security firm, has already demonstrated its impact in mitigating risks. Recently, it partnered with Balancer to prevent a potential $4.1 million loss by identifying a critical vulnerability in the platform's V2 meta-stable pools. The white-hat recovery operation, conducted in collaboration with security firm SEAL, secured user funds on Ethereum, Optimism, and Arbitrum by deprecating the affected pools. This incident underscores the urgency of proactive security measures in DeFi, where smart contract flaws continue to account for over 70% of exploits in 2025.

The partnership with Cork and Hypernative builds on Certora's expertise in formal verification, a method used by protocols like Aave and Lido to detect even rare bugs in development pipelines. Cork, backed by a16z crypto and other institutional investors, introduces a programmable risk layer for tokenized assets, enabling asset managers to enhance liquidity and transparency.

Hypernative, meanwhile, leverages machine learning and graph-based analytics to monitor over 300 risk types in real time, from smart contract hacks to frontend compromises.

The urgency of such collaborations is evident in recent DeFi vulnerabilities. Balancer's V2 pools, for instance, faced repeated exploits, including a $116 million loss in 2023. While the platform's V3 architecture remains unaffected, the incident highlights the need for continuous audits and version upgrades. Certora's role in mitigating the $4.1 million threat demonstrates how rapid response protocols can minimize damage, even as attackers evolve their tactics.

Gal Sagie, CEO of Hypernative, emphasized the broader implications of the partnership: "We're not just filtering out bad actors; we're raising risk standards for the entire industry." The integration of security by design could reduce the frequency and severity of DeFi exploits, which have dropped 85% in October 2025 but remain a persistent threat.

As DeFi protocols scale, the collaboration between Certora, Cork, and Hypernative represents a pivotal shift toward institutional-grade security. By aligning formal verification, risk modeling, and real-time monitoring, the partnership aims to foster trust in Web3-a critical step as blockchain adoption expands into mainstream finance.