Ethereum is gearing up for its inaugural hackathon featuring a substantial $2 million reward pool aimed at conducting the most extensive community-driven security audit of its blockchain codebase to date. Dubbed the "Attackathon," this four-week challenge will task security researchers with actively seeking vulnerabilities in Ethereum's protocol. Participants must adhere to specific competition rules, with rewards reserved for impactful and compliant vulnerability reports.The event kicks off with a technical walkthrough of Ethereum's codebase to equip participants with the necessary skills to identify and comprehend potential vulnerabilities. Following the conclusion of the Attackathon, bug bounty platform Immunefi, serving as the event's host, will compile all findings into a comprehensive report detailing discovered vulnerabilities.Immunefi has contributed $500,000 to the prize pool and is urging sponsors to raise an additional $1.5 million by August 1st to further support the initiative. The Ethereum Protocol Security (EPS) research team plans to organize similar hackathons coinciding with every hard fork that introduces changes to Ethereum's codebase.Ethereum's upcoming "Pectra" hard fork, expected to launch later this year or early next year, integrates the "Prague" and "Electra" upgrades. Among its anticipated updates is a "social recovery" feature designed to potentially replace the traditional 24-word private wallet key, enhancing user convenience with smart contract-like functionalities.Hackathons are a staple in the tech industry, and within the crypto realm, they serve as vital platforms for identifying and addressing security issues. Numerous blockchain projects, including Ethereum, regularly engage in such events alongside ongoing bug bounty programs aimed at incentivizing ethical hacking practices rather than malicious activities.
