AI Tool May Shake Up Crypto Security

Anthropic’s new AI model, called Mythos Preview, can spot hidden software problems faster than any human team. The startup says the tool is too risky to let people use it openly, because it could uncover bugs in crypto systems that have been missed for years. Security experts warn that if an AI can find flaws in the code that runs digital wallets, smart contracts and cross‑chain bridges, hackers could exploit them before anyone notices. The danger is not a distant quantum computer breaking encryption; it’s an AI that can already discover software weaknesses in real time. The crypto world is built on open code and public networks, which means an AI can scan all the components that hold billions of dollars. Unlike banks, which have private systems and backup plans, crypto transactions are instant, irreversible and run entirely on code that anyone can read. Because Mythos can identify bugs in minutes, the time between a vulnerability being found and it being turned into an attack is shortened dramatically. This could lead to huge, sudden losses that are hard to recover from.Some companies are already working to counter the threat. Anthropic has teamed up with big tech firms and banks under a project called Glasswing, offering free access to Mythos so that defenders can patch weaknesses before attackers do. Crypto exchanges and decentralized platforms are also asking for early access to test the AI on their own systems. If they succeed, the model could become a powerful tool for checking smart contracts that have traditionally been audited by slow, expensive human reviews. Investors and regulators are beginning to notice the risk. The Federal Reserve and Treasury have met with bank leaders about AI threats, while open‑source projects like Uniswap are exploring how to use the model for better security. Despite these developments, many people in the crypto market still do not fully appreciate how fast AI can turn a hidden bug into a real attack. The industry may be underestimating the fragility of its own infrastructure as it races to keep up with new technology.