Ripple is turning hackers into heroes. The blockchain company behind XRP has launched a $200,000 “Attackathon” with security platform Immunefi, inviting researchers worldwide to find flaws in the new XRPL Lending Protocol before it officially goes live.
Ripple says this competition is part of its plan to make the XRP Ledger the safest foundation for institutional DeFi.
Why Ripple Wants Hackers to Try Breaking XRPL
The XRPL Lending Protocol marks a new chapter for Ripple’s ecosystem. Unlike traditional DeFi lending, which relies on smart contracts or collateral, XRPL introduces off-chain credit checks, letting institutions use their own risk systems while keeping transactions transparent on-chain.
This unique setup is meant to make lending more accessible to banks and regulated firms, but it also demands extreme security.
That’s why Ripple wants hackers to get involved before the system handles real money.
“Security through transparency is how trust is built,” Ripple engineers explained. “We’d rather fix vulnerabilities now than after institutions start using it.”
Inside the $200K Challenge
The Attackathon runs from October 27 to November 29, with an education period starting October 13 to help new participants learn XRPL’s framework.
Developed in C++, the program rewards any researcher who finds a valid bug, and if even one serious flaw is found, the entire $200,000 pool is paid out.
If not, participants still share a fallback pool of $30,000, a clever way to reward deep, honest research over surface-level findings.
Ripple and Immunefi are also offering an Attackathon Academy, complete with live sessions from Ripple engineers, XRPL-specific guides, and a test environment so even beginners can dive in.
Bugs and Features in Focus
The competition focuses on key areas like liquidation logic, interest accrual, clawback systems, vault interactions, and permissioned access control. Each of these plays a crucial role in the protocol’s fund security and stability.
If the XRPL Lending Protocol proves reliable after this stress test, it could become a blueprint for safer, permissioned DeFi, one where transparency, regulation, and blockchain innovation finally meet.
So yes, Ripple is asking the world to attack XRPL. But it’s not a sign of weakness. It’s a sign of confidence.
Trust with CoinPedia:
CoinPedia has been delivering accurate and timely cryptocurrency and blockchain updates since 2017. All content is created by our expert panel of analysts and journalists, following strict Editorial Guidelines based on E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness). Every article is fact-checked against reputable sources to ensure accuracy, transparency, and reliability. Our review policy guarantees unbiased evaluations when recommending exchanges, platforms, or tools. We strive to provide timely updates about everything crypto & blockchain, right from startups to industry majors.
Investment Disclaimer:
All opinions and insights shared represent the author’s own views on current market conditions. Please do your own research before making investment decisions. Neither the writer nor the publication assumes responsibility for your financial choices.
Sponsored and Advertisements:
Sponsored content and affiliate links may appear on our site. Advertisements are marked clearly, and our editorial content remains entirely independent from our ad partners.
