Avalanche Founder Warns AI Could Find Blockchain Software Flaws
Avalanche founder Emin Gün Sirer warned that AI could find software flaws in blockchain systems such as the XRP Ledger before current cryptography becomes obsolete. He said AI might detect weaknesses in code, libraries, and wallets that humans could miss, potentially enabling large thefts. His comments followed an emergency XRP Ledger software update in late September.
Sirer’s remarks came after XRP Ledger developers released an urgent patch on September 25. They first kept the fix’s code private, then pledged to publish it with a later technical review. He did not name a specific unpatched flaw in that ledger or an actual AI attack.
The wider discussion features Vitalik Buterin’s caution that AI-assisted math progress might undermine lattice-based cryptography within two years, while Charles Hoskinson rejected such forecasts as speculative. Justin Drake has also flagged AI as a possible threat to ECDSA. Sirer nevertheless says today’s software weaknesses should come first.
If AI tools make hidden code flaws easier to find, crypto holders, exchanges, wallet users, and payment networks could face greater risk of theft or disruption. Developers may need faster audits, quicker patches, and clearer disclosure practices. The debate could also shape public confidence in blockchain security, especially for high-value networks, though concrete effects remain uncertain until real incidents or fixes emerge.