What Is the Ethereum ‘Trillion Dollar Security Initiative’?

The Ethereum Foundation recently unveiled an ambitious new effort aimed at dramatically enhancing the network’s security. Named the Trillion Dollar Security Initiative (1TS), this program intends to prepare Ethereum to securely handle trillions of dollars in value. 

Ethereum’s Vision for Civilization-Scale Infrastructure

Ethereum already ranks as one of the most secure blockchains in the crypto space. Yet, the Foundation believes this is not enough. Their goal is to build what they call “civilization-scale infrastructure”—a platform strong and trustworthy enough that billions of people can safely hold over $1,000 onchain. 

The broader ambition is to reach a point where companies, institutions, and even governments feel comfortable entrusting more than one trillion dollars in value to a single Ethereum smart contract or decentralized application.

This level of trust would position Ethereum alongside, or even ahead of, traditional financial institutions regarding security and reliability. The Foundation acknowledges the challenge ahead: 

"Being the most secure platform in the crypto ecosystem isn’t enough," the foundation said. “Ethereum’s ambition is far greater: to be civilization-scale infrastructure that securely underpins the internet and global economy, surpassing the safety and trustworthiness of the world’s legacy systems.”

Why Is This Initiative Important?

Ethereum secures over $63 billion worth of assets today, making it the largest smart contract network by value locked. But as DeFi, NFTs, and Web3 applications grow, so do the stakes. Ethereum needs to evolve its security measures to support broader economic integration.

The initiative comes amid rising interest from institutional investors and growing adoption of Ethereum-based applications. Recent upgrades like Pectra have boosted Ethereum’s appeal, contributing to a price rally of over 50% in just a week. 

Improving Ethereum’s security is not just about preventing hacks or bugs. It’s about creating a secure foundation that encourages more users and institutions to entrust significant value on the blockchain.

The Three Phases

The Foundation plans to roll out the initiative in three distinct phases.

Phase One focuses on mapping Ethereum’s security landscape. This means assessing vulnerabilities and strengths across the entire technology stack—from user experience and wallet design to smart contract frameworks and consensus protocols. 

Phase Two will see the implementation of fixes and long-term improvements. These include patching high-risk vulnerabilities and strengthening core protocols. The Foundation aims to involve the broader Ethereum ecosystem in this phase, bringing in developers, auditors, and researchers to contribute solutions.

Phase Three centers on transparency and education. The initiative will improve communication about Ethereum’s security posture and standards. Clearer public information will help users and institutions understand the risks and protections involved. It will also provide tools to compare Ethereum’s security with other blockchains and even legacy financial systems.

Who Is Leading the Initiative?

The project is co-chaired by Fredrik Svantes, the Foundation’s Protocol Security Lead, and Josh Stark, a key member of EF’s management team. Their leadership signals the initiative’s seriousness and technical depth.

In addition, the Foundation has enlisted three respected figures in the crypto security community as ecosystem stewards:

• samczsun, founder of the Security Alliance (SEAL) and a well-known security advisor at Paradigm. He is famous for responsibly disclosing major vulnerabilities in high-profile protocols.
   
• Mehdi Zerouali, co-founder of blockchain security firm Sigma Prime. His company conducts audits on major DeFi protocols and plays a vital role in securing Ethereum infrastructure.
   
• Zach Obront, co-founder of Etherealize and a key contributor to Ethereum scaling solutions. He has a strong track record in uncovering critical bugs and improving Web3 application security.

Together, this leadership team combines deep technical expertise with strong ties across the ecosystem.

Deep Security Assessment Across Multiple Layers

The initiative’s first phase dives into a broad range of security issues, including:

• Wallet User Experience (UX): Addressing risks like blind signing, which can trick users into unknowingly approving malicious transactions.
   
• Smart Contract Tooling: Reviewing libraries and frameworks that developers use to write contracts, ensuring fewer bugs slip through.
   
• Consensus Protocol: Evaluating the proof-of-stake mechanism for centralization risks and attack vectors.
   
• Infrastructure Risks: Examining cloud dependencies, DNS vulnerabilities, and potential supply chain attacks.

The Foundation stresses that each layer of Ethereum’s stack must be secure to meet its trillion-dollar target.

The Trillion Dollar Security Initiative is not a closed-door project. The Ethereum Foundation is actively seeking input from the broader community—auditors, developers, researchers, and users. A public feedback form on the Foundation’s website invites participation.