- Trending
- Comments
- Latest
Blockchain security firm CertiK has partnered with YZi Labs to provide $1 million in audit grants and automated threat detection tools to startups in the EASY Residency Incubation Program, embedding security services directly into the accelerator’s support framework.
The EASY Residency Incubation Program is designed to support what YZi Labs describes as the top 1% of early-stage founders building for long-term impact.
Through the partnership, CertiK will directly support incubated projects by providing smart contract audits, AI-based vulnerability scanning, and continuous onchain monitoring.
According to program details published by YZi Labs, the accelerator focuses on sustainable growth rather than short-term token launches.
CertiK’s involvement is intended to ensure that security considerations are integrated alongside product design and business development, rather than treated as an afterthought.
“Security is the foundation of long-term success, but for early-stage founders, it’s often a high-stakes distraction while they are still chasing product-market fit,” said Ella Zhang, head of YZi Labs. “Think of it like building a skyscraper: founders should focus on the architecture and the vision, while CertiK acts as the structural engineers, ensuring the frame is earthquake-proof.”
As part of the EASY Residency Incubation Program, CertiK will provide services including formal verification and automated code analysis, which are increasingly expected by institutional investors and ecosystem partners.
Web3 security audits have evolved from optional safeguards into baseline requirements, particularly as exploit-driven losses continue to expose weaknesses in early-stage protocols.
According to CertiK, comprehensive audits help identify vulnerabilities such as reentrancy flaws, logic errors, and access control failures before deployment.
The partnership enables startups in the EASY Residency Incubation Program to access CertiK’s auditing methodology, which combines manual review with proprietary tools such as CertiK Skynet, a platform that provides real-time monitoring of onchain activity and risk signals.
By pairing audits with AI-driven scanning, CertiK aims to reduce the gap between development speed and security rigor. This approach allows founders to ship iteratively while maintaining visibility into emerging threats.
From an investor perspective, a completed CertiK audit often functions as a signal of maturity and risk awareness. Institutional allocators increasingly require documented security reviews before engaging with early-stage protocols, particularly those handling user funds or critical infrastructure.
The EASY Residency Incubation Program’s decision to subsidize audits directly addresses a common bottleneck for startups, where high audit costs can delay launches or force teams to compromise on coverage.
CertiK co-founder and chief executive Ronghui Gu said the partnership reflects a shift toward ecosystem-wide responsibility rather than isolated project success.
“This is not only related to the growth of projects but also to the health and sustainability of the entire Web3 ecosystem,” Gu said.
The collaboration positions the EASY Residency Incubation Program as a security-forward accelerator at a time when exploit prevention is becoming central to ecosystem credibility.
Rather than retroactively responding to incidents, the model emphasizes preventative design, continuous monitoring, and early risk mitigation.
Industry observers note that combining capital, mentorship, and security tooling under one framework could become a standard for next-generation accelerators.
As regulatory scrutiny increases and user expectations rise, startups lacking demonstrable security practices may struggle to compete for funding and partnerships.
By integrating CertiK’s services directly into the EASY Residency Incubation Program, YZi Labs is effectively setting a minimum security baseline for its portfolio companies, reinforcing the idea that trust and resilience are core components of scalable innovation.
As Web3 infrastructure matures, initiatives like the EASY Residency Incubation Program may play a decisive role in shaping which projects survive beyond experimentation and into long-term adoption.
