Introduction
I’m excited to announce my candidacy for the Arbitrum Security Council as an individual member. As the CEO and Co-Founder of Sherlock, a leading smart contract auditing and security platform, I bring over 4 years of experience in EVM-based security, smart contract development, and decentralized governance. My career has been dedicated to protecting Web3 ecosystems and ensuring the resilience of decentralized protocols against evolving threats.
I’ve interfaced with, advised, and secured >100 DeFi projects and blockchain infrastructure companies over my 4 years in the space. Sherlock wrote one of the very first audit proposals in the Arbitrum DAO ~1.5 years ago and subsequently helped advise on the formation of the APDC. Sherlock was also selected as one of the first audit grant partners by the ADPC, and we’ve worked closely with internal and external teams to improve the process and attract more teams to the Arbitrum ecosystem. We have been active advocates for the Arbitrum ecosystem for many years.
Background
My career has been focused on advancing blockchain security and fostering trust in decentralized systems. Here are some highlights of my professional journey:
- CEO and Co-Founder of Sherlock (Present)
- Founded and lead Sherlock, a platform that combines cutting-edge smart contract audits with economic incentives to secure DeFi protocols. Sherlock has protected billions in total value locked (TVL) across multiple ecosystems, including Arbitrum, Ethereum and beyond.
- Multi-Sig Signer for Critical Blockchain Infrastructure
- I’m an active signer for many leading protocols and I provide strategic security guidance to prominent decentralized organizations, helping them navigate complex governance and incident response challenges, including critical war room situations.
- Contributor to the Open Crypto Security Knowledge Base
- Actively involved in community security efforts, as part of the steering committee for the DeFi Security Summit, as well as a speaker on security topics at DevCon, ETHDenver, EthCC, and other major crypto conferences.
Through these roles, I’ve cultivated a deep understanding of the technical and governance challenges facing decentralized systems, making me well-equipped to serve on the Arbitrum Security Council.
Incident Response & Governance Contributions
I have hands-on experience addressing critical security incidents and improving governance processes in the DeFi space. Some notable contributions include:
- Exploit Mitigation and Funds Recovery (Confidential Projects)
- Collaborated with affected teams to identify exploit vectors, deploy fixes, and recover funds where possible, often under high-pressure timelines.
- Governance Framework Development
- Worked with leading DAOs to design security-focused governance structures, ensuring swift and effective decision-making on time-sensitive security issues.
These experiences demonstrate my commitment to proactive security and robust governance—values I would champion on the Arbitrum Security Council.
Involvement in the Arbitrum Ecosystem
I have been an engaged participant in the Arbitrum ecosystem, contributing to its security and development in meaningful ways:
- Sherlock Audits for Arbitrum Projects
- Sherlock has conducted critical security audits for the largest protocols on Arbitrum such as Aave V3 and GMX.
- ADPC Formation
- Engaged with Arbitrum governance participants to advise the creation of the first version of Arbitrum’s audit grant process, which has incentivized dozens of protocol teams to take an Arbitrum-first deployment approach.
- Active Audit Contributor to Arbitrum DAO
- Sherlock has been one of the most active auditors in the Arbitrum Subsidy Fund, contributing the utmost security to projects deploying on Arbitrum
My familiarity with Arbitrum’s user base and community dynamics gives me a strong foundation to contribute effectively as a Security Council member.
Motivation for Joining the Arbitrum Security Council
I’m passionate about achieving effective security for decentralized systems. Sherlock is known as a pioneer for its unique approaches to crypto security, and I think I can bring a differentiated viewpoint and mindset to the Arbitrum Security Council. I have also proven to be an extremely consistent and reliable member of the crypto security community, setting up war rooms and actively participating in high-stakes multi-sigs for leading DAOs.
I believe I can bring a unique and valuable perspective to the Arbitrum Security Council, and become a valued contributor to helping Arbitrum achieve its security goals.
I welcome the opportunity to engage with the Arbitrum community and discuss how we can collectively bolster the ecosystem’s security. Feel free to reach out with any questions or ideas!
Twitter: @jack__sanford
Thank you for considering my candidacy. Looking forward to working together to make Arbitrum a beacon of security!