Chris Perkins: April saw $600 million stolen in record hacking incidents, AI tools are both a threat and a defense, and a shift to offensive cybersecurity is crucial | The Pomp Podcast

April's record $600 million crypto hacks highlight the urgent need for proactive cybersecurity strategies.

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Add us on Google by Editorial Team May. 4, 2026

Key takeaways

• April was a record-breaking month for hacking incidents in the crypto space, with 29 projects compromised and $600 million stolen.
• Investors are generally comfortable with market risks but are wary of hacking, operational, and regulatory risks.
• The rise of AI tools is contributing to an increase in hacking incidents within the crypto industry.
• A shift from defensive to offensive cybersecurity strategies could be more effective in combating cyber threats.
• The concept of privateering could empower private citizens to respond to cyberattacks, extending the defense surface.
• State-sponsored actors have significant advantages over startups in cybersecurity due to their vast resources.
• Implementing a recovery program for stolen crypto assets could attract entrepreneurs back to the US by providing a security umbrella.
• AI is expected to play a dual role in enhancing security measures and facilitating cyber threats.
• The frequency of cyber attacks is likely to increase as bad actors leverage AI tools.
• Bitcoin is expected to succeed regardless of regulatory clarity, showcasing its resilience.
• The current cybersecurity approach in crypto needs reevaluation to address the evolving threat landscape effectively.
• Empowering private citizens to hack back could be a novel strategy in modern cybersecurity.
• A proactive cybersecurity stance could mitigate the advantages held by state-sponsored actors.
• The intersection of AI and cybersecurity presents both challenges and opportunities for the crypto industry.
• A recovery program for stolen crypto could create a positive business model and enhance security for entrepreneurs.

Guest intro

Chris Perkins is the incoming Head of Crypto at Franklin Templeton, following the acquisition of his firm 250 Digital Asset Management. He specializes in crypto security and institutional adoption, with expertise in addressing the surge in crypto hacks and the intersection of geopolitics and digital asset markets. Perkins brings a deep understanding of how institutions are navigating the crypto landscape amid evolving cyber threats and regulatory developments.

The impact of hacking incidents on the crypto industry

• April was a particularly devastating month for hacking, with $600 million stolen from 29 projects. – Chris Perkins
• The scale of these incidents highlights the critical need for improved cybersecurity measures in the industry.

• April was one of the worst months in history of hacking 29 projects were hacked about $600,000,000 were taken.

  — Chris Perkins

• Investors are comfortable with market risk but not with hacking or operational risk. – Chris Perkins

• A lot of investors and you know this they’re very comfortable taking market risk… but they don’t get paid to take the risk of hacking or operational risk or regulatory risk.

  — Chris Perkins

• Understanding the scale of these incidents is crucial for addressing the vulnerabilities in the crypto space.
• The rise in hacking incidents underscores the importance of developing robust security protocols.
• The crypto industry must prioritize cybersecurity to maintain investor confidence and market stability.

The role of AI in cybersecurity

• AI tools are contributing to an increase in hacking incidents within the crypto space. – Chris Perkins

• I think as we look longer term the institutions who have more access to compute and powerful models will probably be able to defend more so it works in both directions but the problem right now as it exists needs to be addressed now.

  — Chris Perkins

• AI presents both challenges and opportunities for enhancing security measures against cyber threats.
• The dual role of AI in facilitating and defending against cyber threats highlights its complexity.
• AI’s potential to provide “beautiful defense” against cyber threats is a promising development. – Chris Perkins

• I do think AI is gonna be a long… people are freaking out about oh my gosh we’re gonna get hacked by those AI… but I also think it’s gonna be providing beautiful defense.

  — Chris Perkins

• The evolving relationship between AI and cybersecurity requires ongoing attention and adaptation.
• Leveraging AI for security measures could significantly enhance the industry’s defense capabilities.

Shifting from defensive to offensive cybersecurity strategies

• The current approach to cybersecurity in crypto should shift from defense to offense. – Chris Perkins

• Rather than us play defense what if we go on offense and can you talk a little bit about this conversation around the united states incentivizing people to kind of fight back in this cyber warfare area.

  — Chris Perkins

• A proactive stance could mitigate the advantages held by state-sponsored actors in cybersecurity.
• Empowering private citizens to respond to cyberattacks could extend the defense surface.
• The concept of privateering could be applied to modern cybersecurity by empowering private citizens to hack back. – Chris Perkins

• The idea is gosh the private sector has all the skills in the world they’re financially incented what we can do is we can extend the surface area by empowering private citizens to go and hack back.

  — Chris Perkins

• A shift to offensive strategies could address the evolving threat landscape more effectively.
• Proactive measures in cybersecurity could provide a strategic advantage in combating cyber threats.

The imbalance between state actors and startups in cybersecurity

• State-sponsored actors have significant advantages over startups in cybersecurity due to their resources. – Chris Perkins

• You have these state actors attacking a startup who’s going to win every single time the state sponsored actor they’ve got more resources.

  — Chris Perkins

• This imbalance emphasizes the need for innovative solutions to level the playing field.
• Startups face significant challenges in defending against well-resourced state actors.
• Addressing this resource imbalance is crucial for enhancing the cybersecurity of startups.
• Innovative strategies are needed to counter the advantages held by state-sponsored actors.
• The cybersecurity landscape requires adaptation to address the challenges faced by startups.
• Enhancing the capabilities of startups could improve the overall security of the crypto industry.

The potential benefits of a recovery program for stolen crypto assets

• Implementing a recovery program for stolen crypto assets could create a positive business model. – Chris Perkins

• I think this could be the icing on the cake… if we have this massive security umbrella over the united states what’s going to happen entrepreneurs are going to come back on shore because they’re going to be protected by that security umbrella.

  — Chris Perkins

• Such a program could enhance security for entrepreneurs and attract them back to the US.
• A recovery program could provide a security umbrella that encourages innovation and investment.
• The potential benefits of a recovery program highlight the importance of regulatory support.
• Entrepreneurs could be incentivized to operate within a secure and supportive environment.
• A recovery program could address the challenges faced by entrepreneurs in the crypto space.
• Enhancing security measures could foster a more robust and resilient crypto industry.

The resilience of Bitcoin amidst regulatory challenges

• Bitcoin is expected to succeed regardless of regulatory clarity. – Chris Perkins

• I’ve been of the belief that bitcoin in particular will be successful with or without that type of regulation.

  — Chris Perkins

• This confidence in Bitcoin’s resilience underscores its potential as a leading digital asset.
• The regulatory environment presents challenges, but Bitcoin’s success is not solely dependent on it.
• Bitcoin’s resilience highlights its unique position within the crypto market.
• The potential for Bitcoin’s success amidst regulatory challenges reflects its robustness.
• Understanding Bitcoin’s resilience is crucial for navigating the evolving regulatory landscape.
• The future of Bitcoin remains promising despite ongoing regulatory uncertainties.

Disclosure: This article was edited by Editorial Team. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy.