OpenAI and Paradigm announced EVMbench on February 18, 2026, a benchmark tool evaluating AI agents‘ ability to detect, patch, and exploit high-severity smart contract vulnerabilities, as reported by The Block. This collaboration addresses rising concerns about blockchain security, especially after exploits such as Moonwell’s AI-assisted code vulnerability and CrossCurve’s $3 million loss, as reported by Cointelegraph. EVMbench draws from 120 vulnerabilities across 40 audits, including open-source competitions and Tempo blockchain scenarios, as reported on OpenAI’s blog. X posts from @CoinMarketCap highlight the tool’s focus on AI’s transformative role in cybersecurity.
EVMbench operates in three modes: detect (auditing for vulnerabilities), patch (modifying contracts while preserving functionality), and exploit (executing fund-draining attacks in a sandboxed environment). It uses a Rust-based harness and 120 curated vulnerabilities from real-world audits, emphasising payment-oriented code, the EVMbench PDF. OpenAI’s GPT-5.3-Codex scored 72.2% in exploit mode, doubling prior models’ effectiveness but falling short of full coverage, Paradigm’s insights. Available on GitHub as open source, EVMbench encourages defensive AI use to strengthen contracts. Help Net Security. X posts from @ICODrops note its potential for broader AI security applications.
The tool’s release comes amid $1.7 billion in crypto exploits in 2025, according to Chainalysis, highlighting AI’s dual role as both a defender and a potential attacker. EVMbench could reduce vulnerability costs, with OpenAI committing $10 million in API credits for defensive research, Bitcoin.com. For DeFi, with a $167B TVL, this benchmark supports institutional adoption and aligns with the SEC’s non-security rulings, according to Coinlaw.io. However, risks include AI-enabled exploits that lower attack barriers, as noted in Anthropic’s 2025 report. Market impact: Ethereum ($4,070) and Solana ($184.50) could see enhanced security, boosting TVL, according to DefiLlama. X posts from @CryptoNewsHntrs emphasise its role in preventing smart contract hacks.
EVMbench positions OpenAI and Paradigm as leaders in AI-blockchain security, potentially accelerating tools such as automated audits, DL News. As AI agents evolve, benchmarks like this could prevent billions in losses, but risks include malicious AI exploitation if not properly regulated, according to TradingView. Investors should monitor ETH support at $4,000 and diversify into stablecoins like USDC, Techopedia. Follow @OpenAI on X for updates [post:0]. EVMbench may inspire similar tools for other chains, fostering a safer DeFi ecosystem by 2027, but the ethical use of AI remains critical.
