Recently, the authoritative financial technology media Crowdfund Insider published a report focusing on the keynote speech of Professor Gu Ronghui, co-founder and CEO of CertiK, at the Unchained Summit. The report pointed out that Professor Gu’s views revealed the challenges currently facing the Web3.0 ecosystem and the key role of compliance and technology in promoting the sustainable development of the industry.
In his speech, Gu Ronghui analyzed the symbiotic relationship between Web3.0 innovation and security assurance. He pointed out that compliance is not only a regulatory requirement, but also the cornerstone of Web3.0's long-term development, and regulatory policies must be "controllable, visible, and enforceable." At the same time, he cited CertiK's "Hack3d Security Report" data to reveal the increasingly severe security threats in the industry, and used CertiK's practice as an example to explain the important role of smart contract auditing, Skynet on-chain monitoring, compliance consulting, anti-money laundering and other solutions in reducing industry risks.
As a formal verification expert, Gu Ronghui's career spans three major areas: academic research, industry practice, and policy making. Through cooperation with regulatory agencies such as the Monetary Authority of Singapore and the Hong Kong Web3.0 Task Force, he not only provides technical support for the Web3.0 governance path, but also provides practical samples for global regulatory innovation. Crowdfund Insider pointed out that Gu Ronghui, with his multiple identities, bridges the gap between academia, industry, and policy. His vision not only provides a clear roadmap for the sustainable development of the industry, but also ensures that innovation thrives without sacrificing trust and stability.
The following is the full report:
CertiK Co-Founder on Web 3.0 Innovation and the Importance of Security Measures
At the 2025 Unchained Summit in Dubai, Ronghui Gu, co-founder of CertiK and associate professor of computer science at Columbia University, delivered a keynote speech, emphasizing that while promoting innovation in Web 3.0, it is equally important to ensure strong security.
As blockchain technology has become an important cornerstone supporting the global financial infrastructure, with a total market value of $2.95 trillion, Gu Ronghui pointed out that security issues remain a major challenge facing the entire industry. Based on CertiK's professional experience and the latest data, he analyzed the increasingly severe security threats to the current Web3.0 ecosystem, as well as the key role of compliance and technology solutions in promoting the sustainable development of the industry.
In his speech, Gu Ronghui specifically mentioned the significant rise in blockchain-related cybercrime and cited data from CertiK's latest Hack3d Security Report. In the first quarter of 2025, the total amount of funds stolen by malicious attackers reached $1.67 billion, a 303% increase from the previous quarter. As the core of DeFi and smart contract applications, the Ethereum ecosystem remains the main target of these attacks.
Web 3.0 platforms are becoming an increasingly integral part of the global financial system, and this surge in financial losses highlights the urgent need to strengthen security protocols to protect the integrity of Web 3.0 platforms.
Gu Ronghui also detailed CertiK's specific solutions for reducing these security risks. As a company focused on blockchain security, CertiK provides smart contract audits, security ratings, real-time threat monitoring, compliance consulting, and anti-money laundering (AML) services. These tools are designed to help Web3.0 projects resist vulnerabilities and ensure that they meet strict industry standards.
For example, CertiK’s smart contract auditing service can deeply analyze potential vulnerabilities in the code, while its Skynet platform provides on-chain real-time monitoring to detect suspicious activities in real time. By integrating these solutions, CertiK not only helps project parties protect the ecosystem, but also enhances the trust of users and regulators in its platform.
As a system security expert in the field of formal verification, Gu Ronghui emphasized that compliance is not just a regulatory requirement, but the cornerstone of the long-term development of Web3.0. He pointed out that regulatory policies must have the characteristics of "controllable, visible, and enforceable" in order to effectively maintain industry order and stability.
To support this vision, CertiK actively cooperates with global regulators, provides public audit reports, and improves transparency and regulatory efficiency through on-chain tools such as Skynet. These efforts enable policymakers to better understand the operation of blockchain and formulate more forward-looking regulatory rules.
In addition, Gu Ronghui has not only made achievements in the field of technology, but also actively participated in the formulation of the global Web3.0 governance framework. His cooperation with the Monetary Authority of Singapore, the Hong Kong Web3.0 Development Task Force and other institutions is a model of technical experts playing a key role in policy design, providing valuable experience for future regulatory innovation.
Gu Ronghui's dual identity as a scholar and entrepreneur enables him to bridge the gap between academia, industry and policy. His insights at the Unchained Summit 2025 once again emphasized a key point: the transformative potential of Web3.0 can only be fully unleashed through the organic integration of innovation, security and regulatory clarity.
Industry observers point out that CertiK has set a new benchmark for the Web3.0 industry to cope with complex challenges by combining innovative technology with deep policy engagement. As the popularity of blockchain and its applications accelerates, Gu Ronghui's vision for a secure and compliant Web3.0 ecosystem provides a clear roadmap for the industry's sustainable development, ensuring that innovation thrives without sacrificing trust and stability.
