# Introducing the Espresso Bug Bounty Program

> Up to $250,000 for critical findings, with a clear scope and fast triage

**Published by:** [Espresso Foundation](https://paragraph.com/@espressofndn/)
**Published on:** 2026-05-21
**URL:** https://paragraph.com/@espressofndn/bug-bounty-program

## Content

As more chains, applications, and institutions rely on Espresso for fast finality, real-time settlement, and high-throughput data availability, the ongoing security of the network and the smart contracts around it becomes a shared responsibility. Today, the Espresso Foundation is launching a bug bounty program to formalize that responsibility and reward the security researchers who help us uphold it. The program covers the smart contracts and supporting components most critical to Espresso's proof-of-stake consensus protocol, including staking, reward claiming, light client verification, signature verification, and the proxy and access control mechanisms that govern upgrades. Eligible reports can earn rewards up to $250,000 for critical findings, scaled by impact, exploitability, and report quality. Full scope, severity definitions, and submission requirements are on our Security page. Bug bounties work alongside, not in place of, rigorous external auditing. Espresso's smart contracts and core components have been reviewed by Runtime Verification, Least Authority, and Cantina, with full reports published in the espresso-audits repo. The bounty extends that work into the open, inviting independent researchers to stress-test the system on an ongoing basis and giving them a clear, well-compensated path to disclose what they find. If you're a researcher or white hat and you spot something, please report it following the steps outlined in the Security Policy. Triage, safe harbor terms, and payout details are all covered there. We aim to acknowledge new reports within a few business days. Espresso is built to be the secure, neutral foundation that thousands of chains and applications depend on. Programs like this one are how we ensure the long-term health and sustainability of the network.

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