Sam Altman's OpenAI unveils ‘EVMbench’ to test whether AI can keep crypto’s smart contracts safe

Tech Share Share this article Copy link X icon X (Twitter) LinkedIn Facebook Email Sam Altman's OpenAI unveils ‘EVMbench’ to test whether AI can keep crypto’s smart contracts safe Developed with Paradigm, the tool is OpenAI’s attempt to determine whether modern AI systems are up to the task of helping prevent smart contract issues. By Margaux Nijkerk , AI Boost | Edited by Aoyon Ashraf Feb 18, 2026, 7:12 p.m. Make us preferred on Google What to know : OpenAI is stepping deeper into crypto security with the launch of EVMbench, a new testing framework designed to measure how well artificial intelligence can understand and potentially secure smart contracts on blockchains. Smart contracts are typically immutable once deployed, and vulnerabilities can be serious. EVMbench is OpenAI’s attempt to see whether modern AI systems are up to the task of helping prevent such issues. OpenAI is stepping deeper into crypto security with the launch of EVMbench, a new testing framework designed to measure how well artificial intelligence can understand and potentially secure smart contracts on Ethereum and similar blockchains. Smart contracts, self-executing code deployed on blockchains like Ethereum, underpin decentralized exchanges, lending protocols and a wide range of onchain financial applications. Because these contracts are typically immutable once deployed, vulnerabilities can be serious. STORY CONTINUES BELOW Don't miss another story. Subscribe to the The Protocol Newsletter today . See all newsletters Sign me up By signing up, you will receive emails about CoinDesk products and you agree to our terms & conditions and privacy policy . EVMbench is OpenAI’s attempt to see whether modern AI systems are up to the task of helping prevent those issues. Built in collaboration with crypto investment firm Paradigm, the benchmark draws on real-world smart contract vulnerabilities previously uncovered through audits and security competitions. The system measures performance across three core abilities: identifying security bugs, exploiting those bugs in a controlled environment and fixing the vulnerable code without breaking the contracts. OpenAI says the goal is to establish a clear standard for evaluating AI systems in blockchain security, especially as decentralized finance continues to secure billions of dollars in user funds. The stakes for smart contracts are only rising. “Smart contracts routinely secure $100B+ in open-source crypto assets. As AI agents improve at reading, writing, and executing code, it becomes increasingly important to measure their capabilities in economically meaningful environments, and to encourage the use of AI systems defensively to audit and strengthen deployed contracts,” OpenAI wrote in a blog post . Read more: Most Influential: Sam Altman Sam Altman Openai smart contracts Paradigm AI Disclaimer: Parts of this article were generated with the assistance from AI tools and reviewed by our editorial team to ensure accuracy and adherence to our standards . For more information, see CoinDesk's full AI Policy . More For You Zoomex: Precise Systems of Fairness and Transparency by Design By CoinDesk Jan 31, 2026 Commissioned by Zoomex Read full story More For You The Protocol: Zora moves to Solana By Margaux Nijkerk | Edited by Stephen Alpher 1 hour ago Also: EF’s Stańczak to leave ED role, XRPL member-only DEX and Ethereum revives the DAO. What to know : Welcome to The Protocol, CoinDesk's weekly wrap of the most important stories in cryptocurrency tech development. I’m Margaux Nijkerk, a reporter at CoinDesk. In this issue: Zora moves onto Solana with 'attention markets' for trading internet trends Ethereum Foundation leadership shake-up: Tomasz Stańczak out as co-executive director XRP Ledger rolls out members-only DEX for regulated institutions From the 2016 hack to $150M Endowment: the DAO’s second act focuses on Ethereum security Read full story Latest Crypto News Kraken continues acquisition streak by buying token management firm Magna ahead of IPO push 7 minutes ago The Protocol: Zora moves to Solana 1 hour ago Optimism's OP token falls after Base moves away from the network's 'OP stack' in major tech shift 1 hour ago Ethereum’s 50% staking milestone triggers backlash over 'misleading' supply data 1 hour ago Bitcoin miner Riot stock jumps nearly 9% as activist Starboard urges AI data center expansion 1 hour ago Financial giant with $3.5 trillion asset to pilot Trump-affiliated WLFI stablecoin for tokenized funds 2 hours ago Top Stories Bitcoin volatile, but flat, while crypto stocks bounce amid cooling AI fears 2 hours ago Goldman Sachs' David Solomon says he owns 'very little' bitcoin but watching it closely 2 hours ago Bitcoin's plunge signals coming AI crisis, but massive Fed response will drive new record high: Arthur Hayes 3 hours ago American crypto holders are scared and confused about this year’s new IRS tax rules 6 hours ago Hyperliquid starts DeFi lobbying group with $29 million token backing 4 hours ago From 2016 hack to $150M Endowment: the DAO’s second act focuses on Ethereum security 6 hours ago