Solana’s leading DeFi protocol, Kamino, has lauched the blockchain’s largest bug bounty program to date in partnership with ImmuneFi, offering up to $1.5 million in rewards for critical vulnerabilities. The program, which launched on October 6, reinforces Solana’s growing focus on strengthening its DeFi ecosystem as institutional interest in the blockchain accelerates ahead of the anticipated spot ETF decision. The move highlights a crucial step toward improving onchain security, which has become an increasing concern amid a year marked by numerous DeFi exploits. Strengthening Solana’s DeFi Security Kamino’s bug bounty initiative is divided into two main categories, smart contracts, and websites and applications. Smart contract vulnerabilities will receive the largest rewards, with payouts scaling based on severity ranging from $150,000 to $1.5 million for critical threats. High- and medium-level vulnerabilities are valued at $100,000 and $10,000, respectively, while website and app bugs can earn up to $50,000. This collaboration with ImmuneFi brings Kamino’s security testing under one of the most trusted cybersecurity networks in the Web3 space. ImmuneFi’s record speaks volumes it has safeguarded over $190 billion in user funds and paid more than $120 million to ethical hackers for uncovering overlooked vulnerabilities. Prior to this partnership, Kamino had already self-hosted bounty programs for three years, completing over 18 audits and maintaining open-source, verifiable code. The expanded collaboration significantly scales that effort, giving Kamino access to a global network of professional auditors. Rising DeFi Exploits Underscore the Need The timing of Kamino’s campaign comes amid an uptick in DeFi vulnerabilities across the sector. In 2025 alone, there were roughly 144 reported DeFi exploits. Although total hack losses fell 37% in Q3 to $509 million, September still witnessed a surge in million-dollar attacks, according to CertiK Alert data . This pattern underscores how vital proactive testing has become for decentralized protocols handling vast amounts of liquidity. SOL Price Eyes $300 Ahead of ETF Decision Meanwhile, Solana’s native token continues to show bullish momentum. Trading around $231 , SOL has gained over 11% in the past week despite minor intraday declines. Source: X According to Trader Tardigrade, an inverse Head and Shoulders formation on the 4-hour chart signals a potential move toward $300, provided price breaks above $240 resistance. HODL GENTLEMAN also highlights an important catalyst ahead the SEC’s final deadline for Solana’s spot ETF on October 10. With approval odds near 95%, Solana may soon enter a new phase of institutional growth, supported by improving security and technical strength.
