Interchain Labs Enhances Cosmos Security with Protocol Changes

Interchain Labs identified past security concerns with former Cosmos maintainers linked to North Korea and implemented enhanced security measures as of June 2025.

Security Enhancements by Interchain Labs

Interchain Labs has reinforced its security protocols for Cosmos following revelations about a former developer’s ties to North Korea. They audited the code and found no residual risks, ensuring stakeholder confidence.

The involved developer contributed under the GitHub alias “cool-develope” during the time when Cosmos relied on third-party maintainers. Interchain Labs implemented strict protocols post-transfer of core development tasks.

Despite prior concerns with DPRK-linked developers, audits have confirmed that no active risks or vulnerabilities exist in Cosmos’s current code. “For sixteen months, the LSM was developed by individuals linked to North Korea, and their contributions were integrated into the Cosmos Hub without proper security vetting,” said Jae Kwon, Co-founder of Cosmos. Financial markets saw no immediate exploit or impact, and the Cosmos ecosystem remains sound.

Financial Initiatives and Community Reaction

Interchain Labs’ financial initiative includes doubling HackerOne bug bounty rewards for one month to encourage identifying vulnerabilities linked to the past contributor.

Community reactions emphasize transparency and tenacity to fortify security.

Immediate impacts involve retesting prior contributor code, removing potentially harmful elements, and improving future safeguards against similar events. Historical precedents show the necessity of heightened security awareness in the blockchain space.

Past events show a consistent risk from North Korean actors. Interchain Labs combines past lessons with current insights, underscoring the necessity for robust security measures and continuous auditing practices in crypto projects.