Career and scope of cybersecurity jobs in web3

I wouldn’t see Web3 as a threat to cybersecurity careers. If anything, it’s opening up an entirely new branch. In Web2, most security work is about protecting infrastructure like networks, databases, and cloud environments. In Web3, the “attack surface” shifts to things like smart contracts, consensus mechanisms, wallets, and cross-chain bridges. When one of these fails, the consequences aren’t hidden breaches. They’re often instant, public, and sometimes worth millions.

Take cross-chain bridges for example. In 2022 alone, bridge exploits accounted for over $2B in stolen assets. The weakness wasn’t in traditional firewalls or servers. It was in how signatures, validation, and liquidity pools were designed. That’s a different skillset, and it’s why companies now actively hunt for professionals who understand both classical security fundamentals and blockchain-native risks.

From what I see across the industry and in our community discussions, there are three big shifts creating career opportunities:

1. Protocol-level security – Beyond smart contract audits, teams need researchers who can stress-test consensus mechanisms, validator setups, and tokenomics for incentive flaws.

2. User-side security – Wallets, private key management, phishing defense. Most exploits still happen because end-users get tricked, and companies are realizing user security is a business risk.

3. Regulatory-driven security – With AML/KYC tightening around DeFi and exchanges, cybersecurity professionals who can blend compliance knowledge with technical safeguards are in demand.

For someone starting in cybersecurity today, the best choice is to upskill their web2 skills for threat modeling, penetration testing, incident response. All of these still matter, but in different environment like testing a DAO governance system or simulating an oracle manipulation attack instead of just a server breach.

So to your original question: Web3 isn’t reducing demand for cybersecurity. Iit’s multiplying it, while splitting it into new specializations like protocol researcher, MEV security analyst, and bridge auditor. These weren’t even “jobs” five years ago, but they’re already some of the most sought-after roles in the market.

As a founder, I also notice a pattern in conversations on AOB: candidates who add even a small layer of blockchain understanding on top of cybersecurity fundamentals stand out to recruiters. It signals they can grow with the industry, not just fit into yesterday’s molds. That’s the real opportunity here.

From my side, I actually think Web3 makes cybersecurity careers more interesting. In Web2, a lot of the work is about defense in depth and compliance checklists. In Web3, security professionals get pulled much closer to the product itself whether it’s reviewing smart contracts, securing token bridges, or designing safer wallet flows. You’re not just a “back office” role, you’re part of how the protocol survives.

Another big shift is transparency. In Web3, every exploit is on-chain and every mistake is visible. That can feel intimidating, but it also means the learning curve is much faster. Each major hack becomes a case study for the whole industry. For someone building a career in cybersecurity, that kind of open knowledge doesn’t exist in Web2.

Long term, I see Web3 security as less about replacing existing jobs and more about evolving them. We’ll still need people who understand penetration testing, incident response, and risk modeling. But in Web3, those same skills get applied to things like DAO governance votes, cross-chain liquidity pools, or consensus upgrades. It’s the same foundation, but the context is brand new.

So if you’re starting out, I’d say Web3 doesn’t shrink your career. It gives you a front-row seat to the next generation of security challenges. The professionals who lean into this shift early will be the ones shaping how decentralized security standards look in the future.