Canton Network's Design Seen as Guard Against State-Sponsored Hacks, Says Digital Asset CEO

Digital Asset CEO Yuval Rooz highlights that financial institutions are increasingly prioritizing security against state-sponsored hacking groups, particularly those linked to North Korea, which have stolen over $6 billion since 2017. The April 2026 Kelp DAO exploit, resulting in a $290 million loss, underscored the vulnerability of DeFi protocols to sophisticated, multi-month infiltration campaigns. In response, the DeFi United initiative successfully raised 132,650 ETH, valued at approximately $303 million, to mitigate losses for affected users. Rooz argues that the Canton Network, a public, permissioned blockchain launched in 2024, offers a superior architecture for institutions by allowing participants to implement specific guardrails on subnets and assets. This design aims to prevent illicit actors from operating within the network, addressing the fiduciary obligations of traditional financial entities. The discourse surrounding these security measures reflects a broader tension between the permissionless ethos of DeFi and the necessity of safety parameters for institutional adoption. Ultimately, Rooz suggests that the ability to restrict bad actors is transitioning from a controversial design choice to an essential baseline requirement for the future of RWA and institutional blockchain infrastructure.