Bitcoin defenders seek frontier AI access in 40-group push

Bitcoin Policy Institute and more than 40 digital-asset organizations have called on leading AI laboratories to give qualified open-source security researchers controlled access to frontier models as AI-assisted cyberattacks grow more capable. Summary More than 40 organizations signed the appeal for trusted access to advanced AI models. The coalition requested early model access, computing power, secure environments, and direct communication channels. Block, Coinbase, Strategy, MARA, Galaxy, BitGo, Brink, and Trezor were among the signatories. The request follows several AI-assisted attacks and major Bitcoin security failures reported in 2026. Bitcoin coalition asks AI labs for controlled access Bitcoin Policy Institute announced the initiative in an Aug. 10 X post, saying the coalition represents organizations from across the digital-asset ecosystem. Today, Bitcoin Policy Institute and a broad coalition from across the digital-asset ecosystem are publishing an open letter calling on the world’s leading AI labs to provide qualified open-source defenders with trusted access to frontier AI models. The past several weeks have… pic.twitter.com/4C1tjvGiCe — Bitcoin Policy Institute (@bitcoinpolicy) August 10, 2026 The open letter asks leading AI developers to provide qualified open-source defenders with trusted access to their most capable models. It does not call for unrestricted public access to models with advanced cybersecurity capabilities. Instead, the signatories proposed a controlled program covering early access to frontier cybersecurity models, sufficient computing capacity, secure research environments, and direct channels with AI laboratory security teams. You might also like: OpenAI, Anthropic push 30-day review for frontier AI models Those resources would allow vetted researchers to examine Bitcoin wallets, payment infrastructure, and other open-source software before attackers can exploit newly discovered weaknesses. “The past several weeks have made the need for this abundantly clear,” Bitcoin Policy Institute wrote. Block, Coinbase, Strategy, MARA, Galaxy, BitGo, Brink, OpenSats, Chaincode Labs, Spiral, Trezor, Unchained, Btrust, and Fedi were among the organizations supporting the request. The coalition argued that current model safeguards can restrict legitimate security research even as criminals and state-backed groups gain access to increasingly capable open or locally deployed systems. Its central message to AI laboratories was that defenders need an early opportunity to identify and repair vulnerabilities. No leading AI laboratory had publicly announced a program responding to the coalition’s specific requests at the time of writing. AI-assisted attacks raise pressure on crypto firms The appeal follows mounting evidence that hackers are incorporating artificial intelligence into attacks against cryptocurrency companies and financial institutions. North Korea-linked hacking group Kimsuky has reportedly built three local AI environments using Ollama, GPT4All, and Msty. The systems can support malware development, data analysis, phishing campaigns, and attack automation without transmitting sensitive queries to an external provider. As crypto.news previously reported, the group produced AI-generated phishing material aimed at cryptocurrency, investment, and financial technology companies.