Looking at the $3.353 billion loss, CertiK's IPO ambitions: How AI is reshaping Web3 security

Under the spotlight in Davos, CertiK founder Gu Ronghui announced a major news: the world’s largest Web3 security company is actively advancing its IPO plans, aiming to become the “First Web3 Infrastructure Stock.” Supporting this ambition is a core technology that integrates AI and formal verification—the Spoq engine. All of this is set against the backdrop of a severe security crisis currently facing the Web3 industry.

Technological Innovation: AI Reshaping Formal Verification

In an exclusive interview, Gu Ronghui detailed CertiK’s technological breakthroughs. The Spoq engine significantly enhances scalability and execution efficiency by deeply integrating AI with formal verification systems. This is not just theoretical—these achievements have been validated at top global academic conferences such as OSDI 2023 and ASPLOS 2026.

Why is this critical

The role of formal verification in Web3 security is self-evident, but traditional methods have obvious pain points: high verification complexity, low execution efficiency, and difficulty scaling. The addition of AI changes this landscape. By transforming cutting-edge academic research into practical tools, CertiK can provide mathematically guaranteed security for institutional clients worldwide.

Market Context: The Urgency of Security Needs

Why is CertiK’s IPO plan feasible? A set of data makes it clear. According to CertiK’s release of the “2025 Skynet Hack3D Web3 Security Report,” there were 630 security incidents in the Web3 industry in 2025, resulting in total losses of approximately $3.353 billion—equivalent to the annual GDP of a medium-sized city. The amount stolen increased by 37.06% quarter-over-quarter.

This is not a shrinking market but a rapidly expanding demand. The Bybit incident alone caused losses of about $1.4 billion. In this context, companies capable of providing reliable security solutions are essentially infrastructure-level entities.

Strategic Position: From Service Provider to Infrastructure

CertiK is no longer just a security audit firm. According to relevant information, it provides audit certifications for projects like Fundtir and Owlto Finance, becoming a foundational player in the Web3 ecosystem. The growth of these projects relies heavily on CertiK’s security endorsement.

Why “the first stock”

There are no publicly listed companies in the Web3 infrastructure sector yet. If CertiK successfully goes public, it will fill this gap. Considering:

• The continuous growth in market demand (security losses increasing year by year)
• Academic validation of its technology (validation at top conferences)
• An existing customer base and ecosystem influence

This goal is not out of reach.

Future Outlook

From a technological perspective, the integration of AI and formal verification is just beginning. The capabilities of the Spoq engine will continue to improve, and its application scenarios will expand. From a market perspective, investment in Web3 security will only increase, providing CertiK with room for sustained growth.

What is the final step before going public? Usually, it’s the stability of financial data and market recognition. Gu Ronghui’s speech in Davos, to some extent, is also about creating momentum for this process.

Summary

CertiK’s IPO plan is not wishful thinking but built on three solid foundations: first, technological innovation (AI integration in the Spoq engine); second, market demand (yearly increasing Web3 security losses); third, ecological position (becoming the security endorsement for multiple projects). From a security audit firm to a Web3 infrastructure provider, CertiK is undergoing a strategic upgrade. Throughout this process, the academic validation and AI capabilities of the Spoq engine will be its strongest competitive advantages.