Cybersecurity in crypto isn’t just a technical discussion anymore — it’s becoming one of the defining issues for the future of finance.
In this episode of Blockchain Leaders Insights, Executive Director Paul Hearns sits down with Jacques Boschung, CEO of Halborn, to explore what really changes when financial systems move on-chain.
If you’ve ever wondered whether blockchain security is just “cybersecurity with a new label,” this conversation quickly makes it clear — it isn’t.
In traditional finance, when something goes wrong, there are usually mechanisms to contain the damage. Transactions can sometimes be reversed. Accounts can be frozen. Incident response teams can step in. But in crypto and DeFi, transactions are immutable. Once funds are gone, they’re typically gone for good. That single structural difference shifts the entire security model from reactive to preventative.
Jacques breaks down the main attack vectors shaping the crypto threat landscape today — from signing workflow compromises and smart contract vulnerabilities to oracle manipulation and, perhaps most importantly, the human layer. Despite all the cryptography and advanced tooling, social engineering and insider threats continue to play a central role in major exploits.
The discussion also moves into tokenisation and the growing involvement of traditional financial institutions. With forecasts suggesting that trillions of dollars in real-world assets could move on-chain over the next decade, the stakes are rising fast. What happens if a major bank experiences a large-scale on-chain breach? The implications would be very different from the crypto-native hacks we’ve seen so far.
We also explore digital asset custody, and why it is fundamentally different from traditional custody models. In digital finance, custodians directly control private keys — making technical design, governance, and operational resilience absolutely critical.
AI naturally enters the conversation too — not as hype, but as a practical tool. From automated scanning and behavioural analytics to the uncomfortable reality that AI also empowers attackers, it’s clear that technology is accelerating both sides of the cybersecurity equation.
This episode is a grounded, thoughtful look at where crypto security stands today — and where it needs to go as tokenisation gathers pace. If you work in banking, fintech, risk, compliance, or Web3, this is a conversation that will give you plenty to think about as we move into the next phase of digital finance.
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Available on the Blockchain Ireland website: https://www.blockchainireland.ie/podcast/understanding-web-3-technologies/
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Host: Paul Hearns - Executive Director, Blockchain Ireland
https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulhearns/
Guest: Fran Meggs - Cofounder & CEO
https://www.linkedin.com/in/franmeggs/
https://crypto-cracker.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/cryptocracker/
Guest: Jacques Boschung, CEO of Hlaborn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacquesboschung/
https://www.halborn.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/halborn/
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About Blockchain Ireland
Blockchain Ireland is an initiative aimed at promoting and enhancing Ireland's position as a global hub for blockchain technology. It was launched by the Irish Blockchain Expert Group (IBEG), led by IDA Ireland, and includes a collaboration of Irish-based organizations.
The main goals of Blockchain Ireland are to serve as a central source of information on the growing blockchain, crypto and Web3 ecosystem, to support the development of blockchain technology in Ireland, and to create awareness of industry developments both nationally and internationally.
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