Facebook’s Libra Opens HackerOne Bug Bounty Program

Joining multiple crypto projects, the Libra testnet is now open to bug reporting through the HackerOne portal.

Libra, Facebook’s potential crypto coin project, has opened a HackerOne program to detect bugs. Libra already runs its testnet with an invitation to developers, despite facing regulatory skepticism.

https://twitter.com/Libra_/status/1166337048237789185

HackerOne is the leading bug bounty hub, and has become the preferred way of detecting bugs for crypto startups. Bounties have been distributed for anything ranging from minor bugs to critical vulnerabilities in a coin’s protocol. Libra has set aside up to $10,000 for critical bugs on its testnet.

“The program will encourage many more people with diverse skills and backgrounds to inspect and review the blockchain design and implementation. The Libra Bug Bounty program is part of a larger ongoing effort to build an open and vibrant community of security and privacy developers around the globe,” stated the Libra team.

Facebook has been proactive in presenting its Libra project ahead of its intended launch date at the start of 2020.

The Libra project started its bug discovery records as soon as the testnet was announced in July, wrote Michael Engle, head of development at the Libra Association. But the bug discovery was limited to a team of 50 experts.

With the bug program, the Libra project aims to address concerns that the protocol will be safe, wrote Engle. Facebook’s Libra also raised concerns about privacy, especially on the tails of a recent data-gathering scandal at Facebook.

The next step for the Libra Association would be to have Swiss authorities pronounce their criticisms or approval of the digital asset. So far, only tentative exploratory procedures have been started on Libra, including a recent European Commission investigation.

The Swiss central bank is now scrutinizing the project and works closely with Libra’s associates and with Facebook, reported Reuters.

“At the moment, it’s difficult to perform a full analysis (of the project) because the available documents are very vague and details are still missing,” said Swiss National Bank Vice-Chairman Fritz Zurbruegg.