Conference Description
Key Takeaways
- Academic workshop examining security and privacy challenges in decentralized finance protocols
- Co-located with ACM Conference on Computer and Communications Security (CCS 2026)
- Topics span applied cryptography, smart contract verification, MEV extraction, zero-knowledge proofs and regulatory compliance
- Designed for cryptography researchers, blockchain developers, security engineers and regulatory professionals
- Sponsored by LayerZero and Blocksec
Introduction
The ACM CCS Workshop on Decentralized Finance and Security (DeFi’26) brings together cryptographers, security researchers, economists and blockchain practitioners to examine the technical and operational vulnerabilities affecting decentralized finance platforms. Scheduled for November 19, 2026, and held alongside the ACM Conference on Computer and Communications Security, the workshop addresses a sector that has experienced substantial growth alongside persistent security incidents. As DeFi protocols manage increasingly significant capital flows, the need for rigorous security research and cross-disciplinary collaboration has become a pressing concern for both academic institutions and industry participants.
About DeFi’26
DeFi’26 operates as an academic workshop with a formal paper submission process and presentation awards. The event combines traditional conference elements—peer-reviewed presentations and panel discussions—with interactive breakout sessions designed to facilitate deeper technical exchange. Hybrid presentation options accommodate remote participants, though the primary format remains in-person to encourage direct collaboration between researchers and practitioners.
The workshop’s positioning within ACM CCS provides access to the broader computer security research community, creating opportunities for DeFi-focused work to reach audiences who may approach blockchain systems from adjacent security disciplines. LayerZero and Blocksec serve as sponsors, representing cross-chain interoperability infrastructure and blockchain security auditing respectively.
Technical and Research Focus Areas
The workshop programme spans multiple interconnected domains within DeFi security. Applied cryptography sessions examine privacy-preserving techniques and zero-knowledge proof implementations, addressing the tension between transaction transparency and user privacy that characterises public blockchain systems. Related discussions on quantum-resilient cryptography reflect growing awareness that current cryptographic assumptions may require revision as quantum computing capabilities advance.
Smart contract security receives substantial attention through formal analysis and verification methodologies. These techniques aim to mathematically prove contract behaviour before deployment, reducing the attack surface that has historically enabled significant protocol exploits. Case study presentations examine real-world attacks, providing empirical grounding for theoretical security models.
The programme also addresses MEV (maximal extractable value), a phenomenon where transaction ordering creates profit opportunities that can disadvantage ordinary users. Understanding MEV dynamics has become essential for protocol designers seeking to build fair and efficient systems. Closely related topics include censorship resistance mechanisms and stablecoin manipulation resilience, both of which affect protocol reliability under adversarial conditions.
Governance, Regulation and Interoperability
Beyond purely technical concerns, DeFi’26 examines the governance structures that determine how protocols evolve and respond to security incidents. Decentralised governance introduces novel challenges around coordination, incentive alignment and emergency response capabilities. Sessions on fraud detection and financial crime prevention connect these governance questions to regulatory expectations, acknowledging that DeFi platforms increasingly operate within evolving legal frameworks across multiple jurisdictions.
Interoperability between decentralised and centralised financial systems presents its own security considerations. As institutional participants engage with DeFi protocols, the interfaces between traditional financial infrastructure and blockchain-based systems become potential vulnerability points requiring careful architectural attention.
Who Should Attend
The workshop serves academic researchers in cryptography, cybersecurity, economics and computer science, particularly those investigating blockchain systems or financial technology. Industry professionals—including blockchain developers, protocol designers and security engineers—will find relevant technical content alongside networking opportunities with academic collaborators. Graduate students and postdoctoral researchers benefit from exposure to current research directions and potential academic partnerships. Regulatory professionals and legal experts seeking deeper technical understanding of DeFi security challenges may also find value in the programme’s coverage of compliance and governance topics.
Conclusion
DeFi’26 represents a focused effort to advance security research in a rapidly developing financial technology sector. By convening expertise from cryptography, economics and security engineering within the established ACM CCS framework, the workshop provides a venue for rigorous examination of the vulnerabilities and design challenges that will shape decentralised finance infrastructure in coming years.