Kamino Launches Major Bug Bounty Program on Solana

TLDR

• Kamino’s program offers up to $1.5 million in rewards.
• Partnership with ImmuneFi enhances security for DeFi protocols.
• DeFi-related losses decreased 37% to $509 million in Q3 2025.

Kamino, a decentralized finance (DeFi) platform on the Solana blockchain, has announced the launch of its largest bug bounty program to date. This initiative, in collaboration with ImmuneFi, began on October 6, 2025. The program offers rewards up to $1.5 million for critical vulnerabilities, aiming to enhance security within the ecosystem.

ImmuneFi, a prominent web3 security platform, is tasked with overseeing the bounty initiative. The platform has a history of safeguarding substantial sums within the crypto industry, having distributed over $120 million in rewards. Kamino’s decision to partner with ImmuneFi underscores the increasing focus on security in DeFi protocols.

Key Features of the Kamino Bug Bounty Program

The newly launched bug bounty program marks a significant step for Kamino, which has previously conducted self-hosted bounties. The collaboration with ImmuneFi allows a larger network of security researchers to scrutinize Kamino’s contracts. According to the official announcement, this partnership enhances the protocol’s resilience against potential vulnerabilities.

Rewards for identified vulnerabilities are structured in tiers. Critical smart contract bugs can earn up to $1.5 million, which represents 10% of the affected funds, capped. High-severity issues are eligible for $100,000, while medium-severity vulnerabilities receive $10,000. For website and application bugs, rewards start at $50,000 for critical and $10,000 for high-severity findings.

Impact on the Solana Ecosystem

The impact of Kamino’s bug bounty program extends to the broader Solana ecosystem. As the underlying blockchain for Kamino, Solana directly benefits from enhanced protocol security. Such efforts align with ongoing ecosystem upgrades, potentially attracting more institutional interest due to increased trust in DeFi.

Despite the significant developments, the program’s launch has not shown a direct impact on other major cryptocurrencies such as Ethereum or Bitcoin. The focus remains on SOL, with no immediate changes in total value locked (TVL) or liquidity reported in primary sources.

Past Precedents and Security Trends

Kamino is not new to running bug bounties, though this is the most extensive offering to date. Historically, ImmuneFi’s bug bounty programs have contributed to enhanced security and reduced exploit incidences across various protocols. This initiative is positioned as part of a broader trend in DeFi toward fortifying security foundations.

Data from Q3 2025 indicates a decline in DeFi-related loss, down 37% to $509 million. Despite this improvement, the prevalence of 144 reported exploits this year highlights the ongoing need for rigorous security measures.

Community and Developer Reactions

In its announcement, Kamino stressed its commitment to transparency. The team highlighted open-source practices, numerous audits, and the use of “verifiable onchain builds.” These measures are designed to instill confidence in users and developers, although specific community reactions are not detailed in available sources.

While direct commentary from key opinion leaders or regulatory bodies has yet to emerge, the initiative is viewed positively for promoting maturity and risk reduction within the DeFi space. This sentiment suggests potential community support as Kamino continues to evolve its security strategies.