The CEO of FailSafe has but one critical mission — to prevent venture capital from fueling North Korea’s missile programme

“I’ve always been fascinated by the invisible battles that shape our digital lives — the fights we rarely see but feel the repercussions of. My work with FailSafe, at its core, is about ensuring hackers don’t win. It’s an unseen war waged in blockchain cyberspace against highly adept adversaries — often state-funded groups from nations we all know but shouldn’t name.

These actors are organised, motivated, and capable of pulling off heists worth billions annually. 

So, my job is to tip the scales, to arm the “good guys” and make sure, when the attack comes — because it’s not a question of if — the defences are ready. It’s like setting up booby traps, akin to Home Alone, to outmanoeuvre the burglars.

Think Minority Report, but for Web3. Our systems give us a glimpse into the future, allowing us to predict malicious intent and intervene just in time. Traditional blockchain security waits for something to go wrong and then raises the alarm. By then, it’s too late. 

At FailSafe, we proactively scan for signs and behaviours. Our tools even “front-run” attackers by shifting targeted funds before they can execute their plan. Machine learning helps us spot unusual wallet behaviour, letting us stop attacks before they’re irreversible.

Beyond preventing venture capital from ending up in North Korea’s missile program, we’re building something broader: trust in emerging technologies. Blockchain, like AI, synthetic brains, and quantum computing, has immense potential but also brings significant risks.

Mismanaged, these advancements could usher us into a dystopian future. FailSafe is here to prevent that — to safeguard the integrity of the future digital economy. 

For me, this mission is deeply personal. Scams don’t just affect corporations; they often hurt society’s most vulnerable. It’s our responsibility to protect those who can’t defend themselves.

Aspiring to safety

Success, as I see it, is twofold. One part is the technical reliability of our products. We can’t settle for “good enough” — cybersecurity requires unwavering confidence. Like a parachute, our solutions must work every single time without fail. 

The other part is adoption. If the largest players in the industry trust us with their security and see value in what we’ve built with FailSafe, then we’re on the right path. We’re already seeing a willingness to invest in our solutions, and that’s promising.

And if we could reach our highest ideal, we would eliminate cyber fear altogether — a Web3 ecosystem where users don’t hesitate every time they click a link. It’s like getting into a car today — most of us don’t think about the catastrophic potential of driving because we trust the safeguards: traffic lights, seat belts, speed cameras. 

Today, Web3 isn’t there yet, but that’s the aspiration — to build an internet where trust is embedded in every transaction.

There are a few things that would help us get there faster. First, education and trust. If I could, I’d snap my fingers and have everyone intuitively know and trust FailSafe. However, since I lack the powers of Professor X, we’re earning that trust the hard way — through partnerships, proof, and persistence. 

Collaboration is another piece of the puzzle. Most retail users expect the platforms they use to already handle security, just like we don’t buy antivirus software for our digibanks. So, the mission is to collaborate with as many enterprises as possible, ensuring FailSafe’s technology becomes part of the DNA of wallets, smart contracts, and networks. 

Lastly, there’s team culture. I believe culture eats strategy for breakfast. No matter how solid the plan is, success ultimately comes down to great teamwork and conviction.

In hindsight

That said, it hasn’t always been easy. One of the most complex parts is the constant need to stay “switched on”. There are moments of emotional and physical fatigue, when the weight of being endlessly optimistic, available, and ready to solve problems feels overwhelming.

It’s tough, but it’s also gratifying. During the toughest moments, I remind myself of an aphorism drilled into us during combat diver training: “The only easy day was yesterday.”

And if I could call myself up the night before I decided to take this role at FailSafe, I’d offer three pieces of advice. One: customers don’t buy products; they buy solutions. It sounds obvious, but I didn’t truly understand it until I got in the trenches with our customers and saw their actual pain points. 

Two: prioritise ruthlessly. We sometimes spread ourselves too thin, trying to do everything and achieving very little. Defining and focusing on a key metric helped avoid the shiny object syndrome. And three: relationships matter just as much as products.

Buying is emotional — people trust those they connect with. Building strong relationships is essential within a company and in the wider world, where trust forms the backbone of meaningful connections. 

Just as we prioritise key metrics in business, the same principle applies to how communities evolve today. What gives me hope is the emergence of these communities formed around shared values rather than geography, race, or religion. Balaji’s concept of the Network State resonates with me.

People are finding new ways to connect, collaborate, and build beyond traditional divisions, and that’s something worth believing in. It tells me we’re moving toward a more connected, less fragmented world — and in that lies the promise of what blockchain and Web3 can become.”