Strengthening Bittensor Subnets: My Experience with Yanez MIID and Bitsec.ai

Yanez CEO Jose Caldera shares insights on the Yanez MIID (Subnet 54) and Bitsec.ai (Subnet 60) collaboration:

I’ve always believed that collaboration is the cornerstone of innovation, especially in complex ecosystems like Bittensor. Recently, my subnet, Yanez MIID (Subnet 54), partnered with Bitsec.ai (Subnet 60) to proactively identify vulnerabilities in our incentive algorithm. Reflecting on this collaboration has reinforced my belief in the immense value of proactive vulnerability management and the power of working closely within the Bittensor community.

Why Collaboration Matters in the Bittensor Ecosystem

In decentralized networks like Bittensor, it's easy to focus inward, concentrating only on your subnet’s own success and metrics. However, the true strength and growth of decentralized systems come from collaborative synergy. As Thomas Malone, a professor at MIT Sloan School of Management, famously stated, "The future of business is increasingly about collaboration, not competition." This insight couldn't be more relevant to the evolving ecosystem of Bittensor.

Subnet collaborations create mutual learning opportunities. Sharing insights, challenges, and solutions enhances the security, robustness, and innovation across the network. When subnets proactively collaborate, they can leverage each other's strengths, reducing duplicated efforts and accelerating innovation. Such collaboration might involve shared research, joint vulnerability assessments, co-hosting community events, or pooling resources for enhanced security measures. The possibilities are extensive and promising, reinforcing the interconnected strength of Bittensor’s entire ecosystem.

Evaluating Our Incentive Algorithm: Why Code Review is Critical

Before diving into our collaboration specifics, it's essential to acknowledge the broader context of vulnerability management and code review. In software development, thorough code reviews help uncover potential vulnerabilities, improve code quality, and ensure security standards. For instance, the Ethereum DAO hack in 2016 serves as a stark example, where a critical vulnerability in the smart contract code led to the loss of over $50 million worth of Ether. This incident is a stark reminder of the critical need for comprehensive and proactive code reviews to identify vulnerabilities before they are exploited.

Proactively identifying vulnerabilities is fundamental because it allows teams to mitigate risks early, significantly reducing potential harm. It is not just about preventing exploitation but also about fostering trust within the community and ensuring long-term sustainability. A proactive stance ensures that vulnerabilities are addressed in a controlled manner rather than reacting to breaches under the pressure of an incident.

In Bittensor, the incentive algorithm functions similarly to code in traditional software development, it dictates how resources, tokens, and rewards flow through the subnet. Any vulnerability here could be exploited by miners or malicious actors. Ideally, miners themselves identify and exploit these weaknesses, pushing the network towards continual improvement. However, subnet owners must also proactively evaluate and strengthen these algorithms to prevent exploitation that could damage subnet health or community trust.

Partnering with Bitsec.ai: A Proactive Approach

Our collaboration with Bitsec.ai was born from a shared philosophy. Both Yanez Compliance and Bitsec.ai fundamentally believe in identifying vulnerabilities ahead of time, whether in financial crime prevention systems or software algorithms. While the nature of the consequences may differ, the proactive approach to identifying and addressing vulnerabilities is consistent and powerful. We also agreed on the use of adversarial techniques and its broad applicability across use cases.

Bitsec.ai evaluates source code using adversarial techniques powered by AI models that operate in their Bittensor’s subnet 60. The same techniques that can identify critical vulnerabilities in source code for applications, can be applied to identify issues with incentive algorithms.

Yanez and Bitsec met at Endgame in Austin earlier this year. We quickly uncovered our affinity in philosophy and common backgrounds in vulnerability scanning. We were impressed by their approach and their ability to use adversarial techniques to uncover vulnerabilities within the incentive algorithm. We engaged them to evaluate Yanez MIID’s incentive structure ahead of our mainnet launch. The results were enlightening and reassuring in equal measure.

Insightful Findings from Bitsec.ai

Bitsec.ai’s analysis was impressively precise. They quickly identified known vulnerabilities that our internal team had already marked for attention. More importantly, their scans uncovered previously unknown vulnerabilities that, if left unaddressed, could have severely impacted our subnet’s launch and operations.

Addressing these vulnerabilities ahead of our launch was very important to us. Not only did it enhance the robustness of our subnet, but it also substantially reduced launch-day stress and prevented potential exploitation scenarios that could have negatively impacted our subnet's initial reputation. I can't stress enough the importance of this proactive approach to ensuring the successful early deployment and operation of our subnet.

Beyond Launch: Ongoing Vigilance with Bitsec.ai

It's essential to recognize that incentive algorithms evolve. New vulnerabilities inevitably emerge as algorithms become more sophisticated, new miners join, and the network dynamics shift. Knowing this, we feel significantly reassured having Bitsec.ai as an ongoing partner.

Their commitment to scanning for vulnerabilities, identifying emerging risks, and recommending mitigation strategies helps us stay ahead of potential exploits. Subnets that don't yet practice this proactive vulnerability management approach are missing a crucial opportunity to strengthen their operations and safeguard their community.

Closing Thoughts: A Collaborative Future

A foundational goal of Bittensor is to enable seamless integration and use of subnet utilities across the entire network, enhancing the collective strength and resilience of decentralized AI ecosystems. By leveraging each other’s subnet utilities, we collectively harness the true potential of decentralization.

Our successful collaboration with Bitsec.ai isn’t just beneficial for Yanez MIID; it sets a practical example for the broader Bittensor community. Concrete cases of subnet partnerships like ours can inspire and encourage others to seek similar collaborations, collectively enhancing the robustness and security of the entire Bittensor ecosystem.

Bitsec.ai’s involvement allowed us to anticipate vulnerabilities, mitigate risks proactively, and successfully launch with fewer operational concerns. Their contribution goes beyond mere vulnerability scanning. As a subnet owner we appreciate peace of mind, ensuring that our team can focus on growth and innovation rather than damage control.

As subnet operators, we're all working towards similar goals: security, robustness, innovation, and community trust. By partnering strategically, we amplify our collective success, ensuring that Bittensor remains a vibrant and secure ecosystem.

Reflecting on this partnership, I’m excited about future collaborations and optimistic about what collective innovation can achieve. After all, the true strength of decentralized networks lies in their collaborative spirit.

Here’s to more successful collaborations across the Bittensor ecosystem!