Beginner Roadmap to Smart Contract Auditing

Summary

In this video, the speaker shares their journey and progress in web3 security through Code Arena. They highlight the importance of studying past audit reports to identify vulnerabilities and improve ranking on the platform. The speaker also discusses the potential for newcomers to quickly rise in the ranks, inspired by others like Dr. V, who achieved significant success in just a few months. The video aims to motivate and guide individuals looking to break into the field, while offering insights into the speaker's approach and future goals.

Takeaways

• 😀 The speaker is involved in Code Arena, a platform for web3 security bug hunting, and aims to climb the leaderboard by identifying vulnerabilities in smart contracts.
• 😀 They are focusing on learning from past audit reports to identify high-severity vulnerabilities rather than just participating in quick bug hunts.
• 😀 By reviewing audit reports, the speaker is working to find more unique vulnerabilities that can yield higher payouts, even though they may take more time to spot.
• 😀 Currently, they are ranked around 5k in rewards and in the 30th position on the 60-day leaderboard, and they aim to improve their ranking.
• 😀 They plan to share their findings and journey on YouTube to help others in the web3 security space and provide resources for skill-building.
• 😀 The speaker shares that while they are not spending too much time on the contest itself, they are focusing on maximizing long-term value through learning.
• 😀 They mention that even though they are still leaving money on the table by not spending more time in contests, learning from past reports is key to higher-value discoveries.
• 😀 Dr. V, a relatively new participant in web3 security, made significant progress in Code Arena, earning 4.5k in just one month after starting with zero knowledge of Solidity and smart contracts.
• 😀 Dr. V's rapid progress motivates the speaker, showing that it is possible to climb the leaderboard quickly and achieve success in web3 security.
• 😀 The speaker encourages newcomers to the web3 security field by highlighting others’ success stories, showing that with dedication and learning, significant progress can be made in a short time.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the speaker in the video?

The speaker's main focus is on their journey in Web3 security, specifically through the CodeArena platform, where they share their approach to improving skills, participating in contests, and climbing the leaderboard.

How does the speaker approach time management for improving their skills?

The speaker devotes more time to reading previous audit reports to identify vulnerabilities and improve their knowledge, rather than spending too much time on individual contest submissions.

Why is the speaker not spending much time on contests currently?

The speaker is focusing more on learning from previous audit reports to improve their skills, leaving less time for contest participation. They are currently prioritizing long-term learning over short-term contest gains.

What is the speaker’s goal in terms of leaderboard performance?

The speaker aims to continue climbing the leaderboard, with a current position around the 30th spot on the 60-day leaderboard, while also increasing their rewards.

What is the speaker’s strategy for improving their performance on CodeArena?

The speaker plans to spend more time analyzing previous audit reports to understand common vulnerabilities, allowing them to find more unique and high-severity issues in contests. This strategy will help them perform better in the future.

How does the speaker view sharing their experience with others?

The speaker views sharing their findings and experiences on their YouTube channel as a way to help others get into Web3 security, providing valuable insights for those looking to improve their skills and capitalize on opportunities.

Who is Dr. V, and why is he mentioned in the video?

Dr. V is a relatively new participant in Web3 security who made impressive progress within a short period. The speaker mentions him to highlight the potential for quick success in the field and to motivate others who may be uncertain about entering the space.

What is the significance of Dr. V’s progress in the video?

Dr. V's progress is used as motivation for others, showing that it is possible to achieve success quickly in the Web3 security space. He went from having zero knowledge in smart contracts and Solidity to being in the top 10 of the leaderboard with over $69k in payouts.

What message does the speaker want to convey to those new to Web3 security?

The speaker wants to convey that it is possible to make quick progress in Web3 security, even for those who are new to the field, and that they should be motivated by the success of others like Dr. V.

What does the speaker plan to do next in terms of content creation?

The speaker plans to continue documenting their journey on CodeArena, sharing updates on their progress and providing helpful resources for others interested in Web3 security.