Spearbit is a boutique marketplace model that connects protocols with vetted senior independent security researchers. Rather than a firm with in-house auditors, Spearbit maintains a network of elite researchers and facilitates per-engagement audits. Each engagement is researcher-led, tailored to your protocol's needs. Spearbit excels at high-complexity DeFi protocols — their researcher network has deep expertise in novel mechanisms, cross-chain interactions, and advanced economic attack vectors. Engagements typically run $75,000–$500,000+ and take 4–10 weeks. Spearbit is the choice for flagship protocols needing senior-level researcher attention and strong institutional credibility.
Firepan is an AI-powered continuous smart contract security platform that monitors deployed contracts 24/7 with real-time threat detection. Its HOUND AI engine detects vulnerabilities, anomalies, and exploit patterns. Firepan integrates with GitHub for scan-on-push, scanning every commit before merge. Priced as a monthly subscription, Firepan scales across multiple contracts. It prioritizes continuous post-deployment monitoring and rapid developer feedback over boutique engagement models.
| Feature | Firepan | Spearbit | |---------|---------|--------| | Monitoring Type | Continuous / always-on | Point-in-time researcher engagement | | CI/CD Integration | GitHub integration with scan-on-push | None — engagement-based audit | | AI Engine | HOUND AI engine | Senior researcher manual review | | Post-Deployment Monitoring | Yes — real-time alerts | No — pre-launch audit focus | | Pricing Model | SaaS subscription | Per-engagement ($75K–$500K+) | | Time to First Finding | Minutes | 4–10 weeks per engagement | | Best For | Continuous scanning + iteration | Pre-launch flagship protocol audits |
Spearbit's researcher network is elite. If you're building a novel DeFi primitive — a new AMM design, an advanced cross-chain bridge, or a complex governance mechanism — Spearbit's senior researchers bring deep expertise that can identify subtle economic attacks and game-theoretic vulnerabilities. Their marketplace model ensures you work with researchers matched to your specific protocol's complexity. For flagship protocols with substantial resources and TVL, Spearbit's high-caliber research is worth the premium engagement cost. Their reputation for finding high-signal issues is strong in institutional DeFi circles.
Firepan provides continuous monitoring where Spearbit stops. After their engagement and your mainnet deployment, Firepan runs 24/7 to catch emerging vulnerabilities. Contract upgrades, integration changes, zero-day exploits, and anomalous patterns are detected in real time. Firepan also integrates into your development pipeline via GitHub — developers see findings before merge, enabling rapid iteration. Unlike Spearbit's 4–10 week engagements, Firepan delivers results in minutes. For teams with frequent deployments or multiple contracts, Firepan's continuous monitoring is essential.
Choose Spearbit if you:
Choose Firepan if you:
Best practice: Use both. Commission Spearbit for pre-launch research audit on novel mechanisms. Deploy Firepan on mainnet for continuous threat detection and rapid incident response.
Q: Is Firepan a replacement for a Spearbit audit?
A: No. Spearbit conducts research audits on novel DeFi protocols; Firepan monitors deployed contracts continuously. Use Spearbit for pre-launch research certification and Firepan for ongoing protection. Many flagship protocols do both.
Q: How does Spearbit compare to Firepan on price?
A: Spearbit engagements are $75K–$500K+. Firepan is a monthly subscription. For continuous post-deployment monitoring, Firepan is significantly cheaper than multiple Spearbit engagements.
Q: Does Firepan produce audit reports like Spearbit?
A: Firepan provides real-time findings and dashboards, not formal research reports. Spearbit produces detailed audit documentation. For a formal report, choose Spearbit.
Q: How long does Firepan take compared to Spearbit?
A: Firepan delivers results in minutes and runs continuously. Spearbit audits take 4–10 weeks. Firepan is instant and always-on; Spearbit is a point-in-time engagement.
Q: Can I use both Firepan and Spearbit?
A: Absolutely. Many flagship protocols use Spearbit for pre-launch research audit and Firepan for continuous post-deployment monitoring. The two are complementary.
Spearbit provides elite researcher-led pre-launch audits for flagship DeFi protocols; Firepan provides continuous, real-time monitoring post-deployment. Together, they create a comprehensive security strategy: commission Spearbit for deep pre-launch analysis of novel mechanisms, then deploy Firepan for always-on protection as your protocol evolves.
Start protecting your deployed contracts with Firepan at https://app.firepan.com/.
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