AI Audit Tool 
The rise of large language models has introduced a new way of building applications, one where developers (or anyone, for that matter) can describe what they want in prompts and let AI generate the code. This is known as Vibe coding.
Prompt, refine, and iterate until the output matches the desired behavior rather than writing every line of code manually. The result is faster building, smaller teams, and quicker launches.
In blockchain systems, speed often comes at serious trade-offs. Smart contracts are largely immutable; once deployed, errors in logic can lead to exploits and financial losses.
Code generated quickly or without in-depth review does not become safer simply because it works.
In this article, we explore how far vibe coding has already spread across the Web3 ecosystem, the security risks it introduces, and how teams can retain the speed of vibe coding while adding the safeguards required to build and deploy securely.
How Vibe Coding is shaping Web3 Development Workflows
Vibe coding in Web3 is less about fully vibe-coded applications and more about how development workflows are changing.
According to statements from Y Combinator leadership, roughly 25 percent of startups in its Winter 2025 batch had codebases where more than 95 percent was AI-generated.
In Web3, this shift appears first at the tooling and workflow level. Builders are using AI systems to write smart contracts, adapt existing templates or generate boilerplates, and iterate on on-chain logic with speed.
Rather than fully replacing developers, vibe coding augments teams, allowing them to move from idea to prototype and MVPs with far less friction than before.
Vibe-driven or AI-assisted workflows can be used to prototype DeFi mechanics, automate trading logic, generate NFT minting contracts, explore on-chain games, and build internal tools or AI-powered agents.
A growing ecosystem of tools supports this shift. General-purpose AI coding environments such as d
Cursor,
Claude,
Replit,
and Lovable are increasingly used alongside Web3-specific platforms like Thirdweb AI,
CodeNut,
and Dreamspace.
Together, these tools make it easier to write, modify, and deploy blockchain code without deep protocol expertise, significantly lowering the barrier to entry and experimentation.
The result is faster iteration, higher output per developer, and a development culture that favors speed and exploration. Small teams can now test ideas that would previously have required months of engineering effort.
As vibe coding becomes embedded in Web3 development workflows, the limitations and security implications of this efficiency gain become impossible to ignore. These limitations are highlighted in the next section.
Risks and Limitations of Vibe Coding in Web3
Image credit: WizResearch
Vibe coding enables quick code generation and iteration rather than formal design. In Web3 and blockchain systems, where the stakes are high and applications operate in an adversarial environment, every line of code is scrutinized by bots and hackers looking for profit and a direct path to exploit.
Against this backdrop, here are some of the limitations and risks of vibe coding in Web3:
Code Quality and Architectural Weaknesses
Code that runs is not the same as code that is safe to deploy on-chain. Vibe coding prioritizes immediate functionality over long-term robustness. Critical components such as token contracts, governance modules, vaults, and execution layers require explicit threat models.
AI-generated code often lacks this global awareness, producing fragments that work in isolation but may fail when composed into live protocols.
Debugging and Opacity
Vibe-coded systems can suffer from a loss of clarity. Developers may know that code works, but not why. Risks include vague variable names, implicit assumptions, and logic that is difficult to explain. When developers struggle to explain functions and system behavior, security guarantees weaken, and vulnerabilities are easier to miss.
Security Blind Spots and Missed Threats
The most serious limitation of vibe coding in Web3 is security complacency. AI-generated code is often treated as a productivity shortcut rather than production-critical infrastructure.
This can lead to bypassed or no effective review, skipped threat modeling, and limited or no formal verification. In blockchain systems, a single overlooked or missed flaw is not just a bug; it is a permanent attack surface with real financial consequences.
AI Hallucinations and Off-Chain Vulnerabilities
AI can confidently generate code that looks correct but relies on false assumptions. This may include non-existent libraries and fake API calls. Additionally, dApps rely on off-chain components: backends, APIs, dashboards, and databases. Classic vulnerabilities such as SQL injection, improper access control, or insecure data handling remain relevant here. A secure smart contract can still be undermined by an insecure supply chain.
Security for Vibe Coding Web3 Projects
Vibe coding does not replace an understanding of computer science and blockchain systems. In Web3, security is shaped by judgment: knowing how code works and how incentives can be exploited.
The most important rule of secure vibe coding is this: AI assists with implementation, not decision-making. The quality and safety of the output depend entirely on the expertise guiding it. With that said, here are some tips to vibe coding securely in Web3:
1. Start From Audited Patterns, Not Blank Prompts
Vibe coding is safest when it accelerates known good designs rather than inventing new ones. In Web3, smart contracts encode financial logic, permissions, and settlement rules that must behave correctly under attack, not just in ideal conditions.
For this reason, AI usage should be constrained to established foundations such as audited token standards like ERC 20 or ERC 721, and proven access control and math libraries
2. Engineer Prompts With Security in Mind
AI output quality is tightly coupled to prompt quality. Vague prompts tend to produce insecure defaults, missing checks, or assumptions that only hold on the happy path.
Security-aware prompting means explicitly asking for validation, authorization, bounds, and failure handling. Over time, teams benefit from reusable prompt templates with embedded security constraints, reducing the chance that vulnerabilities are introduced before code even exists.
3. Require Tests for AI-Generated Code
If AI can generate code, it can generate tests, and those tests should be mandatory. Testing is one of the few areas where automation directly strengthens security.
At a minimum, security-focused testing should cover:
- Unit tests for critical logic and state transitions
- Fuzzing to uncover edge cases and input validation flaws
4. Enforce Automated Security Gates
Many vulnerabilities introduced through vibe coding are detectable early, but only if security checks are enforced as hard gates rather than optional steps.
Before deployment, teams should rely on manual review to catch issues that automation may miss, including insecure patterns, vulnerable dependencies, exposed secrets, and obvious attack paths in running builds.
5. Govern Dependencies and the Supply Chain
Vibe coding often introduces dependencies automatically, increasing supply chain risk. Teams should maintain strict dependency governance to prevent insecure packages from reaching production. This includes:
- Allow lists for approved libraries and tools
- Blocking deprecated or high-risk packages
- Generating and maintaining a Software Bill of Materials
- Continuous monitoring for newly disclosed vulnerabilities
In Web3, a compromised dependency can be just as damaging as a flawed smart contract.
6. Keep Humans in the Loop
No matter how advanced AI tooling becomes, human verification remains non-negotiable in Web3. Human reviewers must validate economic and incentive assumptions, question why code behaves the way it does, and actively challenge AI-generated explanations.
AI can support reasoning, but accountability always stays with the developer or team.
Secure Your Vibe-Coded Web3 Projects With Hashlock
At Hashlock, our team of security experts is ready to help you build with confidence. We offer a full suite of blockchain and smart contract security services, including:
- Smart contract audits
- Penetration testing
- On-chain monitoring
- Formal verification
- Testing services
- And more
Our AI Audit Tool allows anyone to quickly scan Solidity and Rust contracts, helping catch vulnerabilities early.
Curious about the cost of an audit? Check out our Audit Cost Calculator for estimates.
Conclusion
Vibe coding is reshaping who can build in Web3, how quickly concepts move from ideation to deployment, and what’s possible when development barriers are reduced. But remember: AI code is fast, but attacks are faster. With Hashlock, you can move quickly with robust security.
Also Read: Essential Web3 Development Tool Stack
