Deel and Check Point alumni back Verdict Machine's crypto security pre-seed
What's the deal? Verdict MachineDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, an AI cybersecurity startup for on-chain finance, has closed a pre-seed round backed by Y Combinator, Draper DragonDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, First Peak VenturesDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, Gaingels, Latitude Fund, Tekedia CapitalDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, Transpose PlatformDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, Twenty Two Ventures, and UNETI AI Labs. Angel backers include Deel chief executive officer Alex BouazizDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → and OneSource Virtual chief executive officer John Bax. The round's size was not disclosed.
What's the endgame? Based in Tel Aviv, Verdict Machine calls itself a cyber software factory for on-chain finance. Its AI learns each institution's digital-asset environment, reasons through how an attack would unfold there, and generates tailored controls. The same model screens transactions before they execute.
Who's behind it? Founders Dan Danay, Isaac Grossman, and Liran Kogan launched and led blockchain security at Check Point, the NASDAQ-listed security company. The team has also signed a global reseller agreement with Check Point, giving a pre-seed startup a route into enterprise security budgets.
Why now? Finance is moving on-chain as stablecoins settle large volumes and tokenization brings more assets onto blockchain rails. A 2026 survey of major investment banks found some tokenized-market use cases already in production, while security and smart-contract vulnerabilities rank as a leading adoption barrier. Verdict Machine's early customers include LayerZero, Tezos contributor TrilitechDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, and stablecoin payments platform CodexaDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →.
What they're saying: "As crypto and on-chain finance gain institutional adoption, they need cybersecurity that meets institutional standards," said Samiz Bayan, partner at Draper Dragon.
The signal: The investor roster — spanning crypto, fintech, and AI backers — signals that securing on-chain infrastructure is becoming a distinct category. The bet is less about proven scale than a pressing need: institutional volume moves on-chain only if the security underneath holds.
Read more: tekedia.com
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