case studies

Case Study: Fortifying Core Infrastructure for a Leading Stablecoin Issuer

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Case Study: Fortifying Core Infrastructure for a Leading Stablecoin Issuer

Client Overview

A prominent stablecoin issuer partnered with Halborn to perform a focused security assessment of its USD-pegged smart contracts. With billions of dollars in circulation and a reputation for reliability, the issuer aimed to ensure long-term protocol resilience and stability. Given the critical role these smart contracts play in powering a trusted digital asset, the issuer required a comprehensive, expert-led audit.

Security Challenges

The audit focused on identifying vulnerabilities that could impact the security and functionality of the stablecoin system. Halborn was asked to assess core areas of the protocol, including:

  • Function visibility and how permissions were handled

  • Minter privileges that control supply issuance

  • Transparency of emitted events for proper transaction tracing

  • Compiler inconsistencies that could result in unpredictable behavior

  • Revert logic affecting how errors were handled on-chain

Any weaknesses in these areas could have introduced serious risks to user funds and operational trust.

Halborn’s Solutions

Halborn conducted a deep review of the smart contracts using a mix of manual code inspection and advanced automated testing. The firm’s methodology focused on detecting security flaws and design weaknesses that could result in protocol-level failures or exploitable conditions.

Key results included:

  • Detection of visibility and privilege management issues

  • Identification of inconsistencies in compiler behavior and revert handling

  • Recommendations to improve event transparency for better system observability

Halborn provided actionable recommendations aligned with the client’s objectives, helping bolster the protocol’s defensive posture.

Impact and Outcomes

By addressing the findings, the stablecoin issuer was able to:

  • Eliminate several potential vectors for exploitation

  • Strengthen user asset protections

  • Reduce reputational and operational risk exposure

  • Reinforce external trust in the protocol’s security guarantees

Going Above and Beyond

This is just one example of an assessment the firm has completed for the stablecoin issuer. However, Halborn has performed more than 30 distinct assessments, uncovering over 200 findings across the stablecoin issuer’s broader infrastructure, including wallet, bridge, cloud, and compliance surfaces.

Halborn’s approach extended beyond typical audit outputs. By applying a thorough testing process and surfacing meaningful risks, Halborn enabled the client to act decisively to improve its infrastructure. The review contributed to the long-term stability and institutional trust surrounding one of the most widely used stablecoins in the ecosystem.

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