Meet Nick Percoco: A Leader in Cybersecurity and Cryptocurrency Protection

Hello, everyone! I’m excited to introduce myself in this blog post. My name is Nick Percoco, and I serve as the Chief Security Officer (CSO) at Kraken, a prominent global digital asset exchange. With over 25 years of extensive experience in security and technology, I have dedicated my career to protecting digital assets and leading innovative cybersecurity initiatives.

In my current role at Kraken, I oversee the Security, IT, and Engineering departments, ensuring the highest standards are maintained for our platform and its users. Before joining Kraken, I held significant positions, including CSO at Uptake, an industrial AI firm, and Vice President of Global Services at Rapid7, a comprehensive cybersecurity solutions provider.

Throughout my career, I have shared my expertise on various topics such as security breaches, malware, and InfoSec trends at influential conferences like Black Hat, DEF CON, and OWASP. I have also had the privilege of providing insights to esteemed organizations including the Department of Homeland Security, US-CERT, Interpol, and the United States Secret Service.

My journey in technology began at a young age— I learned to code at just 7 years old on a Timex Sinclair 1000 computer. In the late 80s and early 90s, I was deeply immersed in the Chicagoland BBS scene, using a Commodore 64 before transitioning to an Intel 386 PC running Linux.

As a long-time member of the Chicago hacker community, I founded THOTCON, a hacker conference that has grown into an influential event in the field. This year, we are excited to celebrate our 12th installment of THOTCON, showcasing the latest trends in cybersecurity.

Over the past four years at Kraken, I have been actively building robust security programs designed to protect our platform from various potential threats. I am passionate about cybersecurity and remain committed to sharing knowledge and insights from my experiences.

With that said, I invite you to engage with me! If you have any questions about cryptocurrency hacks, security tips, or cybersecurity investigations, feel free to reach out in the comments below. I’m here to provide answers and insights into the ever-evolving world of cybersecurity.

Thank you for reading, and I look forward to our discussion!

Update: I had a fantastic time engaging with your questions! I appreciate your interest and will continue to check in throughout the day to respond to more inquiries.