Meet Nick Percoco: Insights from a Cybersecurity Expert on Cryptocurrency Security

Greetings, everyone! I’m Nick Percoco, the Chief Security Officer at Kraken and the founder of SpiderLabs at Trustwave, as well as the organizer of THOTCON, a notable hacker conference based in Chicago. I’m excited to share my knowledge on cryptocurrency security, hacks, breaches, and best practices within the realm of cybersecurity.

With over 25 years of experience in security and technology, I currently lead the Security, IT, and Engineering teams at Kraken, a leading global digital asset exchange. My journey in this field has provided me with a wealth of experience and insights into the ever-evolving landscape of cybersecurity threats and defenses.

Before taking on my role at Kraken, I served as the Chief Security Officer at Uptake, a company specializing in industrial AI, and held the position of Vice President of Global Services at Rapid7, a comprehensive cybersecurity firm. My expertise has allowed me to share vital information regarding security incidents, malware, mobile security, and the latest trends in information security at prominent events such as Black Hat, DEF CON, and OWASP. I’ve also had the privilege of addressing private audiences, including members of the Department of Homeland Security, US-CERT, Interpol, and the United States Secret Service.

I’ve been passionate about technology since childhood; I learned to code at the age of seven on the Timex Sinclair 1000 in the early 1980s. My fascination with technology further developed in the late 80s and early 90s as I explored the Chicagoland bulletin board systems (BBSs) using a Commodore 64 and later a Linux-equipped Intel 386 PC.

Over the past several decades, I’ve been an active participant in Chicago’s vibrant hacker community, contributing to the local scene and organizing THOTCON, which will celebrate its 12th conference in 2023. Additionally, my career has involved investigating some of the largest data breaches in history. In the past four years, I’ve been dedicated to fortifying Kraken’s defenses against potential attacks and ensuring the security of our users’ assets.

I invite you to engage with me! Whether you’re curious about my experiences, want to explore industry insights, or have questions related to cybersecurity, I’m here to share. Feel free to dive into the conversation!

Thanks for your interest, and I look forward to hearing from you.

*Note: I had a fantastic time answering questions previously, and I’ll continue