# When an Intelligent Sequencer Guards a Chain | Martin Derka at Pragma Prague 2025

- Channel: [ETHGlobal](https://streameth.org/ethglobal)
- Date: 2025-10-09
- Duration: 21:07
- Topics: Martin Derka, Zircuit, sequencer-level security, SLS, blockchain security, EVM compatibility, zero-knowledge rollup, AI security, transaction analysis, hack prevention, phishing protection, transaction dependencies, false positives, model accuracy, contract migration, institutional adoption, KYC compliance, AML compliance, DOS prevention, smart contract security, real-time protection, ZK rollup, mempool security, block formation, transaction quarantine
- Watch: https://streameth.org/watch/yt-SYM92J7kgPE
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SYM92J7kgPE

## Description

In this talk at Pragma Prague 2025, Martin Derka from Zircuit explores how intelligent sequencers can enhance blockchain security. He explains Zircuit's approach to sequencer-level security (SLS) using AI to detect and prevent hacks in real-time, sharing insights on EVM compatibility, transaction analysis architectures, and practical applications like phishing protection.

The presentation covers technical challenges in implementing proactive security measures while maintaining blockchain performance, along with real-world testing methodologies to validate the system's effectiveness.

00:00 Introduction to Martin Derka and Zircuit
00:47 The problem: Recurring blockchain hacks
01:25 Zircuit's mission: Proactive chain security
01:57 Zircuit as EVM-equivalent ZK rollup
02:34 Traditional rollup flow vs SLS architecture
03:06 How sequencer-level security works
03:37 Transaction quarantine process
04:08 System design requirements
04:40 Scanning transactions vs full blocks
05:10 SLS 1.0: Transaction-level analysis
05:42 Advantages of pre-block analysis
06:16 Transaction dependency challenges
06:43 SLS 2.0: Block-level analysis
07:11 Performance tradeoffs
07:32 SLS 3.0: Optimistic execution
08:04 Handling analysis delays
08:28 Zircuit's hybrid SLS approach
08:48 Current architecture evolution
09:24 Training AI to detect hacks
10:01 Leveraging EVM compatibility
10:33 Model accuracy metrics
11:13 Potential impact on historical hacks
11:39 False positive challenges
12:09 Testing methodology
12:43 Porting real-world hacks for testing
13:14 Migration challenges
13:44 Research on contract migration
14:17 Address reference handling
14:49 Phishing protection use case
15:19 Wallet security limitations
15:50 On-chain phishing detection
16:22 Superiority of sequencer-level protection
16:54 Rule-based transaction filtering
17:25 Institutional adoption benefits
17:58 KYC/AML compliance solutions
18:30 System synchronization challenges
18:59 Forced inclusion considerations
19:32 DOS attack prevention
20:03 User experience design
20:36 Future detector development

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🇨🇿 *Pragma Prague*
Pragma Prague 2025 was held on May 29th at Holešovice Market in Prague, Czech Republic and was an in-person summit for builders and leaders in the web3 ecosystem. This event was in collaboration with ETH Prague. Watch the full Pragma Prague YouTube Playlist here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXzKMXK2aHh7vLS72NelQ2dOx2VgPNxJZ&si=UsHtX5roJ4R2R4_K 

ETHGlobal's Pragma series takes place in cities around the world, and is designed to be a different kind of event. Pragma is a one-stage conference with founders-only on stage, bringing together a small group of curated attendees and speakers to discuss the future of web3 and reflect on the past. 

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✅ Follow Martin Derka
X: https://x.com/dr_zircuit

✅ Follow Zircuit
X: https://x.com/ZircuitL2

✅ Follow Kartik Talwar
X: https://x.com/TheRealKartik

✅ Follow ETHGlobal
X: https://x.com/ETHGlobal​
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Website: https://ethglobal.com
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@UCfF9ZO8Ug4xk_AJd4aeT5HA 

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