Verdict.finance: Repricing Risk for the Next Wave of DeFi

In this episode of HardWired, Harry sits down with Charles Holmes, founder of Verdict Finance, to explore how one of crypto’s most important emerging infrastructure plays is tackling the problem of risk in DeFi. From Charles’s early experience in crypto to the origin story behind Verdict Finance, the conversation digs into why institutions still struggle to deploy capital onchain and how better risk intelligence could change that.

By Harry Crabtree // July 30, 2026 @ 01:20 PM Make

preferred on

We discuss why legacy security and due diligence models fall short in a fast-moving onchain environment, how Verdict Finance is building a more transparent and commercially useful way to assess protocol risk, and why ratings, coverage, and compliance are becoming essential for the next phase of crypto adoption. Charles also explains how Verdict Finance turns risk into something measurable, tradable, and actionable, alongside the broader suite of products the company is building for protocols, investors, and institutions.

Some ideas explored:

Charles’s background and how it led him into Verdict Finance
The story behind Verdict Finance and its mission to improve DeFi risk management
Why institutions need better ratings, compliance, and coverage before deploying capital
How Verdict Finance assesses protocol, infrastructure, and dependency risk in practice
The importance of transparency and due diligence in onchain finance
How Verdict Finance is building tools for protocols, investors, and security teams
Why AI, automation, and post-quantum security may reshape the next era of crypto infrastructure
The future of DeFi risk, institutional adoption, and onchain finance at scale

A conversation about risk, trust, and building the infrastructure needed for crypto to mature.

You can learn more about Verdict Finance here: https://www.verdict.finance

Posted in: Hardwired

Harry Crabtree

Harry is a Web3 consultant and advisor with a background in crypto and blockchain dating back to 2017. Over the years, he’s worked across different parts of the space, building a perspective shaped by both the fast-moving nature of the industry and the people in it. His interest in Web3 has grown from early curiosity into a long-term focus on where the space is heading, what’s changing, and how founders, investors, and communities are shaping that future.