Security and compliance often feel like things you deal with later, after you raise, after mainnet, or once you’re “big enough to matter.” But for small teams on the rise, these aren’t future checkboxes. They’re foundations that can quietly support or suddenly sink your momentum.
Growth moves fast in Web3. One week you’re three people with a Notion board. Next, you’re managing multisigs, hiring contributors across borders, shipping on multiple chains, and juggling grant terms.
In the rush, it’s easy to skip the basics:
- Who has access to what?
- Are passwords and wallets properly managed?
- Is your contributor pipeline exposing you to risk?
- Can you prove how funds are used if asked?
You don’t need a full-time compliance officer or a cybersecurity team to get this right. You just need structure.
Simple things like:
- Role-based access tools
- Clear contributor agreements
- Basic KYC flows for payouts or grants
- Regular (even informal) security reviews
- Documented processes for key actions
It’s not about adding friction. It’s about removing uncertainty, so your team can grow confidently, knowing the rails are in place.
If you’re already building with security and compliance in mind, what tools or workflows have helped most?