Common questions about the Zealynx Audit Grants program: eligibility, scoring, application process, and grant conditions. For formal terms, see Terms and Conditions.
No. The Zealynx Audit Grant is a percentage discount applied to your audit invoice with Zealynx. Core = 100% off (free). Growth = 50% off. Builder = 25% off. We use the exact same audit process, founder-led team, tools, and deliverables as any paid engagement. No cash is sent.
They are percentage discounts applied to the actual cost of your scoped audit. Core = 100% covered (you pay $0). Growth = 50% covered (you pay 50%). Builder = 25% covered (you pay 75%). The "up to $32k / $16k / $8k" figures represent the typical value for a standard 2-auditor, 2-week engagement.
Any Web3 protocol or project with smart contract code. All supported chains are eligible (Ethereum, Solana, Arbitrum, Base, Polygon, StarkNet, Fuel, and others). Both pre-launch and live protocols are eligible. Individual developers, DAOs, and companies can all apply, provided at least one team member has a verifiable public identity.
Yes. You need a GitHub repository with auditable smart contract code, but it does not need to be deployed to mainnet. Testnet deployments or development-stage code are both acceptable.
You can still apply. Prior audits do not disqualify you. Having been audited before may demonstrate a commitment to security, which can be a positive signal during the team evaluation.
No. The Program is open globally. There are no geographic, nationality, or residency restrictions, subject to applicable sanctions law.
Past clients may apply. Protocols currently in an active audit engagement with Zealynx at the time of the season announcement are not eligible. Once a previous engagement is complete, you are welcome to apply for a future season.
Applications are scored on a 100-point system. 40 points for product engagement (Krait Claude Skill, Krait Platform, eMBA modules, Shadow Audit), 15 points for social sharing (X post, LinkedIn post, referrals), and 45 points for protocol merit (technical maturity, likelihood of success, go-to-market plan, team credibility). Product and social points are auto-calculated. Protocol merit is scored by the Zealynx review team.
No. The scoring system helps us evaluate applications fairly, but the highest score does not automatically win. Protocol merit is heavily weighted in the final decision.
The Krait Claude Skill and Krait Platform assessment each take a few minutes. The 3 eMBA modules take a few hours depending on your experience. The Shadow Audit is the most involved: current Shadow Audits range from 2 to 7 days depending on the contest size.
Typically 1 to 2 weeks. All applicants are notified of the outcome by email, whether selected or not.
You receive an email letting you know. You are welcome to apply again in the next season. The work you completed during the application process remains valuable for your protocol's security regardless of the outcome.
No. Once submitted, applications are final and cannot be modified. You can save your application as a draft and edit it as many times as you need before submitting.
Each applicant receives a unique referral link on their dashboard. When someone you referred creates an account using your link and completes their application (reaches "submitted" status), you earn 5 points. Self-referrals are not eligible.
Yes. The Core Grant is a 100% subsidy, meaning you pay $0. After winning, Zealynx scopes the audit and quotes at the standard rate ($8,000 per auditor per week). The full cost is then covered by the grant. There are no hidden fees, no equity requirements, and no token obligations.
Core Grant recipients must book the audit within 60 days of notification. Growth and Builder Grant recipients must claim their grant within 30 days. All recipients must provide a testimonial, participate in a case study, cooperate with one fix review cycle, and allow Zealynx to publish the audit report.
All grant audits are performed by the Zealynx Security team. The specific auditors assigned to your engagement are selected by Zealynx based on expertise and availability. You will work directly with senior Zealynx auditors throughout the process.
Still have questions? Reach out at contact@zealynx.io or on Telegram at @vendrell46.