Solana Foundation hires former Twitter security chief as CISO

Michael Coates, a veteran of Mozilla, Twitter, and enterprise security startup Altitude Networks, has taken on a new role as Chief Information Security Officer at the Solana Foundation. Coates made the announcement on X, formerly Twitter, saying he will oversee security across the network as blockchain adoption and institutional activity expand.

Coates cited Solana’s growing scale as a key factor in his decision. He noted that the platform now handles tens of billions of dollars in daily stablecoin volume and processes more transactions each day than most of the crypto industry combined. He also pointed to recent tokenization activity, like the launch of SpaceX tokenized shares on Solana the same day the asset debuted on Nasdaq.

From Mozilla to Twitter to Solana

Coates has held prominent security roles before. He was Head of Security at Mozilla during the browser wars, then became Twitter’s first CISO as the social media platform went global. Later, he founded Altitude Networks, an enterprise SaaS security company that entered crypto after being acquired by CoinList.

In his new position at the Solana Foundation, Coates said he will focus on strengthening operational security, improving application security practices, and tackling risks unique to digital assets. He also plans to work with policymakers and standards bodies on cybersecurity regulations affecting the industry.

Growing threats and AI concerns

Coates described the current threat environment as intense. Attackers, he said, remain heavily motivated to steal digital assets. He also flagged malicious uses of artificial intelligence as a rising security concern. But he added that AI can also enhance defensive capabilities when used wisely, referencing his congressional testimony on the subject earlier this year.

This appointment fits a broader trend of digital asset firms hiring experienced leaders from technology, cybersecurity, and regulatory backgrounds as institutional participation grows. For example, former U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission Chairman Christopher Giancarlo joined Swiss digital asset bank Sygnum as a senior policy advisor last year, advising on global regulation and partnerships.