DeFi Risk Briefing: Protecting Institutional Capital in Crypto

A panel discussion on risk management for digital assets is taking place at DAF Global. **Featured Speakers:** - Hugh Karp (Nexus Mutual) - Simon Peters (Xerberus) - Laeeq Shabbir (EY) - Darren Jordan (Komainu Custody) - José Ángel Fernández Freire (Prosegur Global) The panel focuses on strategies and practices needed for long-term survival in the digital asset space, covering institutional-grade risk management approaches.

Nexus Mutual released its January 2026 monthly update, highlighting key developments across product integrations and risk management. **Key Updates:** - Product milestones and new integrations completed - DeFi risk insights and legal analysis published - Ecosystem updates and community events The platform also published analysis on building risk expertise in DeFi, arguing that trust in code alone is insufficient. Their approach combines transparent onchain data with expert networks to make risk more manageable. Nexus Mutual emphasizes that **risk sharing should be collaborative rather than competitive** in the DeFi ecosystem. Full details available in their [monthly recap](https://nexusmutual.io/blog/nexus-mutual-monthly-january-2026) and [risk expertise analysis](https://nexusmutual.io/blog/why-defi-needs-real-risk-expertise).

**Vaults have become essential DeFi infrastructure**, according to TokenData's primer from Nexus Mutual's DeFi Risk Briefing. **Key context:** - Nexus Mutual provided over $1B in cover during 2025 - $5.5M+ in premiums earned by underwriters - $370K distributed in claims to covered members in 2025 - Total claims paid since 2019: $18.6M+ **Recent developments:** - Launch of Nexus Mutual v3 with expert-led claims and reworked governance - Introduction of Real World Insurance Vault (RWIV) - Focus on institutional DeFi adoption and vault risk management The briefing covered vault mechanics, recent hacks, claims processing, and institutional adoption trends. Vaults now handle complex backend operations including tokenization, multi-protocol strategy execution, and continuous risk management—far beyond simple deposit-reward-withdraw models. [Watch the vault primer](https://www.youtube.com/live/dD2S-CXlXCw?si=THW2wUsGU7OetJvL&t=1260)

Nexus Mutual has released a breakdown of recent claim payouts connected to vault-related loss events. The analysis, presented by TokenData, demonstrates the protocol's track record of processing and paying claims. **Key Points:** - Focus on vault-related incidents and associated payouts - Part of Nexus Mutual's ongoing transparency efforts - Adds to the protocol's $18m+ in total claims paid since 2020 The update reinforces Nexus Mutual's position as an active claims payer in the crypto insurance space, with documented payouts across multiple incidents including bZx, Yearn, Cream Finance, and FTX-related events. For detailed claims data, visit their [documentation](https://docs.nexusmutual.io/overview/claims-history/) or [Dune dashboard](https://dune.com/nexus_mutual/claims).

OpenCover has released the **Onchain Risk Map**, a comprehensive framework designed to help institutions understand and categorize blockchain risks. **Key Details:** - Built in collaboration with Nexus Mutual - First complete taxonomy of DeFi risks - Targets risk professionals, protocols, and institutional users - Launch webinar scheduled for February 11 at 17 CET The tool aims to standardize how blockchain risk is understood and managed across the industry. A full report and expert Q&A session will accompany the launch. [Join the launch webinar](https://opencover.com) for priority access and recording.