Most crypto projects approach security backwards: they build first, secure second. Let's dive into what and why every project should implement BEFORE getting an audit, using a security pyramid analogy.

2/8 Tier 1 (Foundation): Code review This tier provides the biggest impact for the lowest cost. Teams need to implement peer reviews through proper git workflows and avoid the "full-stack hero" syndrome where one person handles everything. Multiple pairs of eyes on code prevent more vulnerabilities than audits alone.

3/8 Tier 2: Unit testing Have 90-100% test coverage before any audit. Write tests in a different language than your implementation to avoid replicating logical errors. Test edge cases, not just happy paths – especially in blockchain, where code is harder to update.

5/8 Tier 4: Fuzz testing The holy grail: property-based fuzzing with invariants for complex protocols, guided fuzzing targeting specific code paths, and differential testing against reference implementations. Fuzzing is the single best tool for finding complex edge cases.

6/8 Above the pyramid sits the audit. That's also because its effectiveness depends entirely on the foundation. Projects that skip the lower tiers often see 20+ critical issues in audits. Those implementing all 4 tiers typically see 1-2 critical issues at max.

7/8 Teams following these best practices catch critical issues that would otherwise slip through. This reduces audit costs and enables shipping more secure protocols overall. Security is a way of building from the beginning, not just one final checkbox to outsource.