Guardrail.ai
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2022
- HeadquartersSan Francisco, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What Guardrail.ai does
Guardrail.ai, founded in 2022 and headquartered in the United States, builds a real-time onchain security monitoring platform designed to detect and autonomously respond to smart-contract exploits across 45+ blockchain networks (EVM chains plus Solana and Sui). The platform indexes every transaction with full trace data, runs configurable rule-based "guards" against state changes, and delivers sub-second alerts plus automated on-chain responses (contract pausing, permission revocations, custom actions) via dedicated encrypted wallets. It also offers 130+ pre-built guard blueprints, DIY Python-based custom guards, AI-driven guard recommendations, transaction screening with OFAC sanctions checks (integrated with Fireblocks), and a Threat Intelligence API. Customers include DeFi protocols (Euler Labs, Avantis, Concero, BadgerDAO, Credit Coop, Solo Labs) and crypto exchanges (Bluefin), with stated scale metrics of $5B+ in actively protected assets, $30B+ cumulatively monitored, 180+ contracts under watch, and 295+ guards deployed.
The company runs a hybrid product-led growth and enterprise field-sales motion across three subscription tiers (Starter, Professional, Enterprise) with monthly billing and add-on services (security audit integration, custom chain support, incident response retainer, team training). Specific pricing is not publicly disclosed; onboarding can be self-serve in under ten minutes for the Starter tier, while Enterprise customers engage through booked security consultations and receive white-glove onboarding with custom SLAs and 24/7 incident response. Lead investors are Coinbase Ventures and Haun Ventures, with Volt Capital, Canonical Crypto, and Alliance among the backers; Samridh Saluja, formerly a Security Engineer at LinkedIn and a participant in 250+ incident responses, founded and led the company.
In June 2026, Rain, a stablecoin payments company, acquired Guardrail, integrating it as an in-house security team to deepen protection of Rain's payment infrastructure across 15+ networks. Guardrail now operates as "Guardrail - a Rain Company," continuing its real-time detection-and-response mandate while embedded within a stablecoin payments stack rather than as an independent multi-vertical SaaS vendor.
Guardrail.ai firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Guardrail.ai
- Legal name
- Guardrail
- Website
- https://guardrail.ai
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2022
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Guardrail.ai industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Web3 / Blockchain Security Monitoring
- NAICS
- Security Systems Services (except Locksmiths) (561621)
- SIC
- Security & Commodity Brokers, Dealers, Exchanges & Services (6200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- On-Chain Monitoring, Threat Detection & Incident Response (FSAPAJAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Digital Asset Risk, Security & Audit Tooling (Smart Contract Audit, Threat Monitoring) (FSAGAMAJ), Monitoring, Observability & Incident Response (alerts, traces, runtime monitoring) (FSAPABAJ), Blockchain Compliance, AML & Transaction Monitoring (On-chain Analytics) (FSAGAMAF)
Keywords
Where Guardrail.ai is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- San Francisco
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Guardrail.ai business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Operations
Revenue model
- Security Monitoring Subscriptions (Starter/Professional/Enterprise): Three-tier subscription model. Starter tier for early-stage protocols includes pre-built security blueprints, real-time alerts, community support, and major chain coverage. Professional tier adds custom guard development, dedicated security researcher, automated response actions, and advanced AI detection for growing DeFi protocols and multi-chain projects. Enterprise tier adds 24/7 incident response, compliance reporting, white-glove onboarding, and custom SLAs for large protocols, exchanges, and regulated entities. Add-on services include security audit integration, custom chain support, incident response retainer, and team training.
- Acquisition by Rain (June 2026): Guardrail was acquired by Rain (a stablecoin payment company) in June 2026. The acquisition shifts Guardrail from an independent company to an in-house security team at Rain, integrating Guardrail throughout Rain's full transaction flow for stablecoin payments infrastructure.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | For teams getting started with security monitoring — early-stage protocols and individual developers. |
| Subscription | Monthly | For protocols that need custom protection — growing DeFi protocols and multi-chain projects. |
| Subscription | Monthly | For institutions managing serious risk — large protocols, exchanges, and regulated entities. |
| Other | Monthly | Optional add-on services beyond the core plans. |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels7 records
Guardrail.ai product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Guardrail provides a real-time onchain security monitoring platform that indexes every blockchain transaction with full trace data across 45+ EVM chains plus Solana and Sui, then runs configurable security guards (295+ available, with 130+ pre-built blueprints) against relevant state changes to detect and respond to smart-contract threats. The platform delivers sub-second alerts to Slack, Discord, PagerDuty, Telegram, and Webhooks, and can automatically trigger protective on-chain actions such as contract pauses and permission revocations through dedicated encrypted wallets. Offerings are structured as Starter, Professional, and Enterprise tier subscriptions with add-on services for custom guard development, audit integration, incident response retainer, and team training.
Product overview
Guardrail offers a modular security platform consisting of the core Guardrail Security Platform (real-time on-chain monitoring across 45+ chains), the Guard Catalog (130+ pre-built guard blueprints), DIY Guards (custom Python guard development with full RPC access), Transaction Screening (pre-execution compliance checks), Alert Channels (multi-channel notifications), Response Actions (automated on-chain responses), and Threat Intelligence (programmatic threat data API). The platform uses configurable guards that evaluate transactions against rules with sub-second detection and integrates with custody platforms like Fireblocks, alert channels like Slack/Discord/PagerDuty, and response systems. Pricing spans Starter, Professional, and Enterprise tiers.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Guardrail Security Platform Real-time onchain security monitoring platform for smart contracts across 45+ EVM chains plus Solana and Sui. Continuously indexes every transaction with full trace data, runs 295+ configurable security guards against state changes, delivers sub-second alerts to communication and on-call systems, and can automatically execute protective on-chain actions through dedicated encrypted wallets.
- DIY Guards Custom Python-based security guard development environment that allows customers to write their own guard logic with full RPC access to transaction and trace data. Guards run in a sandboxed execution environment and can trigger on blockchain events, function calls, or scheduled intervals.
- Transaction Screening Pre-execution transaction screening service for compliance and risk. Performs OFAC sanctions checks, address label lookups, transaction simulation, and contract activity review, returning an overall Ok or Not Ok status. Natively integrates with the Fireblocks custody platform for pre-signing screening.
- Threat Intelligence API Security research and threat data product that tracks major DeFi exploits and attack patterns, with programmatic API access to global threat intelligence covering notable 2024-2025 incidents and enabling correlation with deployed guards.
Quantifiable outcome
- Sub-second transaction scanning across 30+ chains with <1 second alert delivery from block finality
- +6 more outcomes
Companies that use Guardrail.ai
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Guardrail.ai technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration6 records
AI capability3 records
Feature9 records
Guardrail.ai partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- CatalysiscoreGuardrail partnered with Catalysis, the first onchain infrastructure to natively integrate risk coverage into DeFi vaults, to secure DeFi vaults on Morpho and beyond. Guardrail monitors for unexpected collateral drops in CoverPools, ensures slashing settles correctly for covered depositors, flags unauthorized admin activity, and detects unusual behavior across restakers, curators, and vault depositors. The partnership reflects shared belief that protocols built for institutions need security that operates at the same standard as the financial infrastructure they protect.
- Shift MarketscoreGuardrail partnered with Shift Markets, a provider of white-label exchange infrastructure, to integrate security monitoring capabilities into Shift's exchange infrastructure. Exchange operators launching on the Shift Platform gain built-in oversight of on-chain activity, smart contracts, and transactions from day one. The partnership addresses growing security concerns as institutional adoption of digital assets expands and regulatory scrutiny increases.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Guardrail.ai competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Forta: Forta is a decentralized monitoring network for smart contract and DeFi threat detection. Both Guardrail and Forta provide real-time onchain monitoring with configurable detection rules, serving DeFi protocols with security automation capabilities.
- OpenZeppelin Defender: OpenZeppelin Defender offers smart contract security automation including monitoring, alerting, and automated response. Both platforms target DeFi protocols and enterprises with runtime security, transaction screening, and incident response capabilities.
- Hypernative: Hypernative provides pre-exploit threat detection and automated response for Web3 protocols using AI/ML models. Both companies focus on real-time monitoring, threat detection, and automated response for DeFi protocols and institutional clients.
- Blockaid: Blockaid specializes in Web3 security with transaction screening, phishing detection, and smart contract analysis. Both platforms serve DeFi protocols and institutions with pre-execution transaction screening and threat intelligence capabilities.
Broad incumbents
- CertiK: CertiK is a leading blockchain security firm offering smart contract auditing, formal verification, and security monitoring. While primarily an audit firm, CertiK has expanded into runtime monitoring, overlapping with Guardrail's threat detection capabilities.
- PeckShield: PeckShield is a prominent blockchain security company providing auditing, monitoring, and threat intelligence. Both companies track DeFi exploits and provide security services to protocols, though PeckShield has a broader audit-focused portfolio.
- SlowMist: SlowMist is a blockchain security firm offering auditing, threat monitoring, and incident response services. Both companies serve DeFi protocols with security monitoring and have published research on major crypto exploits.
- Chainalysis: Chainalysis provides blockchain analytics, compliance, and investigation tools for institutions. While focused on compliance and AML rather than smart contract monitoring, Chainalysis serves overlapping institutional clients with onchain transaction analysis.
Emerging players
- Fireblocks: Fireblocks provides custody and transaction screening infrastructure with pre-signing compliance checks. Guardrail integrates with Fireblocks for transaction screening, making them complementary—though Fireblocks is expanding into adjacent security capabilities.
- Tenderly: Tenderly provides smart contract monitoring, debugging, and alerting tools for Web3 developers. Both platforms serve DeFi developers with real-time monitoring, alerting, and transaction simulation capabilities.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Guardrail.ai social profiles
Digital presenceGuardrail.ai financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Guardrail.ai leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Guardrail.ai funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors2 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Guardrail.ai M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Guardrail.ai
What does Guardrail.ai do?
Guardrail provides a real-time onchain security monitoring platform that indexes every blockchain transaction with full trace data across 45+ EVM chains plus Solana and Sui, then runs configurable security guards (295+ available, with 130+ pre-built blueprints) against relevant state changes to detect and respond to smart-contract threats. The platform delivers sub-second alerts to Slack, Discord, PagerDuty, Telegram, and Webhooks, and can automatically trigger protective on-chain actions such as contract pauses and permission revocations through dedicated encrypted wallets. Offerings are structured as Starter, Professional, and Enterprise tier subscriptions with add-on services for custom guard development, audit integration, incident response retainer, and team training.
Is Guardrail.ai a public or private company?
Guardrail.ai is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Guardrail.ai founded?
Guardrail.ai was founded in 2022. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Guardrail.ai based?
Guardrail.ai is headquartered in San Francisco, United States, in the North America region.
How does Guardrail.ai make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Security Monitoring Subscriptions (Starter/Professional/Enterprise) is the primary driver. The others are acquisition by Rain (June 2026).
Who are Guardrail.ai's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Forta, OpenZeppelin Defender, Hypernative and Blockaid. Broad incumbents are CertiK, PeckShield, SlowMist and Chainalysis. Emerging players are Fireblocks and Tenderly.
Does Guardrail.ai have an API?
Yes. Guardrail offers Organization API Keys for programmatic access to the Guardrail API, enabling developers to integrate security monitoring capabilities into custom workflows. The platform also provides a DIY Guards feature (generally available as of October 2025) allowing users to write custom Python guards with full RPC access and sandbox execution. Developer documentation is at docs.guardrail.ai.
What industry is Guardrail.ai in?
Guardrail.ai's product category is Web3 / Blockchain Security Monitoring. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSAPAJAB, On-Chain Monitoring, Threat Detection & Incident Response, with a secondary code of FSAGAMAJ, Digital Asset Risk, Security & Audit Tooling (Smart Contract Audit, Threat Monitoring). Its NAICS code is 561621 and its SIC code is 6200.