Bugcrowd is buzzing to announce bronxi as the winner of Bugcrowd’s Breakthrough Hacker of the Year award, an honor that speaks volumes about his dedication and unique philosophy within the hacking community.
“Being recognized as the Breakthrough Hacker of the Year means a lot to me,” bronxi states. “It’s an acknowledgment of the effort and countless hours I’ve dedicated to researching and reporting vulnerabilities, but also of my commitment to the bug bounty and hacking community in general.”
His gratitude toward the space is clear, but his true driving force lies deeper. His main motivation? Not necessarily to make the internet safer. “What truly fulfills me is finding a vulnerability,” bronxi explains. “The visceral thrill of discovery is paramount. When I manage to do something that shouldn’t be possible, when I discover a flaw no one else saw, or when I exploit a logic that wasn’t considered in the code, I feel my heartbeat get faster and stronger. It makes me feel more alive.”
For bronxi, hacking transcends a mere technical pursuit; it is a “kind of creative magic of our time.” This passion, he believes, naturally contributes to a safer internet, but the core impetus remains the challenge itself. To bronxi, the award is confirmation that he is on the right path. In fact, it is accomplishing what the awards were designed to do: to give hackers even more energy to keep learning and collaborating.
Beyond finding bugs, bronxi also finds fulfillment in sharing knowledge. He really enjoys creating write-ups and recording videos on various topics or ways to search for vulnerabilities that would be helpful to new researchers entering the space. Based on the assets he wishes he’d had as a novice hacker, these resources aim to bridge gaps in existing explanations to make complex topics accessible. Ultimately, his goal is to make it easier for professionals to achieve a thorough understanding so they can report bugs in the best way. Rather than simply repeating a process, he wants hackers to understand it well enough to “go beyond and stand out by finding something new.”
bronxi’s journey into hacking began remarkably early, fueled by a childhood fascination with computers. He even constructed a toy computer out of cardboard boxes to play with as a child. The pivotal moment arrived in his teenage years with his first computer and a dial-up internet connection. He infected his own computer with trojans, experimenting with Sub7 to try to prank his classmates. While acknowledging a period of “lammer” behavior, bronxi views it as part of his hacking origin story.
A subsequent stint in the humanities and a degree in literature seemed to pull him away, but his passion for hacking was later rekindled by the Mr. Robot TV series. This led to formal study in system administration and free software, alongside self-driven exploration through CTFs and online wargames like overthewire.org/wargames/bandit. His first Ekoparty, though initially overwhelming, provided the push he needed to dive deeper. He was fascinated by the hacking world and wanted to be part of it.
bronxi’s early challenges in the security field included persistent frustration, a common experience for newcomers. He faced difficulties with CTFs and HackTheBox challenges. His key breakthrough was realizing the need for foundational knowledge. “I understood that without a solid base, I wouldn’t get anywhere,” he asserts.
bronxi emphasizes the importance of understanding the underlying logic to something’s functioning. He ultimately realized that he needed to strike a balance between understanding and obsession. Now, he works to figure things out without getting lost in every detail. The support of loved ones is also crucial. “In my case, my girlfriend Ariana supports me a lot in this. She always encourages me and is there for me,” he shares.
bronxi highlights his growth in the industry as among his proudest achievements. “I’m proud of the transition I’ve made from being a pentester with little experience to becoming someone consistent—actively participating in public and private programs and feeling confident enough to share knowledge with the community,” bronxi says. Submitting complex vulnerability reports that yielded high-impact findings for the companies involved also stand out for him.
Equally valued is the act of sharing; bronxi has given talks and written articles that helped other hackers start or improve their skills. “This blend of technical growth, consistency, and the willingness to share is the most important achievement that led me to receive this award,” bronxi states.
For aspiring hackers, bronxi’s advice is clear: “If you’re passionate about what you do, be consistent.” Consistency, he believes, leads to compounding growth. “You might not see it in the short term, but if you keep going—learning, exploiting vulnerabilities, and sharing your knowledge—you’ll stand out eventually.” He also emphasizes the importance of discipline for faster results: “Set small, short-term goals that act as stepping stones toward a bigger objective. It doesn’t matter if one day you don’t feel like doing it—do it anyway.”
bronxi’s primary long-term goal is to make a living as a cybersecurity researcher. He is already pursuing this independently, developing hypotheses about methodologies and bug discovery and meticulously tracking his progress. When it comes to tools, bronxi emphasizes fundamentals. “Having a proxy is the foundation for everything. You can use Burp Suite or Caido, but you have to use something,” he says. Understanding browser dev tools is also crucial. “I’ve found vulnerabilities without even using a proxy—just by exploring with dev tools,” he further shares. ProjectDiscovery tools, particularly Nuclei, are highly recommended by bronxi: “Nuclei is the one I use the most, but you can find tools for just about anything in their repository.”
Finally, community and collaboration have been of utmost importance to bronxi’s development. For example, a chance encounter at Ekoparty had led to a deep friendship and collaboration that has driven significant growth. “Being part of the group pushes me to grow and working alongside fellow hackers like Jevi and Sheryx00 is immensely valuable to me,” bronxi says. The Bug Bounty Argentina community has also been instrumental in his growth. Sharing the stage at Ekoparty’s Bug Bounty Village is a source of pride, allowing bronxi to “contribute a little bit to that community that has given me, and continues to give me, so much.” bronxi’s concluding statement encapsulates his belief: “Community is everything.”