Fueling the Future of Bitcoin Innovation: Upcoming Hackathons
Bitcoin innovation is entering an exciting new phase, with a series of upcoming hackathons and initiatives designed to fuel developer creativity and expand the ecosystem. From the recent Encode Club Hackathon at ETHDenver to the ongoing BUIDL Battle virtual competition, and the upcoming Stacks Ascent program, there's plenty of fresh opportunities for builders to create new apps on Bitcoin and Stacks.
Stacks at ETH Denver - Encode Club Hackathon & Buidl Battle
A several-week sprint to usher more developers into the Stacks ecosystem kicked off at ETHDenver. The Stacks ecosystem participated in the Encode Club Hackathon, supporting builders in launching projects focused on programmable Bitcoin. During this competition, developers had the opportunity to learn first-hand from a Workshop by Kenny Rogers, as well as several hours of mentor-driven support from the Stacks Foundation and Hiro. Over the course of two days, developers explored smart contracts, DeFi, and other use cases on Bitcoin through Stacks. The energy, creativity, and enthusiasm of the participants was inspiring, reaffirming our belief in the growing momentum of Bitcoin builders.
Following the Encode Club Hackathon, the Stacks community hosted a half day of Technical Workshops, collaborating with partners inside the Stacks ecosystem such as Hiro and ALEX, as well as projects outside of the Stacks ecosystem, including AWS and ICP. This collaborative effort provided a glimpse of what lies ahead for builders, demonstrating what's possible on Bitcoin with Stacks, as well as within the ICP network and AWS. This served as an excellent segue into the Buidl Battle Competition.
Following the Encode Club Hackathon, the Stacks community hosted a half day of Technical Workshops, collaborating with partners inside the Stacks ecosystem such as Hiro and ALEX, as well as projects outside of the Stacks ecosystem, including AWS and ICP. This collaborative effort provided a glimpse of what lies ahead for builders, demonstrating what's possible on Bitcoin with Stacks, as well as within the ICP network and AWS. This served as an excellent segue into the Buidl Battle Competition.
BUIDL Battle: The Innovation Continues
While ETH Denver may have concluded, the innovation hasn't stopped. BUIDL Battle, a virtual hackathon showcasing, celebrating, and encouraging builders to launch and grow projects on Bitcoin, is currently in full swing. The program has brought together developers from around the world to compete, collaborate, and create on Stacks and program partners. BUIDL Battle was a large success in Denver - with over 1,500 registrants anticipating the start of the virtual program kick-off.
Buidl Battle provides participants with the tools, mentorship, and resources needed to bring their Bitcoin applications to life. The three-week program started with 8 Workshops, allowing participants to dive right in on Day 1. The second week consisted of office hours from partners and mentors, and the third and final week is when builders submit their projects and eagerly await the results. The first round consists of 8 winners, coming from four tracks (Bitcoin DeFi, 3.0 Digital Economy, Real World Utilization, Tooling & Infrastructure), as well as three separate Challenges from Amazon Web Services, the Dfinity Foundation, and AIBTC.
As the winners from the 3 Challenges and the 4 Tracks moved on to the second round, the stakes rise as they present to a panel of VCs, accelerators, and Bitcoin influencers to make a strong impression, stand out, and continue competing to be crowned the overall Buidl Battle Champion and winning their share of over $90K in prizes. The final results will be announced on March 21st, 2025.
We are grateful to our sponsors who are helping make this event possible, including Amazon Web Services, the Dfinity Foundation, AIBTC, Hiro Systems, Trust Machines, ALEX, Mechanism, Gamma, Xverse, and many others. Their support is crucial in fostering a thriving and innovative ecosystem of builders building on Bitcoin.
Buidl Battle provides participants with the tools, mentorship, and resources needed to bring their Bitcoin applications to life. The three-week program started with 8 Workshops, allowing participants to dive right in on Day 1. The second week consisted of office hours from partners and mentors, and the third and final week is when builders submit their projects and eagerly await the results. The first round consists of 8 winners, coming from four tracks (Bitcoin DeFi, 3.0 Digital Economy, Real World Utilization, Tooling & Infrastructure), as well as three separate Challenges from Amazon Web Services, the Dfinity Foundation, and AIBTC.
As the winners from the 3 Challenges and the 4 Tracks moved on to the second round, the stakes rise as they present to a panel of VCs, accelerators, and Bitcoin influencers to make a strong impression, stand out, and continue competing to be crowned the overall Buidl Battle Champion and winning their share of over $90K in prizes. The final results will be announced on March 21st, 2025.
We are grateful to our sponsors who are helping make this event possible, including Amazon Web Services, the Dfinity Foundation, AIBTC, Hiro Systems, Trust Machines, ALEX, Mechanism, Gamma, Xverse, and many others. Their support is crucial in fostering a thriving and innovative ecosystem of builders building on Bitcoin.
Introducing Stacks Ascent: A New Chapter for Builders
In addition to our ongoing hackathons, we're excited to give a sneak peek into Stacks Ascent, an upcoming initiative designed to support the next generation of Bitcoin builders. Stacks Ascent will serve as a structured program aimed at accelerating projects from idea to execution, providing opportunities for group collaboration, one-on-one mentorship, pitch training, funding opportunities, and a network of top-tier experts. Being builder-centric will play a key role in this program, with hackathons serving as an entry point for new developers and a proving ground for innovative projects.
What's Next? More Hackathons, More Opportunities
The road ahead is filled with even more opportunities for builders to engage with the Stacks ecosystem. As we roll out Stacks Ascent, a number of additional hackathons and workshops will be taking place across the globe to further expand the Bitcoin innovation landscape.
Find us in Toronto this May for Consensus, Las Vegas for Bitcoin 2025, Brooklyn for Permissionless, Istanbul for Bitcoin++, and Buenos Aires for DevCon! Each of these events will be represented with members of the Stacks family that want to support you on your builder journey. Whether you're a seasoned developer or just starting your Bitcoin journey, these events will provide the perfect platform to learn, build, and contribute to the Bitcoin ecosystem.
Find us in Toronto this May for Consensus, Las Vegas for Bitcoin 2025, Brooklyn for Permissionless, Istanbul for Bitcoin++, and Buenos Aires for DevCon! Each of these events will be represented with members of the Stacks family that want to support you on your builder journey. Whether you're a seasoned developer or just starting your Bitcoin journey, these events will provide the perfect platform to learn, build, and contribute to the Bitcoin ecosystem.
If you're interested in staying informed about upcoming hackathons and Stacks Ascent, be sure to follow our updates and get involved. The future of Bitcoin is being built now—join us and be a part of it!