As 2025 draws to a close, it's time to reflect on an electrifying year of hackathons powered by Algorand. From the vibrant tech hubs of Europe and the US to the booming developer scenes in India and Turkey, we hosted five in-person events that brought together over 500 builders, resulting in more than 200 projects launched on our blockchain.
Our hackathons were launchpads for real-world DeFi tools, AI integrations, and no-code wonders, all leveraging Algorand’s dev tools, AlgoKit, for seamless, low-cost development in Python and TypeScript.
If you're a developer eyeing 2026's opportunities, this recap is your blueprint. We saw everything from AI-driven yield optimizers to decentralized brainwave marketplaces. Each event showcased Algorand's edge: instant transactions, eco-friendly consensus, and tools that let you focus on ideas instead of infrastructure. Dive in, get inspired, and start prepping.
To keep up with our plans for future Hackathons, be sure to follow us on X and join our growing community of builders, coders, and creators like you.
Bolt.new: The year’s opening sprint
Before our in-person hackathons kicked off, thousands of developers around the world started their 2025 builder journey through Bolt.new’s online global hackathon. With over 500 teams, Bolt became the largest hackathon ever hosted on Algorand and a launchpad for dozens of standout AI, DeFi, and agent-powered projects.
For the full deep dive into winners, insights, and trends, check out the full recap here.
Berlin hackathon: AI meets sunset aesthetics (September 3rd-4th, 2025)
Kicking off the year at 42 Berlin and W3 Hub, this hackathon drew builders passionate about blending AI with blockchain utility. Over 30 projects emerged, emphasizing Algorand's smart contract prowess for creative and practical apps.
Special mentions:
- Best use of AI: AlgomintAI. AI-powered NFT generator for quick, eco-friendly collections.
- Best blockchain utility #1: TapToStream. Per-second micropayments for videos, ditching subscriptions for creator-friendly, instant ALGO payouts.
- Best blockchain utility #2: dCharity. Conditional donations via smart contracts, ensuring funds adapt to real crises.
Why participate next time? Berlin's crowd loved the AI blockchain fusion. Expect similar themes with expanded mentorship from Algo devs.
Harvard/Boston hackathon: FinTech visions from Ivy Leaguers (September 6th - 7th, 2025)
Partnering with EasyA, this US flagship event brought together the brightest minds from Harvard and the Boston tech community. The event featured two tracks: a grand prize for built prototypes and a pitch competition (similar in style to Shark Tank) for financial apps on Algorand. Hundreds traveled in, yielding over 45 projects focused on payments and education.
Pro tip for 2026: Pitches rewarded bold fintech ideas. Hone your demo skills. Judges (including Algorand Foundation) favored prototypes with real Algorand integrations.
Bengaluru hackathon: India's DeFi and social explosion (September 11th - 12th, 2025)
With Rise in Web3 and Algo Bharat, this event exploded with 140 attendees and 45 projects, highlighting India's Web3 talent in payments and social tokens.
Developer insight: Bengaluru thrived on cross-chain tools. Algorand's low fees made yield aggregators a hit. Watch for more India-focused tracks next year.
Istanbul hackathon: AI consumer apps and open innovation (September 29, 2025)
Rise in Web3 brought Turkish builders to the table for dual tracks, sparking DeFi analytics and privacy-focused oracles.
Hack tip: Tracks encouraged hybrid AI blockchain builds. Istanbul's energy? Electric. Perfect for noobs testing ZK proofs on Algorand.
London hackathon: Coding vs. no-code showdown (October 18-19, 2025)
Closing the year with EasyA and Algorand Foundation, this two-day sprint featured coding and no-code tracks, plus honorable mentions for voting and escrow innovations.
Why London rocks: No-code lowered barriers. Ideal for rapid prototyping. Coders, the AI agent economy theme is exploding; jump in early.
Wrapping up: What's next for builders?
2025's hackathons proved Algorand is the dev-friendly chain for 2026: 700+ projects, from viral predictors to brain data markets, all live on our ledger. We saw AI everywhere (yield tools, oracles), payments reinvented (micropays, escrows), and social impact shining (credentials, charity).
Total impact? Massive. Builders reported seamless Python and TypeScript scripting, sub-second txns, and zero gas headaches. Prizes topped over $75K, but the real win: connections, mentorship, and launches that stick. Many are now continuing their builder journey through the Algorand ecosystem with Startup Challenges.
Ready to join us?
Follow @algodevs for 2026 announcements. Expect hybrid virtual/in-person formats, deeper SDK workshops, and tracks like "AI Agents on Algorand." Keep an eye on Algorand Hackathons, grab our dev docs, and start forking repos.
Your breakthrough awaits. What will you build? Let's code the future.
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