Hackathon

HACK The BLOCK 2026

Paris Blockchain Week’s flagship hackathon returns with an opportunity for developers around the world to transform ideas into real-world solutions on-chain.

ABOUT HACK THE BLOCK

PBW’s Hack the Block brings together the builders shaping the next generation of digital asset infrastructure.

A 36-hour engineering sprint backed by leading ecosystems and judged by Europe’s highest concentration of tech entrepreneurs and investors.

Teams don’t just compete at Hack the Block, they get discovered. Builders regularly walk away with job offers, funding conversations, or pilot integrations, all by solving real challenges.

Why Join Hack the Block

Build Against Real Institutional Challenges

Work directly on critical problem statements that shape market infrastructure, liquidity systems, and next-generation protocol design.

Earn Recognition From Decision-Makers

Your work is reviewed by engineering leaders, ecosystem funds, and technical stakeholders who influence adoption; not by popularity or hype.

Turn Excellence Into Opportunity

Projects with strong engineering rigor frequently progress into grant programs, integrations, or continued support from partner ecosystems.

How the PBW Hackathon Works

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Hybrid
Experience

01

Bootcamps & qualifiers prepare teams to arrive ready to build.

On-Site
Engineering

11-12 April, 2026

02

36 hours of hands-on collaboration with elite protocol engineers.

Post-Event
Exposure

03

Winning teams showcase their work before industry leaders.

Built by a Global Builder Community

1,000+

Developers

A concentrated community of high-caliber builders solving real technical challenges across the Web3 stack.

40+

Nationalities

A globally diverse engineering cohort bringing unique perspectives, architectures, and problem-solving approaches.

4+ YEARS

Avg Engineers Exp.

Participants with proven technical depth, capable of shipping production-ready solutions under real constraints.

20

University Partners

Collaboration with top European and international education institutions fostering the next wave of talent in blockchain technology.

Eligibility Criteria

Who Can Apply

Hack the Block is open to:

Developers, technical builders, researchers, and engineers
Early-stage founders and teams building in Web3 infrastructure
University teams and independent contributors
Global participants from all technical backgrounds (no prior hackathon experience required)
Teams may register individually or form groups on-site (recommended: 2–5 participants).

What We’re Looking For

We welcome projects focused on:

Protocol engineering, L1/L2 infrastructure, scaling, and security
Payments, settlement, DeFi infrastructure, and stablecoin rails
Interoperability, tooling, indexing, and data availability
Zero-knowledge systems, cryptography, and advanced research implementations
AI × blockchain integrations or novel infra combinations

Must-Have Conditions

To participate, teams should meet the following:

At least one member capable of writing and shipping production-level code
Projects must be built during the hackathon window
All submissions must be open-source (or partially open-source for judging)
Solutions must align with challenge guidelines provided by protocol partners
Teams must demo a functional prototype, not just slides

Tailored Sponsorship Opportunities for Hack the Block

Support the builders shaping tomorrow’s infrastructure with bespoke sponsorship opportunities designed to align your brand with technical excellence and real innovation.

From challenge sponsorships to custom developer engagements, every opportunity is crafted to put your brand on stage with the world’s most ambitious builders.

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