ETHGlobal organizes Ethereum and Web3 hackathons where developers, designers and entrepreneurs build decentralized applications. This reference covers how to apply, form teams, confirm staking requirements, access mentors and compete for prizes.
ETHGlobal hackathons are collaborative events where developers, designers and entrepreneurs build blockchain applications, learn new technologies and compete for prizes. Participants apply through ETHGlobal, work individually or in small teams, attend workshops and submit working projects. This guide explains registration, team building, participation costs and judging for newcomers and experienced Ethereum developers.
Key Takeaways
-
ETHGlobal organizes in-person and online hackathons to strengthen developer communities across the Ethereum ecosystem.
-
Participants can work individually or form teams of up to five members, combining development, design and product skills.
-
ETHGlobal hackathons are generally free, although accepted participants may need to stake a small amount of ETH to confirm attendance.
-
Workshops, mentors and technical resources support participants across different skill levels.
-
Projects compete for general awards and sponsor bounties based on innovation, functionality and event-specific criteria.
What Are ETHGlobal Hackathons?
ETHGlobal is a Web3 developer community and event organizer focused on strengthening Ethereum developer communities and encouraging blockchain innovation.
Its hackathons bring together developers, entrepreneurs, industry leaders and blockchain companies to experiment with decentralized applications (dApps).
Supported by organizations within the broader Ethereum ecosystem, including the Ethereum Foundation, ETHGlobal seeks to foster a world-class ecosystem of builders and encourage collaboration.
Events are designed to teach new skills, introduce emerging technologies and help participants transform ideas into functional applications.
Projects frequently explore decentralized finance (DeFi), payments, identity, privacy, artificial intelligence and blockchain security.
The collaborative environment makes these events useful for learning, networking and building applications that contribute to a decentralized future.
How to Join ETHGlobal Hackathons
Joining ETHGlobal typically involves selecting an event, submitting an application and completing any required attendance confirmation.
The process generally follows these steps:
-
Explore upcoming events: Visit the ETHGlobal event calendar to check locations, dates, application deadlines and participation requirements.
-
Select an event: Choose an online or in-person hackathon that matches personal interests and skill level.
-
Submit an application: Create an account, provide relevant background information and describe development experience or project interests.
-
Wait for acceptance: ETHGlobal reviews applications and may place applicants on a waitlist.
-
Confirm participation: Accepted applicants may need to complete an ETH staking process, depending on the event.
-
Prepare to build: Join event communication channels, review technical resources and connect with potential teammates.
Participants may also explore opportunities to contribute as speakers, mentors or volunteers through separate applications.
Prior smart contract expertise is not essential. ETHGlobal welcomes newcomers interested in learning about Ethereum and decentralized technologies.
ETHGlobal Team Building and Collaboration
ETHGlobal hackathons generally allow teams of one to five participants. Individuals can create their own team, join an existing team or compete independently.
Teams with diverse skills can distribute responsibilities more effectively.
| Team Role |
Main Responsibility |
| Smart contract developer |
Blockchain logic and security |
| Frontend developer |
Application interface |
| UI/UX designer |
User experience |
| Backend developer |
APIs and integrations |
| Product contributor |
Research, testing and presentation |
ETHGlobal uses community communication channels, including Discord, to support networking, team building and knowledge sharing.
Participants without teammates can connect with other attendees during the event.
A small, collaborative team with a clear project plan is often more effective than a larger group without defined responsibilities.
ETHGlobal Staking, Fees and Attendance
ETHGlobal hackathons are generally free to attend, but some events require accepted applicants to stake a small amount of ETH to reserve their place.
This mechanism is intended to confirm attendance and discourage unused registrations.
Participants can typically complete staking through a compatible Web3 wallet, such as MetaMask.
For events with refundable attendance stakes, ETHGlobal provides instructions describing return eligibility and timing. A refund may follow successful participation and project submission, but applicants should not assume that every stake is automatically returned.
Processing can take approximately two weeks in some cases, depending on event procedures.
Staking requirements, refund conditions and wallet compatibility must be checked on the relevant event dashboard before sending funds.
How to Build and Submit an ETHGlobal Project
ETHGlobal participants develop blockchain applications during the designated hacking period, using technical resources, workshops and mentor guidance.
A practical workflow includes:
-
Choose a problem: Identify a specific challenge involving payments, identity, decentralized applications or another Web3 use case.
-
Build a prototype: Use Ethereum development frameworks, open-source libraries and beginner-friendly toolkits.
-
Attend workshops: Explore sponsor technologies and ask mentors for technical guidance.
-
Test security: Check contract permissions, transaction handling and potential vulnerabilities that could expose user assets.
-
Submit the project: Complete the required submission details and prepare a functioning demonstration.
A simple working demo generally communicates project value more effectively than a complex but unfinished application.
Project originality requirements can change. For example, ETHGlobal Tokyo 2026 introduced rules allowing participants to extend existing codebases or build new open-source features, rather than requiring every project to begin from scratch.
Participants should review the applicable ETHGlobal event rules and submission guidance.
ETHGlobal Prizes and Judging Criteria
ETHGlobal hackathons commonly offer general competition prizes and sponsor-funded bounties.
Sponsors may announce challenges involving specific blockchain protocols, developer tools or decentralized applications.
Judging can consider:
-
Project functionality and technical execution.
-
Creativity and practical usefulness.
-
User experience and accessibility.
-
Appropriate integration of sponsor technologies.
-
Security, reliability and demonstration quality.
Individual sponsor tracks may have additional requirements.
For example, ETHGlobal Tokyo 2026 advertised $75,000 in available prizes across its event and partner categories.
Winning is not guaranteed, and participation itself provides opportunities to develop skills, meet mentors and establish professional connections.
How Gate Can Help
Hackathon participants building Ethereum applications may need a Web3 wallet to interact with test networks, connect to decentralized applications or review transaction permissions.
Gate Wallet provides a Web3 wallet environment for managing supported blockchain assets and interacting with decentralized applications.
Developers should verify network compatibility, transaction details and contract permissions before connecting any wallet.
For prototypes, using testnets and test assets rather than real funds can reduce financial exposure. A wallet connection does not guarantee that a smart contract is secure.
Conclusion
ETHGlobal hackathons give Ethereum developers and Web3 newcomers opportunities to build applications, collaborate with teammates and learn from industry mentors. Participants can join independently or in teams, use workshops and developer resources, and compete for sponsor prizes.
Before applying, participants should confirm event dates, eligibility, staking conditions and project submission rules, which may vary between hackathons.
FAQ
Are ETHGlobal hackathons free?
ETHGlobal hackathons are generally free to attend. Some events require a refundable ETH attendance stake, subject to the event's specific conditions.
How many people can join an ETHGlobal team?
ETHGlobal hackathons generally permit up to five team members. Solo participation is also allowed.
Do beginners need Ethereum development experience?
No. ETHGlobal supports different experience levels through workshops, mentors, community collaboration and developer resources.
Can participants use existing code in ETHGlobal hackathons?
It depends on the event. ETHGlobal Tokyo 2026 introduced rules permitting certain existing projects and codebases, provided participants follow its submission and open-source requirements.
How can participants win ETHGlobal prizes?
Participants must submit eligible projects and satisfy the judging requirements. Sponsor bounties may require additional technology integrations or explicit selection during submission.
* The information is not intended to be and does not constitute financial advice or any other recommendation of any sort offered or endorsed by Gate.
