Dubai’s DMCC and global crypto exchange Bybit have opened applications for the third edition of their international Web3 hackathon, offering a prize pool of $140,000.
The competition, titled Web3 Unleashed #3: Shaping the Next Wave of Web3, will run from September to November 2025 and aims to spotlight new talent across the blockchain, decentralised finance, artificial intelligence, and digital innovation sectors.
Organisers say the event will build on the success of earlier editions while introducing two new categories: DeFAI – linking decentralised finance and artificial intelligence – and DeSci, which will focus on decentralised science and research innovation.
These join existing tracks in decentralised finance (DeFi), Web3 gaming, SocialFi, infrastructure and tokenisation, ensuring the competition reflects the fastest growing areas of the Web3 economy.
Expanding partnerships
To deliver the hackathon, DMCC and Bybit have partnered with a number of prominent organisations in the blockchain and investment sectors, including DWF Labs, Hacken, Cointelegraph, Open Platform, Blockchain for Good Alliance (BGA), Verse8, CROSS, Blockchain Gaming Alliance and CV Labs.
The initiative is intended to give developers, founders and entrepreneurs direct access to global investors and industry leaders while producing practical solutions to real-world challenges.
Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Executive Chairman and CEO of DMCC, said the hackathon demonstrates Dubai’s ambition to become a centre of innovation.
“With Web3 projected to become a $40 billion market by 2030, the question is no longer whether decentralised technologies will disrupt global systems – it is who will lead that disruption,” he said.
“Through Web3 Unleashed, we are cementing the leading position of Dubai as the launchpad for Web3 innovation at scale.”
Industry support
Bybit CEO and co-founder Ben Zhou said the hackathon had become a platform where ideas quickly turn into projects.
“It is truly exciting to see Web3 Unleashed enter its third edition alongside our trusted partner DMCC,” he said.
“This year’s focus on DeFi, DeFAI, Web3 Gaming, DeSci, SocialFi, infrastructure and tokenisation reflects the breadth and dynamism of the ecosystem we are building together.”
The 2024 edition awarded $160,000 in prizes to five projects tackling decentralised solutions in artificial intelligence, identity systems, zero-knowledge protocols and digital infrastructure.
Timeline
Applications open on 1 September and close on 5 October. Remote evaluations will run until 20 October, with the top 10 projects announced on 22 October.
The top five teams will then compete at a live demo day in Dubai on 26 November at S/O Uptown Dubai, DMCC’s flagship commercial tower.
Finalists will present to a panel of investors, advisors and sector experts, with prize money designed to support project development and provide international exposure.
DMCC’s Crypto Centre, home to more than 700 members, is the largest Web3 ecosystem in the region. The wider DMCC technology community now hosts more than 3,300 companies, including 110 focused on AI and over 140 specialising in Web3 gaming.
