- The Hedera Africa Hackathon 2025, backed by a $1 million prize pool, aims to accelerate Web3 and AI adoption across 15 African countries, targeting over 10,000 participants.
- Organized by The Hashgraph Association and the Exponential Science Foundation, the event focuses on building blockchain solutions in finance, sustainability, identity, and gaming using the Hedera network.
Notably, the Hashgraph Association and the Exponential Science Foundation have launched the Hedera Africa Hackathon 2025, a global event offering a staggering $1 million prize pool to drive the adoption of Web3 and artificial intelligence (AI).
Running from August 1 to September 30, the hackathon is expected to attract over 10,000 developers, students, and entrepreneurs from across 15 African countries, with onsite events taking place in more than 20 cities, including Lagos, Nairobi, Cairo, Kinshasa, Cape Town, Casablanca, and Tunis.
As per the announcement, the initiative is organized by two non-profit organizations, the Switzerland-based Hashgraph Association, which champions the Hedera ecosystem, and the Exponential Science Foundation, known for its focus on advancing emerging technologies.
We aim to use technologies that converge Web3 with AI to create transparent cognitive solutions that optimize processes and facilitate decision-making and automate the execution,
said Kamal Youssefi, President of the Board at the Hashgraph Association.
Participants will build solutions on the Hedera network, addressing real-world challenges across four key tracks:
-
Onchain finance and real-world asset (RWA) tokenization
-
ESG sustainability and traceability
-
Self-sovereign identity (SSI) and AI
-
Gaming, metaverse, and non-fungible tokens (NFTs)
Up to 15 top-performing teams will be selected based on innovation, impact, and alignment with the hackathon’s objectives.
This hackathon reflects the rising global interest in Africa’s Web3 potential, particularly as the continent grapples with challenges such as inflation, underdeveloped banking infrastructure, and systemic corruption.
These conditions have made blockchain-based solutions, such as those offered by projects like Jambo and Yellow Card, increasingly appealing as tools for financial inclusion.
Highlighting Africa’s promise, Kamal Youssefi noted the continent’s “young population with ambitious tech talents” and pointed to Hedera’s collaboration with telecom giant Orange to deliver digital empowerment programs across 16 African nations, which include training, certifications, and startup incubators.
Paolo Tasca, Executive Chairman of the Exponential Science Foundation, emphasized the importance of capacity building:
Africa brings a unique advantage to Web3, a demographic edge and a proven capacity for digital adoption. Yet barriers remain, particularly in foundational infrastructure and education.
Governments are beginning to take notice. In Nigeria, for instance, authorities recently launched a program to train 1,000 citizens annually in AI and blockchain, a sign that public institutions are aligning with private efforts to harness the continent’s tech potential.
With over 50 partners and 100 universities and tech hubs already supporting the Hedera Africa Hackathon, the event promises not just innovation, but a new era for African participation in the global digital economy.
Meanwhile, as Hedera champions innovation, Hedera’s native token has not been left behind in terms of progress. As per the time of press, HBAR is swapping hands with $0.1887 after a 1.37% surge in the past month.