MIT BITCOIN
HACKATHON
Freedom for All
36 hours to learn, build, and ship the next generation of Bitcoin and blockchain applications. In-person at MIT Campus.
Date
April 10-12, 2026
Duration
36 Hours
Location
MIT Campus
Team Size
1-5 Members
Age
18+
Format
In-Person Only
12 Years of Innovation
The premier student-led Bitcoin hackathon since 2014
Years Running
Since 2014
Participants
Each Year
Expo Attendees
Concurrent Event
Live Viewers
Bitcoin Magazine
Past Innovations
Where Alumni Go
- Bitcoin Core development teams
- Leading crypto companies
- Founded blockchain startups
Build the Future of Bitcoin
Join the most prestigious Bitcoin hackathon of the year
The cryptocurrency space needs you to develop the next generation of projects, applications, and features. In the spirit of MIT, this is a unique hackathon where you'll have 36 hours to learn, share, and build a remarkable project that may be the next big thing to scale this space.
With interactive workshops, mentorship sessions, and a collaborative atmosphere, it's the perfect environment to learn, build, and make meaningful connections — no matter your experience level.
🆕 New to Crypto?
No worries! This event is beginner-friendly with workshops to get you started.
💻 Experienced Dev?
Challenge yourself at one of the most prestigious Bitcoin hackathons.
🤔 Just Curious?
Join us to learn more about crypto. The fun is guaranteed!
Get Started
Five simple steps to join the hackathon
Register
Create a Devpost account and complete the application form.
Join Discord
Once accepted, join our Discord to connect with participants.
Form Your Team
Work solo or find teammates in the #team-search channel.
Attend Kickoff
Join us at MIT on Friday, April 10th at 6:00 PM ET.
Build & Submit
Code your project and submit on Devpost before the deadline.
Event Schedule
36 hours of hacking, learning, and building
What to Build
Your project must be related to Bitcoin, blockchain, or cryptocurrency
Bitcoin
Core, Lightning Network, Taproot
DeFi
Decentralized Finance applications
Wallets & Payments
Payment solutions and wallet tech
Privacy Tech
Privacy-preserving technologies
Smart Contracts
On-chain programmable logic
Dev Tools
Developer tools and infrastructure
Sponsor challenge tracks will be announced closer to the event.
What to Submit
Make sure to include all required materials for judging
Slide Deck
A short presentation with your project motivation, description, story, and technology stack.
GitHub Repository
With proper commit history showing work done during the hackathon period.
Demo Video
A 3-5 minute video demonstrating your project in action.
Live Application
Optional: Link to a live application with access credentials if needed.
📢 Finalist Announcement
We will announce the 2nd round finalists on Discord on Sunday, April 12th around 8:00 AM ET. Be prepared to pitch between 12:30 PM and 2:00 PM.
Prize Distribution
A community-focused model that rewards all participants
How the Community Split Works
The 70% community pool is distributed among all qualifying submissions (above bottom 5%) based on ranked or tiered scoring. This means even if you don't place in the top 3, your hard work can still be rewarded!
Total prize pool amount will be announced once sponsor commitments are finalized.
Judging Criteria
How your project will be evaluated
Technical
Completeness, functionality, and relevance of resources utilized.
Originality
Novel approach or solution that hasn't been done before.
Ambitious
Complexity of the problem or the approach to solving it.
Design & UX
Pleasant and delightful user experience and flow.
Wow Factor
The project is exceptional in some manner.
Sponsor Criteria
Specific requirements from sponsor challenge descriptions.
Rules & Eligibility
What you need to know before participating
Eligibility
- •Must be 18 years or older at time of event
- •Open to university students and professionals worldwide
- •Must complete application and be accepted
- •In-person attendance at MIT is required
Project Rules
- •Work solo or in teams of up to 5 members
- •All code must be written during the hackathon
- •Version control with regular commits is mandatory
- •Projects must fit into eligible domains
Code of Conduct
All participants must follow our Code of Conduct. Harassment of any kind will not be tolerated. The hackathon is committed to providing a safe and inclusive environment. Violations may result in immediate disqualification.
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about the hackathon
Become a Sponsor
Help us make the 13th Annual MIT Bitcoin Hackathon the best one yet
Access Top Talent
Connect with talented developers, designers, and entrepreneurs from MIT and beyond.
Brand Visibility
Get your brand in front of hundreds of passionate builders in the crypto space.
Community Impact
Support the next generation of Bitcoin innovation and open-source development.
Custom Challenges
Create sponsored challenge tracks to see your technology used in creative ways.
Interested in Sponsoring?
We offer various sponsorship tiers with different benefits. Reach out to learn more about how you can support the hackathon.
Contact Us About SponsorshipReady to Build?
Join us at MIT on April 10-12, 2026 for 36 hours of hacking, learning, and building the future of Bitcoin.
Questions? Email us at hackathon-mitbitcoinexpo@googlegroups.com