Introducing PL_Genesis: Modular Worlds, Protocol Labs' flagship annual hackathon — and a call to builders to assemble a new internet from user-owned, composable primitives. A stack where protocols interoperate by design. Where storage, compute, identity, and incentives can be swapped like modules—verifiable, sovereign, and decentralized from the start. With over $250K in prizes and a path to the Founders’ Forge pre-accelerator, PL_Genesis: Modular Worlds is designed to empower builders to shape the infrastructure of a decentralized future.
Whether you're shipping a brand-new project (Fresh Code) or leveling up something you've already started (Existing Code), the opportunity is here. The only requirement? Integrate at least one sponsor bounty and bring your vision to life. This is your chance to contribute to the next wave of open, resilient technology.
# It’s More Than Just Another Hackathon
- $250 K+ prize pool plus partner bounties, microgrants, and seed‑funding introductions.
- Founders’ Forge pre‑accelerator (Aug 2025) → 12‑week sprint with protocol‑design office hours, investor intros, and retro‑funding primers.
- Global roadshows (Toronto, Ho Chi Minh, Nairobi, Berlin & more) featuring deep‑dive workshops on libp2p, FVM, zk‑proof systems, and modular design patterns.
- Continuous pathway to Protocol Labs programs—Open Grants, Impact Evaluator pilots, FVM incubations, and the Builders Fund.
# Hackathon Theme: Modular Worlds & Tracks
Reimagine the internet as swappable building blocks—storage, compute, identity, and incentives—each owned by its users.
| 🛠️ Track | 💡 Why It Matters | 🚀 What You Could Build |
|---|---|---|
| 🛡 Secure, Sovereign Systems | Central servers and fragile certs expose data & speech; quantum threats loom. | ZK age‑check browser add‑ons • Self‑hosting mesh hotspots that auto‑pin to IPFS • Post‑quantum personal data vaults • Censorship‑resistant P2P messenger that hops networks when the internet goes dark |
| 🤖 AI & Autonomous Infrastructure | AI budgets skyrocket while models fabricate facts; siloed science stalls progress. | IPFS‑stamped lab notebooks • “Chat‑with‑your‑lab” agents for multimodal research • CSV‑to‑Knowledge‑Graph pipelines • Browser overlay that grounds every AI answer in verifiable citations |
| ⚖ Decentralized Economies, Governance & Science | Grants are slow, reviewers unpaid, public‑goods funding patchy. | GitHub tipping bots • Mobile quadratic‑funding apps • DAO treasury sandboxes • Tokenized public‑goods exchanges that track real‑world impact |
# Prize Structure
Fresh Code → 🥇 $25 K • 🥈 $15 K • 🥉 $10 K • 10 runner‑ups at $5 K each
Existing Code → 🥇 $50 K • 🥈 $30 K • 🥉 $20 K
Additional Partner Bounties → 🥇 $50 K
Every project—new or upgraded—must clearly integrate at least one sponsor bounty.
# Hackathon Partners
Filecoin Foundation · Near Protocol · Bio.xyz ·Reppo · Checker Network · Nouns DAO · Mosaia · Ethereum Foundation on (PSE) · Weather XM · Human.Tech · Recall Network — with more ecosystem partners dropping soon.
# Key Dates
| 📅 Date | 🏁 Milestone |
|---|---|
| May 15, 2025 | Registration opens — Roadshow series & protocol workshops kick off |
| June 5, 2025 | Bounties drop & hacking starts |
| July 6, 2025 | Submission deadline |
| July 16, 2025 | Winners announced |
| August 2025 | Founders’ Forge cohort starts |
| November – December 2025 | Demo Showcase, investor & seed‑funding day |
# How to Participate
- REGISTER: plgenesis.com (opens new window) and join the Discord
- Attend a roadshow or join virtual team formation channels on Discord
- Deep‑dive into partner technologies during the workshops
- Pick Fresh or Existing Code category, identify a problem area under one of the tracks and build your solution
- Submit by July 6, 2025, win prizes, join Founders’ Forge, and tap into Protocol Labs follow on Founder and grant funding programs
Ready to ship the primitives that future builders will depend on? Secure your spot—let’s build the modular internet together.