NEAR HACKATHON 2026
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Quick Answer
Two-week online hackathon on NEAR for AI agents and cross-chain payments; US$250,000 pool, top prize US$55,000, paid in NEAR. Closes 14 Nov 2026.
- Funding amount
- Varies
- Funding type
- Competition
- Provider
- NEAR Foundation
- Application deadline
- 10d — 15 Nov 2026
- Location
- International
About this competition
NEAR HACKATHON is a fully online, two-week build competition for the NEAR blockchain ecosystem, with a total prize pool of US$250,000 (about ₹2.38 crore) and a grand prize of US$55,000 (about ₹52 lakh). It is open to developers, designers and people with ideas for NEAR, working alone or in a team. The page does not restrict entry by country, and the deadline is 14 November 2026 at 23:59 UTC, which is 5:29 am IST on 15 November. Prizes are paid in NEAR tokens, a cryptocurrency, which matters if you need a rupee payout.
What the program offers
The money is split into a single grand prize of US$55,000 (about ₹52 lakh) plus prizes in each of 13 tracks: US$10,000 for first place, US$3,000 for second and US$2,000 for third in every track. Adding these up gives the US$250,000 pool: US$55,000, plus US$130,000 for first places, US$39,000 for second places and US$26,000 for third places.
Amounts are stated in US dollars, but the page says prizes are paid in NEAR tokens (crypto) to the NEAR wallet address you enter on the submission form. That can be your own wallet or your team's. Because the value of a crypto token can move between the date the prize is set and the date you sell it, treat the dollar figure as a target, not a guaranteed rupee amount. The page does not say how a team splits a prize, or how long payment takes.
Who can apply
Anyone who wants to build for the NEAR ecosystem can enter: developers, designers and idea people. You can work solo or in a team, and the form offers team sizes from one person to eight or more. No sign-up is needed before you start. One person may enter up to two different projects, as long as they are independent of each other and each README names the other. The page does not mention any country or residency restriction, identity checks or an age limit, so ask the organisers if that matters for you.
For an Indian founder or developer this is a straightforward online entry. It suits small technical teams that can build a working prototype in two weeks, especially in AI agents, payments, DeFi, privacy and games. It does not suit anyone who needs a fiat payout, or who cannot make their code public.
How to apply
- Build a working prototype during the window, which runs from 1 November to 14 November 2026. Code written since the announcement counts, and the page lists 13 tracks to choose from, such as Unstoppable DeFi, Privacy & Private AI, Autonomous Business, AI Swarms, Agent Economy, Real-World Money, Games With Real Economies and Open Innovation.
- Publish the code in a public repository with a clear README. Judges cannot open private repositories.
- Post a public demo on X that says you built it at NEAR HACKATHON, tags @NEARProtocol and #NEARHackathon, and shows a video or screenshots.
- Submit once through the form on nearhackathon.com, giving the project name, team lead, team size, tracks, NEAR wallet address, repository link, demo post link and a 20 to 2,000 character description.
A project can be entered under several tracks, but it is still one submission. If you need to correct something later, the page has a "Request changes" form, and the organisers check each request by hand.
How applications are judged and what happens next
Judging has two steps. First, AI coding tools (Claude Code and Codex) screen every project to check that it runs and does what its README says. Then human judges make the decisions. The judges named come from NEAR, a16z crypto, Electric Capital, Dragonfly, Helius, Synthetix and cyber•Fund. Judging runs from 16 to 18 November 2026 and results are announced by 18 November.
About NEAR
NEAR is a blockchain platform, and the hackathon's focus is on AI agents and value moving across chains. The page points builders to NEAR Intents, NEAR AI and other ecosystem tools, plus documentation at docs.near.org and community chats on Discord and Telegram.
Things to check before you apply
- Prizes are in NEAR tokens, so the rupee value depends on the token's market price when you receive and sell it.
- The page does not state country restrictions, identity checks, tax treatment, intellectual property terms or the payment timeline. Ask the organisers before you rely on the prize.
- Your repository and demo post must both be public and live before the deadline.
- A practical tip: submit a few hours early. 23:59 UTC is early morning in India, and a failed form submission at the last minute cannot be fixed.
Eligibility
See if you're eligible
Full eligibility criteria — entity type, stage, sector, founder profile and registration requirements — plus your fit for this program. Sign up to view.
Organizers
Prizes & Awards
What You Get
One grand prize of US$55,000 (about ₹52 lakh) overall. In each of the 13 tracks, first place wins US$10,000 (about ₹9.5 lakh), second US$3,000 (about ₹2.85 lakh) and third US$2,000 (about ₹1.9 lakh), for a total pool of US$250,000 (about ₹2.38 crore). Amounts are fixed in US dollars and paid in NEAR tokens to the NEAR account given in the submission, as a single payment with no vesting within 30 days of the results.
- Disbursement
- Lump Sum
- Duration
- 14 days
- Bootstrap friendly
- Yes
Timelines & Process
Selection Process
AI coding tools first screen every project to check that it runs and does what the README says. Human judges then make the decisions. Judging runs from 16 to 18 November 2026 and results are announced by 18 November.
Application Process
- 1
Build
Build a prototype on NEAR between 1 and 14 November 2026.
You - 2
- 3
- 4
How to apply
Four steps from draft to disbursement — one action each.
- 1
Submit on the official portal
Use the official application link and verify all details before final submission.
- 2
Follow up
Reach out 5–7 days after submitting to confirm receipt and ask about the review timeline.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can take part in NEAR HACKATHON 2026?
Developers, designers and people with ideas for the NEAR ecosystem can take part, alone or in a team. No sign-up is needed in advance. One person can enter up to two independent projects.
Can Indian developers and startups join NEAR HACKATHON?
The page does not state any country or residency restriction, and the event is fully online, so builders in India can enter on the same terms as anyone else. The page also does not describe identity checks, so ask the organisers if you need certainty.
How much can I win at NEAR HACKATHON?
The pool is US$250,000 (about ₹2.38 crore). There is one grand prize of US$55,000 (about ₹52 lakh), plus US$10,000, US$3,000 and US$2,000 for first, second and third place in each of the 13 tracks.
How are NEAR HACKATHON prizes paid?
Prizes are sent in NEAR tokens, which are crypto, to the NEAR wallet address you put on the submission form. The page says it can be your own or your team's wallet. It does not say when the payment is made or how a team splits it.
What is the NEAR HACKATHON deadline, and what if it has passed?
Development and submissions close on 14 November 2026 at 23:59 UTC, which is 5:29 am IST on 15 November. The source gives no late-entry route and no later round, so if the date has passed you would need to wait for a future event.
Is NEAR HACKATHON a grant or equity?
It is a competition prize, not a grant application or an investment. The page does not mention the organisers taking equity or any rights in your code.
Does NEAR HACKATHON require travel?
No. The hackathon is described as fully online, and the page mentions no in-person event or travel.
What do I need to submit to NEAR HACKATHON?
You need a working prototype, a public code repository, a public demo post on X that tags the organisers, and a submission form with your wallet address and a project description. Both the repository link and the demo post link are required.
Is it free to enter NEAR HACKATHON?
The source does not mention any entry fee, and no sign-up is needed. Confirm on nearhackathon.com when you submit.
When are NEAR HACKATHON results announced?
Judging runs from 16 to 18 November 2026 and results are announced by 18 November 2026. Projects are first screened by AI tools and then judged by humans.
Sources
Data on this page is compiled from official program and provider references.
