Many members in business hackathons are simply trying to make some fast prize cash and transfer on to the subsequent contest — Dominic Kwok calls them “bounty hunters.”
However EasyA, the start-up for builders that he and his brother Phil began 4 years in the past, is in search of a special kind of competitor — those that need to construct corporations that may have a big influence on Web3. It’s an method that has proved fruitful, with the businesses popping out of EasyA’s app neighborhood and month-to-month in-person hackathons having raised cash at a collective valuation of over $3 billion from prime VC companies resembling a16z crypto and CMT Digital. And EasyA’s cellular app, which helps builders simply begin constructing their very own Web3 tasks, has over one million customers worldwide.
On the first EasyA Consensus hackathon in Austin final Could, greater than 700 members launched 100 completely different crypto tasks, and the Kwoks predict comparable numbers for upcoming occasions at Consensus Hong Kong and Consensus Toronto (in case you’d like to use for the EasyA Hackathon at Consensus Hong Kong 2025, please go right here).
Right here they focus on why their distinctive method to hackathons, how they anticipate Consensus Hong Kong will differ from hackathons in different elements of the world and the way Donald Trump’s election may have an effect on the forms of tasks crypto builders deal with.
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This interview has been condensed and flippantly edited for readability.
How did EasyA get began?
Dominic: So we initially launched EasyA about 4 years in the past because the go to put for anybody to be taught in regards to the world’s greatest blockchains. Anybody can use the EasyA app on iOS and Android to be taught in regards to the prime Layer Ones on the market, like Solana, Polkadot, Stellar and Ripple’s XRP Ledger. And other people can discover ways to not solely develop, but additionally launch their very own tasks. We additionally host a number of huge hackathons in particular person all all over the world, during which tons of of individuals are available particular person and launch tasks on our blockchain companions. And the aim is to get these individuals not simply launching, however then additionally founding and constructing startups that go on to get funded by the ecosystem and VCs.
How do you method hackathons in a different way than different corporations that run these?
Dominic: Two issues. The primary is that EasyA may be very centered on founders who wish to begin their very own corporations, versus hackathon “bounty hunters.” We actually wish to be sure that our members truly stick round and construct their tasks as a result of that’s the place we see the way forward for Web3 actually being constructed from. And the second factor is most of our hackathons are single chain, so members deal with one piece of tech and so they truly launch on that one, versus specializing in 50 completely different chains. We wish to put individuals in entrance of the most effective ecosystems which have probably the most help for builders.
How do you suppose the Consensus hackathon in Hong Kong can be completely different from these you maintain in different elements of the world?
Dominic: The dimensions is simply going to be tremendous huge. We have already had a file variety of individuals apply for the seats within the area. We’ll clearly have individuals from Hong Kong, however then additionally from different Asian international locations like India, Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore and China. And we’re additionally seeing big numbers of individuals from the West wish to come. For a lot of of these individuals, it will be the primary time they’ve truly been to Asia.
Do you anticipate there to be variations within the forms of tasks that builders in Asia pursue, versus these in different elements of the world?
Phil: There is a geographical factor after which there’s additionally a thematic one. An enormous theme that we have seen come up over the previous couple of weeks is AI x Web3, and a number of builders are enthusiastic about that intersection. We have additionally seen protocols like virtuals actually kick off and turn into very profitable, so I feel we’ll see a number of that. Geographically, in Asia there are clearly so many alternative currencies, and we’re seeing that builders there truly perceive these cross-border use circumstances lots higher. If you happen to’re a U.S.-based developer, you do not essentially see these friction factors a ton. So I feel that we’ll see much more of the cross border fee options begin to flesh themselves out.
How do you suppose Donald Trump’s presidency will have an effect on the sorts of tasks you see at your hackathons?
Phil: Clearly DeFi has at all times been one of many greatest areas of product market slot in crypto — arguably one of many few that truly has that match. However to this point due to, frankly, how scared a number of builders have been within the States, lots of people simply weren’t constructing nor launching within the U.S. And so that you’d typically go on to a decentralized app and it will say “Oh, you are within the States, you’ll be able to’t use this.” In order that’s a really seen space the place we’ll begin seeing adjustments. One other space the place you’ll be able to’t take part in case you’re from the U.S. is airdrops. So in case you are an finish consumer, you could not actually entry a number of crypto. And in case you wished to focus on this demographic, which in fact is the wealthiest on the earth, you could not. So I feel DeFi is absolutely going to blow up, particularly within the States.
Each of you’re additionally audio system at Consensus Hong Kong. What is going to you be speaking about?
Dominic: Our keynote can be about why it is so arduous proper now for Web3 ecosystems to draw builders now. And we’ll be giving a few of our tips about how they will appeal to builders extra simply and at an even bigger scale. Proper now, Web3 companies are competing over the identical builders, and the expansion of Web3 devs has just about stagnated. And clearly at EasyA, our complete mission is definitely to deliver far more builders into the house. That begins with making it straightforward. However we’re additionally making a number of huge tech upgrades that may permit builders to construct far more simply on-chain. And we’ll be revealing these on stage.