DWF Labs Joins Forces with DMCC & Bybit for Web3 Unleashed Hackathon 2025

Carrying the theme “Shaping the Next Wave of Web3,” the 2025 edition invites developers, entrepreneurs, and creative technologists to submit their applications between September 1 and October 5. DWF Labs is not merely contributing financially, its team will also serve as judges throughout the competition, evaluating projects on innovation, technical execution, and real-world utility.

Andrei Grachev, Managing Partner at DWF Labs, highlighted the firm’s commitment to the hackathon, stating: “We’re delighted to be supporting Web3 Unleashed for the third year running and contributing to the $140,000 prize pool. With two new tracks and significant developer interest, this year’s event is set to raise the bar in terms of what can be built with blockchain technology by the world’s most creative developer teams.”

This year’s hackathon introduces two distinctive tracks. The first, DeFAI, merges decentralised finance with artificial intelligence, inviting ideas that reimagine financial systems using intelligent, autonomous agents. The second, DeSci, shines a spotlight on innovation in decentralised science and research, an emerging frontier in open data, transparent science, and collaborative discovery.

The competition timeline is structured to maximize participation and exposure. The submission window runs from September 1 through October 5, followed by a review phase to evaluate all applications. Finalists will be invited to present live at SO/ Uptown Dubai, with the previous edition’s Demo Day held on November 20. There, finalists showcased their work to representatives from DWF Labs, Bybit, DMCC Crypto Centre, Hacken, Injective, Meezan Ventures, and Cointelegraph, culminating in an awards ceremony and networking session that brought together a global community of innovators and industry leaders.

The Web3 Unleashed Hackathon has steadily grown, reinforcing Dubai’s standing as a global Web3 innovation hub. In the 2024 edition, participants explored themes such as zero-knowledge protocols, digital identity, Web3 infrastructure, and AI-powered solutions. That year concluded with $160,000 distributed across five winners, underscoring the hackathon’s role in surfacing practical, impactful blockchain applications.

DWF Labs’s sustained involvement reflects more than sponsorship, it underscores its ambition to shape the Web3 ecosystem actively. As one of the globe’s high-frequency trading behemoths and a prolific Web3 investor, DWF Labs taps into complex markets, trading across over 60 exchanges and supporting a significant share of top-tier crypto projects. Their engagement aligns with broader regional goals: Dubai and the Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC) are positioning themselves as global forces in blockchain innovation, supported by dynamic initiatives like the DMCC Crypto Centre and DWF’s Venture Studio platform, which offers mentorship, capital, and strategic infrastructure to early-stage founders.

For developers and founders, participation offers compelling opportunities. The $140,000 prize pool is a major draw, but the benefits extend far beyond financial rewards. Finalists gain exposure to leading figures in the Web3 space, receiving feedback that can help refine their projects at a formative stage. The Demo Day in Dubai provides visibility on a global stage, opening the door to partnerships and industry connections. With the addition of the DeFAI and DeSci tracks, participants also have the chance to align their ideas with fast-growing sectors, increasing the potential for long-term traction.

Developers submitting to this year’s hackathon receive more than just financial support. Finalists get to showcase their projects on a global platform in Dubai, gaining invaluable feedback and visibility. This high-profile exposure, especially during Demo Day, can open doors to critical industry connections. The addition of DeFAI and DeSci tracks further boosts the appeal by aligning projects with fast-emerging Web3 sectors.