The Hashgraph Association (THA) and Exponential Science have announced the winners of the 2025 Hedera Africa Hackathon, an event that has drawn attention for its scale and impact. Held on April 29, this massive competition attracted more than 13,000 developers and culminated in over 1,300 project submissions, marking it as the largest Web3 hackathon ever organized. In addition to the main event, the hackathon onboarded more than 45,000 participants into its education and developer certification program, with activities taking place across more than 20 African cities and a global online track.
Co-funded by THA, a Swiss-based nonprofit aimed at expanding the Hedera ecosystem, and Exponential Science, a nonprofit focused on the acceleration of emerging technologies, the event relied on local logistical support from Dar Blockchain and enjoyed partnerships with prominent organizations, including Sygnum Bank, Orange Digital Centers, and the Nairobi Securities Exchange.
Participants were divided into four primary tracks: On-Chain Finance and Real-World Assets, DLT for Operations, Immersive Experiences, and AI and Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Networks (DePIN). A cross-track championship recognized the most impactful projects from all categories.
The top five winners exemplified practical, infrastructure-oriented solutions rather than speculative technologies. GreenAfrica, the first-place winner from Nigeria, developed an environmental verification platform that allows for transparent tracking of sustainability initiatives. The second-place project, Carboni from Egypt, created a platform for issuing and trading renewable energy certificates, addressing energy verification challenges prevalent in the region. Effisend X Africa, hailing from Mexico, focused on AI-enhanced payment routing to connect disparate African payment systems. Malaysia’s Silsilat Finance also targeted emerging markets with its model for cross-border settlements, while Nigeria’s Beyond Service innovated a mobile game that integrates persistent digital identity and on-chain asset ownership.
The significance of these winning projects lies in their direct responses to existing market friction points, including fragmented payment networks, inadequate energy verification systems, and inconsistent medical record infrastructures.
The hackathon awarded a total of $1 million in prizes across all tracks, with first place receiving $100,000 and subsequent prizes ranging from $30,000 to $70,000. These financial incentives are complemented by THA’s announcement of a new Investment Committee aimed at investing multi-million-dollar commitments into strategic partnerships and high-performing teams that emerged from the hackathon. This initiative positions Hedera as a Layer-1 ecosystem that offers not only financial support but also mentorship and pathways for enterprise collaboration.
Kamal Youssefi, President of THA, emphasized the organization’s commitment to nurturing developers beyond the hackathon, leveraging partnerships and the newly established Investment Committee.
Africa’s growing importance in the Web3 landscape is underscored by the impressive growth of its developer community; Nigeria alone saw an increase of over 16,000 new Web3 developers in 2025, placing the country third globally for developer growth. Additionally, Nigerian Web3 founders raised $43 million in 2025, a significant increase from $20 million in 2024. Across the continent, initiatives such as incubators and infrastructure grants are fostering early-stage startups in blockchain technology.
Despite this growth, challenges persist. Recent reports indicate that 53% of African Web3 developers have yet to collaborate with global teams, highlighting the need for continued advancement in talent development toward meeting international product standards.
Looking ahead, THA has confirmed the return of the Hedera Africa Hackathon in 2026, with further details regarding location, tracks, and partners to be announced shortly. Dr. Paolo Tasca, Executive Chairman of Exponential Science, remarked on the visibility of meaningful advancements, stating that the hackathon has facilitated the evolution from learning to the creation of impactful infrastructure.
The combination of a recurring hackathon, a newly formed investment committee, and a burgeoning base of African developers indicates that Hedera is strategically investing in the future of emerging markets. As it competes against established networks like Ethereum and Solana, this emphasis on practical utility and direct capital support may serve as a critical differentiator in the evolving landscape of blockchain technology.
