MIT Bitcoin Hackathon: Freedom for All

About the challenge We are excited to host the MIT Bitcoin Hackathon 2026 on April 10th-12th. This year, the theme is Freedom for All! In its 13th year, this landmark event explores Bitcoin and freedom technologies as instruments for individual empowerment and economic sovereignty. The cryptocurrency space needs you to develop the next generation of projects, applications, and features to serve this ever-growing user base. In the spirit of MIT, this is a unique hackathon where you will have 36 hours to learn, share, and, most importantly, build a remarkable project that may be the next big thing to scale this space! This year's hackathon is in-person only at MIT. With interactive workshops, mentorship sessions, and a collaborative atmosphere, it's the perfect environment to learn, build, and make meaningful connections, no matter your experience level. In the past, those who have participated in the hackathon have come out with amazing new startups, projects, and connections. Whether you have a team or you are alone, come and join our MIT community of hackers. Participants can be mentors, students, or professional hackers from all around the globe. Historically, some of our best and most successful submissions are from folks who are new to Bitcoin and crypto, so everyone is welcome! Are you new to the space? No worries; this event is beginner friendly! Ready to level up? Meet collaborators and build something remarkable at one of the most prestigious events of the year. Just curious or want to learn even more about crypto? Join us, and the fun will be guaranteed. Give it a try and register now!!! We're excited to see you all on April 10th-12th. Let's Go! Follow us on Twitter: @MITBitcoinClub to keep up with news about the event and reach out to hackathon-mitbitcoinexpo@googlegroups.com for any questions. Get started Step 1: Register Complete the application form with your background, and project examples. Step 2: Join Our Discord Once accepted, you'll receive a Discord invite link via email. Join the server to connect with other participants, find teammates, and stay updated on announcements. Step 3: Form Your Team Work solo or form a team of up to 5 members. Use the #team-search channel on Discord to find teammates with complementary skills. Step 4: Attend the Kickoff Join us at MIT on Friday, April 10th at 6:00 PM ET for the opening ceremony, sponsor introductions, and workshop sessions. Step 5: Build & Submit Code your project during the hackathon period. Submit on Devpost before the deadline with your GitHub repository, demo video, and project details. Dates Event Date & Time (Eastern Time) Hackathon Kickoff Friday, April 10, 2026 @ 6:00 PM Hacking Period Friday 6:00 PM – Sunday 6:00 AM (36 hours) Submission Period Sunday 6:00 AM - Sunday 8:00 AM (2 hours) Submission Deadline Sunday, April 12, 2026 @ 8:00 AM Judging Period Sunday 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM Finalist Presentations Sunday, April 12, 2026 @ 12:30 PM Winners Announced Sunday, April 12, 2026 @ MIT Bitcoin Expo: April 11-12, 2026 (runs alongside hackathon) Eligibility Must be 18 years of age or older at the time of the event Open to university students and professionals worldwide Open to all countries/territories, excluding standard exceptions All participants must complete the application process and be accepted In-person attendance at MIT is required (this is not a hybrid or online event) Project and Submission Requirements Team Rules: Work solo or in teams of up to 5 members maximum All team members must be registered participants Project Rules: Projects must fit into at least one hackathon track or sponsor challenge All coding work must be completed during the hackathon period Concept/idea development may begin before the hackathon, but code must be written during the event Version control is mandatory, use Git with regular commits throughout the hackathon Submission Rules: All submissions must be made on Devpost before the deadline Late submissions will not be judged Submissions must include all required materials (description, video, GitHub link) Code of Conduct: All participants must follow our Code of Conduct. Harassment of any kind will not be tolerated. The hackathon is committed to providing a safe and inclusive environment. Violations may result in immediate disqualification and removal from the event. Prizes Our prize pool uses a community focused distribution model to reward all participants, not just the top 3. How the Community Split works: The 70% community pool is distributed among all qualifying submissions (above bottom 5%) based on ranked or tiered scoring. This means even if you don't place in the top 3, your hard work can still be rewarded! Total prize pool amount will be announced once sponsor commitments are finalized. Check back for updates.