Many members in trade 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 impression on Web3. It’s an method that has proved fruitful, with the businesses popping out of EasyA’s app group and month-to-month in-person hackathons having raised cash at a collective valuation of over $3 billion from prime VC corporations resembling a16z crypto and CMT Digital. And EasyA’s cellular app, which helps builders simply begin constructing their very own Web3 tasks, has over 1,000,000 customers worldwide.
On the first EasyA Consensus hackathon in Austin final Might, greater than 700 members launched 100 completely different crypto tasks, and the Kwoks predict related numbers for upcoming occasions at Consensus Hong Kong and Consensus Toronto (when you’d like to use for the EasyA Hackathon at Consensus Hong Kong 2025, please go right here).
Right here they talk about why their distinctive method to hackathons, how they count on Consensus Hong Kong will differ from hackathons in different elements of the world and the way Donald Trump’s election might have an effect on the forms of tasks crypto builders give attention to.
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This interview has been condensed and calmly 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 folks can discover ways to not solely develop, but in addition launch their very own tasks. We additionally host plenty of massive hackathons in individual all all over the world, wherein tons of of individuals are available in individual and launch tasks on our blockchain companions. And the purpose 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 another way than different corporations that run these?
Dominic: Two issues. The primary is that EasyA could be very centered on founders who need to begin their very own corporations, versus hackathon “bounty hunters.” We actually need to guarantee 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 give attention to one piece of tech and so they truly launch on that one, versus specializing in 50 completely different chains. We need to put individuals in entrance of the most effective ecosystems which have essentially the most assist for builders.
How do you assume the Consensus hackathon in Hong Kong will likely be completely different from these you maintain in different elements of the world?
Dominic: The size is simply going to be tremendous massive. We have already had a report variety of individuals apply for the seats within the enviornment. 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 enormous numbers of individuals from the West need to come. For a lot of of these individuals, it’s going to be the primary time they’ve truly been to Asia.
Do you count on 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 plenty 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 plenty 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 instances rather a lot higher. In the event you’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 assume Donald Trump’s presidency will have an effect on the sorts of tasks you see at your hackathons?
Phil: Clearly DeFi has all the time been one of many greatest areas of product market slot in crypto — arguably one of many few that really has that match. However up to now due to, frankly, how scared plenty 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 may’t use this.” In order that’s a really seen space the place we’ll begin seeing modifications. One other space the place you may’t take part when you’re from the U.S. is airdrops. So in case you are an finish person, you could not actually entry plenty of crypto. And when you needed to focus on this demographic, which after all is the wealthiest on the earth, you could not. So I feel DeFi is actually going to blow up, particularly within the States.
Each of you might be additionally audio system at Consensus Hong Kong. What’s going to you be speaking about?
Dominic: Our keynote will likely be about why it is so exhausting proper now for Web3 ecosystems to draw builders now. And we’ll be giving a few of our tips about how they will entice builders extra simply and at an even bigger scale. Proper now, Web3 corporations 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 area. That begins with making it simple. However we’re additionally making a number of massive tech upgrades that may enable builders to construct rather more simply on-chain. And we’ll be revealing these on stage.
