BNB Chain × YZi Labs Local Hack Series Went Live: Details

BNB Chain and YZi Labs have launched the first edition of the BNB Hack Local Series and set to go live in Buenos Aires. The initiative marks the start of a new developer-focused program that brings together builders, founders, and innovators from across Latin America and beyond.

The hackathon, organized alongside DevConnect Buenos Aires, offers developers an opportunity to build on BNB Chain’s ecosystem while gaining access to mentorship, capital, and long-term ecosystem support.

Event Overview: Building Momentum Before Buenos Aires

The Local Hack Series runs in two parts — an online pre-hackathon and an onsite hackathon in Buenos Aires.

From November 12 to 14, teams can join the online pre-hackathon to form groups, refine ideas, and receive mentorship from BNB Chain’s technical and business development teams. This early start helps participants prepare for the main event.

The onsite hackathon will take place on November 15 and 16, where selected teams will build live at the venue in Buenos Aires. Builders will work side-by-side with mentors, fellow founders, and ecosystem partners to bring their projects to life.

The program concludes with Demo Day on November 16, where teams will showcase their projects in front of judges and investors. Each submission must include a public X post describing the project, along with links to its GitHub repository, demo video, and deployed contracts.

Key Dates and What to Expect

BNB Chain outlined the following schedule for the hackathon:

• Nov 10: Registration deadline
• Nov 11: Acceptance and onboarding for selected teams
• Nov 12–14: Online pre-hackathon (optional)
• Nov 15–16: Onsite hacking in Buenos Aires
• Nov 16: Demo Day presentation

Each stage is designed to help developers progress from ideation to deployment within a structured timeframe.

Tracks for Builders: Eight Areas of Innovation

Participants can build in one of eight innovation areas shaping the next era of Web3.

• Trading: Next-generation exchanges, liquidity systems, and quantitative tools
• RWA: Tokenized finance, stablecoins, and yield protocols
• AI: Smart agents, adaptive contracts, and intelligent infrastructure
• DeSci: Open research tools and transparent collaboration platforms
• DeFi: Lending, composable liquidity, and yield aggregation protocols
• Payments: Stablecoin and on-chain settlement solutions
• Wallets: UX innovation, account abstraction, and advanced security
• Regional Impact: Projects that address LATAM-specific opportunities or local challenges

Prizes and Ecosystem Support

Winners will share $160,000 in total rewards, including both direct funding and ecosystem support.

Prize distribution:

• 1st place: $5,000 USD
• 2nd place: $3,000 USD
• 3rd place: $2,000 USD

Beyond financial rewards, standout projects will gain access to up to $50,000 in Kickstart Ecosystem Support, fast-track interviews for the Most Valuable Builder (MVB) program through the EASY Residency, and potential investment via the $1B Builder Fund.

Submission and Evaluation Criteria

To qualify, teams must deploy their projects on or connect them to opBNB or BNB Smart Chain (BSC), either on mainnet or testnet.

Other submission requirements include:

• Projects must be open-source and free for community use
• Contract address must show at least two successful transactions during the hackathon
• Shared materials: GitHub link, project deck, demo video, and a one-line project description posted on X with #BNBHack

Judges will assess projects based on:

• Design and usability
• Scalability
• Innovation
• Open-source quality
• Integration with BNB Chain infrastructure

Teams are also encouraged to demonstrate a clear roadmap, community engagement, and sustainability plans.

Developer Toolkit and Resources

To support builders, BNB Chain has released a dedicated developer toolkit with key resources for opBNB and BNB Greenfield, including:

• BSC Faucet for test tokens
• Network Endpoints for BNB Smart Chain and opBNB
• API and SDK documentation for Greenfield
• Bridge tools for cross-network deployment
• Tutorials such as opBNB full-stack dApp guides and staking walkthroughs

These resources are accessible through BNB Chain’s Developer Tools Hub and are designed to streamline the hackathon experience from testing to deployment.

The $1B Builder Fund

The hackathon ties directly into the $1 billion Builder Fund announced by YZi Labs on October 8. The fund supports early-stage projects and founders building within the BNB ecosystem.

Each project may receive up to $500,000 in project funding through the EASY Residency program, which hosts the MVB track for promising BNB Chain builders.

Key benefits of the Builder Fund include:

• Direct funding for project development
• Mentorship from YZi Labs and BNB Chain core teams
• Access to investors, mentors, and partners worldwide
• Exposure to BNB Chain’s 460 million+ user ecosystem

The fund prioritizes projects focused on real utility, infrastructure scalability, and sustainable growth.

YZi Labs’ Expanding Role in the BNB Ecosystem

YZi Labs has been central to BNB Chain’s ecosystem development. The firm backs several well-known projects such as PancakeSwap, ListaDAO, Aster, and Aspecta, and facilitates capital access through initiatives like:

• BNB Digital Asset Treasury
• RWA Fund by China Renaissance
• BNB Yield Fund by Hash Global

YZi Labs also organizes global Web3 gatherings in Seoul and Singapore to connect traditional investors with blockchain innovators, strengthening institutional participation within the ecosystem.

Conclusion

The BNB Chain × YZi Labs Local Hack Series marks more than a regional event — it’s part of a structured, global effort to build a stronger developer base within the BNB ecosystem. The initiative brings together mentorship, open-source resources, and funding, showing how BNB Chain’s technology and YZi Labs’ capital support practical blockchain development.

Resources:

1. BNB Chain X platform: https://x.com/BNBCHAIN

2. Uzi Labs X platform: https://x.com/yzilabs

3. Announcement - BNB Chain x YZi Labs Local Hack: Buenos Aires: https://www.bnbchain.org/en/blog/bnb-chain-x-yzi-labs-local-hack-buenos-aires

4. Yzi Labs announcement about $1 billion Builder Fund: https://x.com/yzilabs/status/1975822909307560092