Hey there, crypto enthusiasts! If you're into building on blockchain and eyeing the vibrant LATAM scene, there's some exciting news straight from the BNB Chain ecosystem. BNB Chain has teamed up with YZi Labs to kick off the Local Hack Series in Buenos Aires, Argentina. This isn't just any hackathon—it's a gateway for developers to hack, build, and scale their ideas with serious rewards and funding on the line.

The event is designed to bring together the brightest minds in Latin America and beyond. Whether you're a seasoned builder or a fresh founder, this is your chance to dive into BNB Chain's tools and create innovative projects. It's happening alongside DevConnect Buenos Aires, so expect a buzzing atmosphere full of collaboration and inspiration.

Key Details on the Hackathon

Let's break it down. The hackathon splits into two phases: an optional online pre-hackathon from November 12–14, followed by the main onsite event in Buenos Aires on November 15–16. It all wraps up with Demo Day on November 16, where teams pitch their creations.

Prizes? Oh yeah—there's a total of $160,000 up for grabs. Top spots get $5,000 for first place, $3,000 for second, and $2,000 for third. But that's just the start. Winning projects could snag up to $50,000 in Kickstart Ecosystem Support, fast-track into the Most Valuable Builder (MVB) program via the EASY Residency, and even tap into YZi Labs' massive $1B Builder Fund. This fund, launched back in October, offers up to $500,000 per project, plus mentorship from BNB Chain and YZi Labs experts, investor connections, and exposure to over 460 million users.

Innovation Tracks to Explore

Participants can choose from eight tracks to focus their builds:

• Trading: Think next-gen exchanges, liquidity tools, and quant strategies.
• RWA (Real World Assets)​: Tokenizing finance, stablecoins, and yield protocols—basically bridging traditional assets to blockchain.
• AI: Building smart agents, adaptive smart contracts, and intelligent infra.
• DeSci (Decentralized Science)​: Tools for open research and collaborative platforms.
• DeFi (Decentralized Finance)​: Lending platforms, liquidity aggregators, and yield optimizers.
• Payments: Stablecoin settlements and on-chain payment solutions.
• Wallets: Innovations in user experience, account abstraction (which simplifies wallet interactions by abstracting away complex gas fees and signatures), and security.
• Regional Impact: Projects tackling LATAM-specific challenges or opportunities—perfect for localized solutions that could include community-driven meme tokens.

For those in the meme token space, this is a golden opportunity. BNB Chain is home to tons of viral meme projects, and tracks like Regional Impact or DeFi could be ideal for experimenting with meme mechanics, community engagement tools, or even tokenized memes with real utility.

How to Get Involved

Ready to join? Registration closes on November 10, with selected teams onboarding on November 11. Your project needs to deploy on opBNB or BNB Smart Chain (testnet or mainnet), be open-source, and show at least two transactions during the hack. Submissions include a public X post with a quick description, GitHub repo, demo video, and contract links.

Judges will look at design, scalability, innovation, code quality, and how well you integrate with BNB Chain. Plus, show a solid roadmap and community plan to stand out.

BNB Chain hooks you up with resources like the BSC Faucet for test tokens, API docs, bridges, and tutorials for opBNB and BNB Greenfield (a decentralized storage solution).

This hackathon isn't just about prizes—it's about fueling the next wave of blockchain innovation in LATAM. If you're building meme tokens or other crypto gems, events like this can provide the boost you need. Head over to the official event page for full details and to register. Let's see what you build! 🚀