Hey there, blockchain fans! If you're keeping an eye on the evolving world of crypto, you might have caught this exciting tweet from BSCNews: "🔥 HOT NEW PROJECTS ON $CORE - Get ahead and discover the winners of @Coredao_Org's recent hackathon..." linking to their full article here. It's all about the Core Connect Global Buildathon, a major online hackathon that wrapped up recently, spotlighting some fresh ideas built on the Core blockchain.

For those new to this, Core DAO is a blockchain platform that's EVM-compatible (meaning it works seamlessly with Ethereum tools) and integrates Bitcoin's security through its Satoshi Plus consensus. This hackathon, hosted on DoraHacks from June to August 2025, attracted over 200 submissions. Developers tackled categories like BTCfi (Bitcoin Finance, basically DeFi powered by Bitcoin), AI, gaming, and more. The goal? To boost innovation, increase user activity, and grow the ecosystem's total value locked.

After a rigorous selection— including regional meetups, semifinals, and a grand finale tied to TOKEN2049 in Singapore—four standout projects emerged as winners. Each snagged $10,000 in CORE tokens, AWS credits, gas rebates, and ongoing support from Core DAO. Plus, there's potential for up to $1.2 million in total rewards through various programs. Let's break down these winners and what makes them tick, in simple terms.

BitMax: AI-Powered DeFi for Bitcoin Assets

BitMax is all about blending artificial intelligence with DeFi on Core. Imagine staking your Bitcoin or CORE tokens and letting AI handle the heavy lifting—predicting yields, optimizing strategies, and managing risks. It uses fancy algorithms like LSTM for forecasts and something called the Kelly Criterion for betting smart on investments. The cool part? It turns your staked assets into tradable tokens (Principal and Yield Tokens) without needing a middleman. Built with ReactJS for the front end and FastAPI for the back, it's designed to make DeFi more efficient and accessible.

CorePilot: Smart Staking Made Easy

Staking can be a hassle—picking the right validators, monitoring rates. CorePilot automates that on Core's network. It scans for the best validators based on staked assets and hash power, then lets you stake while giving you liquid tokens (pCORE) in return. These can be used elsewhere in DeFi without locking up your funds. It's like having a personal assistant for staking, integrated directly with Core's consensus mechanism, and it even offers an API for other projects to plug in.

LiquidSat: Borrow Against BTC Without Losing Control

One big pain point in crypto is lending Bitcoin without handing over custody. LiquidSat solves that with a trustless protocol on Core. You can borrow stablecoins using your BTC as collateral, all enforced by Bitcoin Script contracts—no bridges or wrappers needed. If things go south (like a default), the system handles it automatically. This keeps your Bitcoin secure in your wallet while unlocking its value for DeFi activities, making BTCfi more user-friendly and secure.

Orange Terminal: Your AI Chat Buddy for DeFi

Think of Orange Terminal as a smart chatbot for Bitcoin DeFi. You chat in plain English about staking, lending, or monitoring your portfolio, and it does the work—comparing APYs across protocols, executing trades with one click, and giving real-time advice. Powered by a fine-tuned GPT model and built on Next.js, it's perfect for beginners or pros who want to simplify complex tasks on Core.

These projects aren't just tech demos; they're real boosters for Core's ecosystem, focusing on Bitcoin-native finance without the usual hassles. While the hackathon didn't spotlight meme tokens directly, the innovations here—like AI-driven yields and liquid staking—could indirectly amp up creativity in meme coin spaces by making blockchain tools more accessible.

If you're into building or investing, check out Core DAO's official site or follow BSCNews on X for more updates. What do you think—will these winners spark the next big wave in BTCfi? Drop your thoughts in the comments!