The buzz is building in the blockchain world as BNB Chain teams up with YZi Labs for their latest hackathon stop: Abu Dhabi. Announced via a tweet from @BNBChainDevs, this event is calling all Web3 builders to the UAE for a shot at $160,000 in prizes, plus access to a whopping $1 billion Builder Fund. If you're into meme tokens or broader crypto innovation, this could be your gateway to leveling up your project.

Why This Hackathon Matters for Meme Token Enthusiasts

BNB Chain has long been a hotspot for meme tokens, thanks to its low fees, fast transactions, and tools like PancakeSwap for easy launches and trading. While the hackathon isn't exclusively about memes, several tracks open doors for creative ideas in this space. Think building next-gen liquidity tools for viral tokens or AI-driven community engagement platforms that could supercharge your meme project. It's all about pushing boundaries in Web3, and with BNB Chain's ecosystem, meme devs have a natural fit here.

Event Details at a Glance

Kicking off with online pre-hack sessions from November 24, 2025, the main action happens in-person on December 5-6 at 42 Abu Dhabi. That's a full 48 hours to hack, collaborate, and ship something awesome. If you're selected as a finalist, you'll demo live on December 6—mandatory for grabbing those top spots.

Location-wise, it's hosted at 42 Abu Dhabi (57 Al Mutawakileen St, Zayed Port, Abu Dhabi, UAE), in partnership with local players like 42 Blockchain and Ignyte. Can't make it to the desert? No worries—the tweet hints at online participation options, so you can still join the global BNB Hack remotely.

Prizes That Could Launch Your Project

The prize pool is stacked: up to $160K total, blending cash with ecosystem perks. Here's the breakdown for the top three teams:

• 1st Place: $5,000 cash + up to $50K in Kickstart support + fast-track to MVB program and EASY Residency + potential investment from the $1B Builder Fund.
• 2nd Place: $3,000 cash + similar Kickstart and incubation perks.
• 3rd Place: $2,000 cash + the same ecosystem boosts.

Beyond that, there's a special bounty from sponsor ChatAndBuild for the best AI platform or agent built on BNB Chain—think mentorship from them and even OpenAI. All winners get doors opened to BNB Chain's massive builder network, which is gold for anyone scaling a meme token or DeFi app.

Tracks to Inspire Your Build

Choose from eight innovation areas, each with tons of creative leeway:

• Trading: Next-gen exchanges, liquidity protocols—perfect for meme token trading bots or aggregators.
• RWA (Real World Assets)​: Tokenizing real stuff like art or property, which could tie into meme-inspired NFTs.
• AI: Intelligent agents and adaptive smart contracts—imagine AI that predicts meme trends.
• DeSci (Decentralized Science)​: Open research tools for collaborative crypto experiments.
• DeFi: Lending, yield farming—core for any meme ecosystem.
• Payments: Stablecoin settlements for seamless token swaps.
• Wallets: User-friendly innovations like account abstraction for easier meme wallet interactions.
• Regional Impact: UAE-focused projects, maybe blending local culture with blockchain for unique meme narratives.

Projects must deploy on opBNB or BSC (mainnet or testnet), be open-source, and show at least two transactions. Check the developer wishlist on GitHub for hot ideas.

How to Get Involved

Spots are limited, so apply ASAP via the event page. Solo or team up—new projects only, no recycled ideas from past hacks. Once in, join the Discord for updates, mentorship, and networking.

Submissions need a GitHub repo, demo video, pitch deck, and a tweet tagging @BNBChain with #BNBHackAbuDhabi. Judges score on innovation, usability, scalability, integration, and open-source quality.

Whether you're a seasoned dev or a meme token hobbyist dipping into building, this hackathon is a prime chance to connect with the BNB Chain community. Head over to the registration link and start brainstorming—your next big idea could win big in Abu Dhabi.