ETH Hangzhou is a highly anticipated, in-person Ethereum hackathon taking place from March 29 to March 31, 2025, in Hangzhou, China. Sponsored by the Ethereum Foundation (ESP), this event brings together developers, designers, and researchers from across the country to build innovative solutions on the Ethereum blockchain. As the successor to ETH Beijing, it marks another milestone in the global Ethereum community’s expansion within mainland China.
Organized by leading student and developer groups — Zhejiang University Blockchain Association (ZJUBCA), PKU Blockchain, WTF Academy, and TinTinLand — ETH Hangzhou fosters collaboration, learning, and real-world application development within the Ethereum ecosystem. Participants will have the opportunity to create cutting-edge projects, receive mentorship from seasoned blockchain professionals, and present their work to a vibrant community of peers and experts.
The event will be hosted at the Hangzhou Web3 Hub, located in Hangzhou’s dynamic Qianjiang Road area — a growing center for innovation and decentralized technology in East China.
Core Tracks & Innovation Focus
To guide development efforts and encourage impactful contributions, ETH Hangzhou features two main tracks. Each participating team must choose one primary track for their project submission.
🛠️ Track 1: AI x Ethereum
This track explores the convergence of artificial intelligence and blockchain technology, focusing on practical applications that enhance user interaction, automation, and intelligence within decentralized systems.
Popular project ideas include:
- DeFi Agents that autonomously manage portfolios or execute trades based on market conditions
- AI-powered token analytics tools for real-time sentiment analysis and price prediction
- Smart contract auditors enhanced with machine learning to detect vulnerabilities
- Natural language interfaces for dApps that allow users to interact with protocols using plain English
This track invites builders to rethink how intelligent agents can operate transparently and securely on-chain, opening new frontiers in autonomous finance and Web3 UX.
🌍 Track 2: Public Goods
The Public Goods track supports projects that strengthen the foundational layers of the Ethereum ecosystem. These are open-source initiatives that benefit all users and developers, ensuring long-term sustainability and decentralization.
Ideal projects include:
- Open-source developer tools (SDKs, testing frameworks, deployment pipelines)
- Infrastructure for on-chain governance, transparency, or voting systems
- Educational platforms that lower the barrier to entry for new builders
- Decentralized identity or data storage solutions with public utility
By incentivizing work on shared resources, ETH Hangzhou reinforces the ethos of decentralization and collective ownership that defines Ethereum’s mission.
Event Schedule & Structure
The hackathon spans three intensive days of building, learning, and networking:
March 29 – Day 1: Kickoff & Ideation
- 02:00 PM: Developer side event – deep-dive technical sessions
- Team formation and idea pitching
- Mentor matching and tooling setup
March 30 – Day 2: Building in Full Swing
- Continuous hacking with live support from mentors
- Workshops on core topics: ZK-proofs, account abstraction, L2 scaling
- Lightning talks from past hackathon winners
March 31 – Day 3: Final Push & Demo Day
- Final code submissions
- Project presentations to judges and audience
- Awards ceremony and community celebration
All events take place at the Hangzhou Web3 Hub, located at Hangang Tech Tower, No. 509 Qianjiang Road, Shangcheng District, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province.
Who Should Attend?
ETH Hangzhou welcomes:
- Blockchain developers with experience in Solidity, Rust, or Web3.js
- Designers passionate about improving dApp usability
- Researchers exploring novel consensus models, privacy mechanisms, or economic designs
- Students eager to enter the Web3 space and contribute meaningfully
Whether you're an experienced builder or just starting your journey, this event offers a supportive environment to learn, collaborate, and innovate.
Support & Participation Details
Can I join remotely?
No. ETH Hangzhou is an in-person-only event held in Hangzhou. Attendance requires physical presence to ensure authentic collaboration and fair competition.
Can I work on my project before the hackathon?
No. To maintain fairness, teams must begin development only after the official kickoff. Pre-existing projects or codebases are not allowed. However, you're encouraged to brainstorm ideas, study documentation, and prepare your toolkit in advance.
Are travel grants available?
Yes. Subject to budget availability, travel scholarships may be offered to eligible students, covering meals, accommodation, and partial travel costs. Priority will be given to those demonstrating financial need and strong technical potential.
How many tracks are there?
There are two main tracks: AI x Ethereum and Public Goods. Every team must select one as their primary focus for judging purposes.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: What is ETH Hangzhou?
A: ETH Hangzhou is a three-day in-person Ethereum hackathon held from March 29–31, 2025, in Hangzhou, China. It’s supported by the Ethereum Foundation and organized by top university blockchain communities and educational platforms.
Q: Who can participate?
A: Developers, designers, researchers, and students passionate about Ethereum and decentralized technologies are welcome. Technical proficiency is encouraged but not strictly required for non-coding roles.
Q: Is prior blockchain experience necessary?
A: While helpful, beginners are supported through mentorship and introductory workshops. Many past participants used hackathons as their entry point into Web3.
Q: Do I need a team to join?
A: Not necessarily. You can join solo and form a team during the event. Team-building activities will help connect like-minded individuals.
Q: Are there prizes?
A: Yes. Generous prize pools await winners in both tracks, including cash awards, developer grants, and opportunities for incubation and further funding.
Q: Where can I find updates about the event?
A: Follow official communications through the organizing partners’ channels. No external links or social accounts are shared here.
Why This Matters for Ethereum’s Future
Events like ETH Hangzhou play a crucial role in expanding Ethereum’s global developer base. By empowering local talent in China — a region rich in technical expertise — the ecosystem grows more resilient, diverse, and innovative.
Moreover, focusing on AI integration and public goods aligns perfectly with Ethereum’s long-term vision: a decentralized, intelligent, and user-owned internet. Projects born here could evolve into tomorrow’s critical infrastructure.
ETH Hangzhou isn’t just a hackathon — it’s a movement. A gathering of minds committed to pushing boundaries, solving real problems, and advancing the promise of decentralized technology. If you're ready to code the future, March 2025 in Hangzhou might be where your journey takes off.