Lens Protocol has officially joined the ZKsync ecosystem, and they’re marking this milestone with something that has developers excited, a hackathon with a 50,000 $GHO prize pool.
This isn’t just another event as it is a golden opportunity for builders and project owners to showcase their skills and potentially secure funding in a tough market.
For those navigating the challenges of raising capital or simply wanting to stay independent, this hackathon is a game-changer. The prize money could help kickstart a new idea or push an existing project to the next level.
Whether you’re aiming to win or just curious about building on ZKsync, this is your chance to dive into the action. Let’s break down what you need to know about this exciting event!
Lens Protocol’s Hackathon Details
This holiday season, Lens Protocol is bringing an exciting opportunity for developers to innovate and compete in its Lens Holiday Hackathon.
Designed to turn the quiet days between Christmas and New Year into a creative challenge, the hackathon invites participants to build applications on the Lens Network Testnet, using the Family’s Connect Kit to unlock new possibilities in SocialFi and beyond.
Key Dates and Structure
The hackathon follows a clear timeline:
- Kickoff: December 16th, 2024, at 4 PM CET.
- Submission Deadline: January 7th, 2025, at 4 PM CET.
- Judging and Voting Period: January 7th to January 12th, 2025, at 4 PM CET.
Winners will be announced soon after, with prizes distributed starting January 16th, 2025.
During the event, developers will work on creating applications that align with Lens Protocol’s focus areas, particularly SocialFi—a rapidly growing sector where social platforms integrate financial tools.
What Can You Build?
The hackathon encourages creativity, offering flexibility in the type of projects you can submit. While the focus is on building on Lens Network, some suggested ideas include:
- Social or SocialFi applications.
- Meme-inspired projects.
- Tools or platforms that serve the public good.
- Games or gaming-related utilities.
- AI-driven tools or products.
These themes are only a starting point, and participants are welcome to explore other innovative ideas as long as they utilise Lens Network and, where possible, integrate the Connect Kit.
The Rules
To ensure fairness and maintain quality, there are some important rules to follow:
- All submissions must be original and open-source. Projects should be built entirely during the hackathon period, starting from December 16th.
- Teams can include up to four members.
- Submissions must include:
- A README file explaining the project’s purpose and design.
- A working prototype application.
- A demo video or presentation deck to showcase the project.
- Entries must be submitted to Lens GitHub Hackathon Repo and Jokerace, the contest platform. Only projects listed on Jokerace will be eligible for voting.
By adhering to these guidelines, participants can ensure their projects are eligible for consideration and voting.
Community Voting
Voting is an integral part of the hackathon, with the Lens community and the Avara team selecting the winners. To maintain transparency and fairness, only allow listed members of the community and team can vote, minimising the risk of Sybil Attacks or irregularities.
Submissions for voting should include:
- A short introduction about the team and the motivation behind the project.
- Links to the GitHub repository.
- Visual elements, such as screenshots or diagrams, to make the submission more engaging.
Participants are also encouraged to promote their projects on platforms like Lens and X (formerly Twitter) using the hashtag #LensHolidayHackathon. This outreach not only helps garner support but also connects developers with the broader community.
Supporting Developers
To help participants throughout the hackathon, Lens Protocol has set up a Telegram group for troubleshooting and support.
Developers can ask questions publicly in the hackathon channel, where both the Lens team and fellow participants can provide guidance.
The collaborative environment fosters learning and problem-solving, allowing participants to share their progress and even merge teams if they’re working on similar ideas.
Respectful and patient communication is encouraged, particularly during the holiday period when responses may take longer.
Important Notes
Winners will be required to complete a KYC (Know Your Customer) process before claiming their prizes.
The Lens team will reach out directly via email to guide the winners through the process. To avoid delays, participants should review the hackathon’s terms and conditions in advance.
With innovation at its core, the Lens Holiday Hackathon offers a fantastic opportunity to explore the capabilities of the Lens Network, connect with the Web3 community, and potentially walk away with a share of the 50,000 $GHO prize pool.
Whether you're an experienced developer or new to blockchain, this event promises to be a rewarding challenge.
What is the Prize?
The Lens Holiday Hackathon offers an impressive 50,000 GHO prize pool, designed to incentivise innovation and creativity among developers.
The prizes are divided into several categories to reward exceptional contributions:
- 1st Prize: 20,000 GHO, valued at approximately $20,000.
- 2nd Prize: 10,000 GHO, valued at approximately $10,000.
- 3rd Prize: 5,000 GHO, valued at approximately $5,000.
- Honorary Mentions (x5): 3,000 GHO each, totalling $15,000.
This distribution ensures not only the top performers but also promising participants receive recognition, making the hackathon inclusive and motivating for all contributors.
The choice of GHO as the prize adds an interesting dimension to the hackathon. GHO, introduced by Aave Protocol, is a decentralised stablecoin pegged to the US dollar.
Designed for stability, it is backed by over-collateralised assets provided by borrowers on the Aave platform. This ensures that GHO maintains its value at $1, making it a secure and reliable digital asset.
For winners, receiving GHO offers a versatile and stable asset that can be utilised for project development or operational needs, seamlessly bridging financial and technological innovation.
Project Examples from the Lens Protocol Team
To guide participants and spark creativity, the Lens Protocol team has shared innovative project ideas that showcase the potential of the Lens Network.
Project Inspirations / Source: Twitter (X)
These examples provide a starting point for developers, offering insights into the kinds of impactful applications they could create:
Social Prediction Markets
Build a platform where users can participate in lighthearted debates like cats vs. dogs or vanilla vs. chocolate, creating tokens for each side. Participants can vote, turning simple choices into a gamified social-financial experiment.
On-Chain Savings Circles (ROSCA)
This idea brings traditional Rotating Savings and Credit Associations (ROSCA) into the blockchain space, enabling transparent and decentralised savings groups with on-chain social proof. It’s an excellent fit for emerging economies where cooperative saving models are vital.
AI Agent Rewards
Develop tools that reward contributors to open-source networks. By focusing on high-quality AI-driven agents, this project would promote collaboration and innovation within decentralised ecosystems.
Info Finance Platform
Inspired by Vitalik Buterin’s “From Prediction Markets to Info Finance”, this concept involves building a sophisticated prediction market platform. It’s a reimagined version of BitClout, tailored for Lens, enabling users to make informed financial decisions.
Crowdfunding with Social Proof
Create a platform where funders can verify the trustworthiness of teams through on-chain social proof. This approach ensures transparency and builds confidence in decentralised fundraising efforts.
Licensing and Creator Tools
Provide creators with tools to monetise, distribute, and protect intellectual property. Such a solution empowers creative professionals to secure their work while leveraging blockchain for fair monetisation.
These examples not only highlight the flexibility of the Lens Network but also encourage developers to combine creativity with real-world utility.
Each idea is designed to address specific needs, making the hackathon an exciting opportunity to innovate within the decentralised space.
Existing Tools to Utilise from ZKsync
For developers building on ZKsync during the Lens Holiday Hackathon, several integration options and advanced ZKsync features can significantly enhance their DApp functionality.
Developer Tools / Source: Lens Protocol’s Documentation
Lens provides four integration tools:
- React Web: Optimised for React-based web applications, offering React Hooks for seamless user interactions.
- React Native: Ideal for mobile app developers, enabling smooth integration of Lens functionalities into mobile platforms.
- JavaScript API: A framework-agnostic API client for broader flexibility in integration with custom JavaScript applications.
- GraphQL API: A language-agnostic graph API, ideal for developers requiring precise data retrieval and manipulation capabilities.
Beyond these tools, ZKsync introduces advanced features to elevate the user experience:
- Account Abstraction: ZKsync natively supports programmable accounts, allowing advanced functionality such as account recovery, multi-sig accounts, and automated workflows. This enables greater flexibility for developers and users alike.
- Paymasters: With Paymasters, DApps can subsidise transaction fees or allow users to pay fees using ERC20 tokens instead of ETH, enhancing usability.
- ZKsync SSO (Smart Sign-On): ZKsync’s SSO offers walletless authentication with features like biometric login and session management, ensuring a Web2-like experience while maintaining security.
Together, these tools empower developers to create user-centric DApps that are secure, efficient, and easy to use, paving the way for innovative applications.
Conclusion
The Lens Holiday Hackathon is a chance for developers to build and experiment on the Lens Network. With a 50,000 GHO prize pool, participants can explore practical tools like React Web, React Native, JavaScript API, and GraphQL API to bring their ideas to life.
ZKsync features such as Account Abstraction, Paymasters, and Smart Sign-On (SSO) offer real solutions for simplifying DApp functionality, like walletless login, fee flexibility, and account recovery. These tools make creating user-friendly applications more accessible.
This hackathon isn’t just about prizes, it’s an opportunity to create something meaningful and expand your skills in the Web3 space.
