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Successful initiatives like FoundrAI illustrate how generative AI empowers developers to create market-ready solutions within a mere 48 hours.
An increasing number of developers are joining the Consensus by Coindesk hackathons, and their skills are improving, according to the organizers. (Photo: Olivier Acuna/Modified by Coindesk)
Key points:
- During the EasyA x Consensus Hong Kong 2026 hackathon, close to 1,000 developers shifted their attention from backend infrastructure to user-oriented applications, reflecting what the organizers have termed the “Year of the Application Layer.”
- Winning projects highlighted automation, security, and risk management, featuring tools such as FoundrAI’s autonomous “startup in a box,” SentinelFi’s real-time scam detection, and PumpStop’s non-custodial, risk-focused trading layer.
- The hackathon’s increasing visibility on the main exhibition floor and the focus on seamless user experience, including passkey logins, signify a broader industry effort to engage the next wave of retail users amid a challenging macroeconomic context.
As Consensus Hong Kong 2026 concludes, the emphasis has transitioned from corporate discussions to the exhibition floor. Although institutional discussions were prevalent on the main stages, nearly 1,000 developers dedicated the week to the EasyA x Consensus Hackathon, marking a clear shift in the industry: the “Year of the Application Layer.”
This competition, now a key feature of Consensus by CoinDesk’s flagship events, showcased over 30 projects during demo day. The caliber of the submissions, significantly bolstered by generative AI, clearly illustrated that the distinction between a “proof of concept” and a “market-ready product” has effectively been dissolved.
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Raising the bar: From infrastructure to intent
The development of developer talent at Consensus has progressed steadily. In earlier years, hackathon entries frequently leaned towards highly technical aspects, creating faster consensus mechanisms or specialized scaling solutions that were not accessible to the average user.
This year, however, the standard has been elevated. Developers have transitioned into product creators, redirecting their focus from backend systems to the end user.
“The significant trend we have observed is that developers are now creating solutions that are genuinely usable by real people,” stated Phil Kwok, co-founder of EasyA. “We have witnessed a notable rise in the application layer. This may be the year of the horse in Asia, but it’s certainly the year of the application layer in blockchain.”
This emphasis on User Experience (UX) was apparent in the advanced utilization of “passkeys,” technologies from iOS and Android that enable users to log into Web3 applications without the hassle of 24-word seed phrases, according to Kwok. By eliminating these traditional “clicks” and obstacles, developers are finally delivering products that resemble the apps people use on a daily basis.
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The Winners’ Circle
The judges recognized projects that emphasized automation, security, and risk management, three fundamental components vital for the forthcoming wave of retail engagement, explained Kwok.
First place: FoundrAI ($2,500)
Claiming the top position was FoundrAI, an autonomous AI agent designed to function as a “startup in a box.” The platform not only initiates token launches; it oversees the entire project lifecycle, including the recruitment of human developers to execute the product. It offers a thought-provoking perspective on the future of decentralized labor.
Second place: SentinelFi ($1,750)
Tackling the ongoing “rug-pull” issue in the industry, SentinelFi delivers real-time safety ratings for cryptocurrency traders. By conducting a six-category on-chain analysis, the tool aids users in identifying scam tokens prior to investing—an essential service given the surge in token launches.
Third Place: PumpStop ($1,000)
PumpStop completed the top three with a non-custodial trading layer focused on risk management. Utilizing state-channel instant execution, it enables traders to establish stop-loss orders with on-chain proofs, providing professional-grade trading functionalities in a decentralized setting without compromising custody.
The evolution of the ‘show floor’
The expansion of the hackathon signifies a broader transformation in the Consensus philosophy. Once a predominantly corporate event, it has increasingly woven the “builder” culture into its fabric. Dom Kwok, co-founder of EasyA, remarked that the hackathon has transitioned from secondary spaces to the heart of the exhibition floor.
“Historically, every hackathon we host grows larger,” Dom stated. “It occupies an increasing portion of the conference floor each year. We even had someone travel from San Diego just to observe the projects being developed.”
Despite the often “discouraging” macroeconomic climate reflected in token valuations, the atmosphere in Hong Kong remained persistently optimistic. Organizers highlighted that while interest rates and Federal Reserve policies influence market trends, the builders are concentrating on the 93% of the global population that has yet to adopt cryptocurrency. The route to that next billion users appears to be constructed by developers who have finally recognized that usability is the paramount feature, Dom noted.
Phil and Dom expressed their anticipation for Consensus Miami 2026 to witness how much further the standards will be elevated and how many additional developers will join with unexpectedly innovative ideas.
