About GWDC
GWDC (Global Web3 Developer Conference) is a premier global technology event connecting developers, technology leaders and innovative companies worldwide. By bringing together partners across the industry ecosystem, GWDC fosters cross-sector collaboration and turns emerging technologies into practical innovation.
Organised by Web3Labs and co-organised by Techub News, Hypai Labs and TokenPost, this year’s conference will take place from September 8 to 30 at the aT Center in Seoul, South Korea. The event is expected to welcome 8,000+ attendees, 500+ core developers, nearly 100 exhibitors and 100+ investment institutions, with the ambition of building an AI × Web3 platform that connects a community of 10,000 participants.
Leading Voices from Government, Business and Technology
GWDC 2026 KOREA is bringing together distinguished figures from government, industry, finance and research. Confirmed attendees include Koo Yun-cheol, South Korea’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance; Min Byoung-dug, Member of the National Assembly of South Korea; Johnny Ng, Member of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong; and Suk-hun Yoon, Chairman of the Asia Economic Development Committee. They will share perspectives on the global digital economy, regulatory compliance, governance and technological innovation.
The conference will also feature prominent industry and institutional representatives, including Caspar Wong, CEO of Web3Labs; Lee Jae-won, CEO of Bithumb; Kwon Hyuk-il, Founder of NAVER and Chairman of the Happybean Foundation; Justin Sun, Founder of TRON; Shin Won-geun, CEO of Kakao Pay; Ryan Li, Deputy General Manager of Digital Business for Microsoft Greater China; Evan Auyang, Group President of Animoca Brands; Ella Zhang, Managing Partner and Head of YZi Labs; and Jack Kong, Founder and Chairman of Nano Labs. Together, they will explore the convergence of Web3 and AI and the real-world adoption of emerging technologies.
About the GWDC Hackathon
A central part of the conference, the GWDC 2026 KOREA Hackathon is now accepting applications from builders worldwide. Guided by the ethos “For Builders, By Builders”, the hackathon provides a platform for teams to develop ideas, build products and connect with the wider ecosystem.
This year’s hackathon will feature challenges across up to five public blockchain ecosystems, with a total prize pool exceeding US$100,000. TRON has already joined as an ecosystem supporter, while Microsoft, a leading global cloud provider, will provide computing and cloud resources to support participating teams throughout development, testing and deployment. Applications remain open to teams at all stages of development.
The hackathon will also host a 48-hour in-person final in Seoul. All teams are welcome to join the on-site competition, refine their projects in an intensive development environment and connect directly with developers, leading investors and industry leaders from around the world. Winners will be announced on site, opening the door to further ecosystem collaboration and brand visibility.
1. GWDC 2026 KOREA Hackathon at a Glance
Dates: September 28–30, 2026
Venue: aT Center, Seoul
Format: In-person coding and Demo Day
Prizes and support: US$50,000 in cash prizes, plus ecosystem resources valued at US$50,000
2. Hackathon Schedule: A 48-Hour Challenge
The hackathon comprises online registration followed by on-site development and the final. All times below are in Korea Standard Time (KST). Teams should plan ahead to meet the relevant deadlines.
Online Team Registration
August 25–September 25
Form your team and submit your registration.
On-site Kick-off
September 28, 17:00–20:00
The opening session will feature introductions from participating blockchain ecosystems, technical talks and challenge briefings led by ecosystem and technical leads. Participants can also collect their developer welcome packs.
On-site Coding
September 28, 20:00–September 30, 11:00
Teams will develop their projects, optimise their technology and refine their products in response to the ecosystem challenges.
Project Submission Deadline
Before 12:00 on September 30
Innovation Stage: Project Showcase and Awards Ceremony
September 30, 15:00–17:00
Judging and Project Showcase
The judging panel will include C-suite executives, technical and ecosystem leads from participating public blockchain ecosystems, alongside representatives from leading venture capital firms. Projects will be evaluated on site.
Selected teams will have the opportunity to present on the Innovation Stage and engage directly with investors and ecosystem partners to explore potential investment and collaboration opportunities.
3. Participant Benefits and Ecosystem Support
(1) US$50,000 in Cash Prizes + US$50,000 in Ecosystem Resources
Winning projects will be eligible for cash prizes of up to US$50,000 and ecosystem resources valued at up to US$50,000.
(2) Microsoft Azure Credits
Eligible projects may receive Microsoft Azure credits for up to six months of free cloud services, supporting project development, testing and deployment.
(3) Web3Labs Global Acceleration Opportunities
Winning projects will receive priority consideration for the Web3Labs 2026 Global Acceleration Programme and its incubation pipeline, with opportunities for continued project development and ecosystem support.
(4) Industry Connections and Investor Access
Participants will have opportunities to connect with experienced industry professionals, leading companies and top-tier venture capital firms, building relationships for investment, ecosystem collaboration and business development.
(5) Global Media and Marketing Exposure
Winning projects will receive ongoing media coverage and marketing support through global media and community channels, helping strengthen their visibility and industry presence.
4. Participation Requirements
(1) Public GitHub Repository
Each project must submit a publicly accessible GitHub code repository.
(2) Demo Video
Teams must submit a project demo video of no more than three minutes.
(3) Project Overview and Pitch Deck
A comprehensive project overview and pitch deck are required.
(4) Live Presentation
Teams shortlisted for the final must present their projects live on the Innovation Stage.
(5) Team Size
Each team may have a maximum of five members.
Teams may choose to participate online or travel to Seoul for the on-site programme, depending on their circumstances. Final submissions must include all required materials listed above and meet the published deadlines.
5. Registration and Official Channels
Hackathon details and tracks:
www.gwdc.net/hackathon.html
Developer registration:
Register here
Official Telegram community:
Join GWDC Global
Please select the registration channel applicable to your team. If you are not registering through a partner university or community, select “Other”. Full details of the tracks and challenges will be announced in mid-September.
A Global Network of Partners and Collaborators
GWDC 2026 KOREA has connected with leading industry brands, media organisations, AI and Web3 communities, and blockchain associations at prominent universities around the world.
Through joint brand initiatives, coordinated media coverage, community outreach and university ecosystem collaboration, this network will support the global promotion of the conference and hackathon as GWDC works towards bringing together a community of 10,000 participants.
Technological innovation goes beyond code. It brings new ideas to life. The GWDC 2026 KOREA Hackathon aims to provide an open platform where builders worldwide can create, exchange ideas and connect their innovations with real-world applications.
We look forward to welcoming builders from around the world to Seoul. Let’s make the world more exciting through code.
About Web3Labs
Web3Labs is a leading Web3 incubator and gateway for startups. In support of the Hong Kong SAR Government’s policy initiatives, it helps Web3 companies worldwide establish a presence in Hong Kong and connect with international markets through market-entry services, investment and acceleration, technology partnerships and compliance support.
Web3Labs has launched a US$10 million Global Acceleration Programme and established strategic partnerships with leading international organisations, including Neo, Zetrix, ICP, KuCoin Labs, TON and TRON, to provide comprehensive support for high-potential Web3 projects.
