Hey Everyone 👋
Interested ZK, L2s, or just on how to further scale the Ethereum ecosystem? You’ll love hearing about StarkHack, our biggest hackathon focused on the Starknet ecosystem.
If you’re never heard about Starknet or its purpose, here is a quick primer:
Starknet is an L2 built with StarkWare’s zk-STARKs. As an L2, Starknet processes transactions off-chain and batch settles them on-chain in a single proof providing scale to the Ethereum network. Starknet dapps are built using a rust-based programming language called Cairo, which makes it easy for developers to build secure applications.
StarkHack 2024 has officially concluded and we were thrilled to see the passion and excitement of 530 talented developers from 66 countries joining us to push the boundaries of what’s possible in our very first hackathon focused on the Starknet ecosystem. With 151 outstanding project submissions and more than $150,000 USD in prizes and grants up for grabs, this event was truly unforgettable.
✂️ The tl;dr of StarkHack 2024
- 🙋♂️ Hackers: 530
- 🌎 Countries Represented: 66
- ⏰ Timezones: 21
- 👯 Ecosystem Partners & Mentors: 53
- 🚀 Projects Submitted: 151
- 🏆 Finalists: 7
- 💸 Prizes: $150,000+
Major Themes of StarkHack 2024 📈
Several major themes were captured in many of the project submissions, which represent the main opportunities present in the Starknet ecosystem and L2 scaling in general.
- As projects evolve, zero-knowledge proofs (ZKPs) and privacy has become crucial, with users demanding greater data security
- Gaming as a use case is making waves as game developers are able to incorporate ownership and tradability of in-game assets
- Onboarding the non crypto-native user and improving user experience and accessibility had also been seen as a strong trend
- DeFi as one of the first use cases remains vital
- Digital content and NFTs are back, and booming!
We will dive deeper into some of the finalist projects and how they hit one of these themes below.
StarkHack 2024 Kick-off & Summit 🚀
StarkHack 2024 began with a high-energy kickoff event, streamed live on ethglobal.tv with Kartik Talwar.
Kartik’s kick-off was followed with inspiring talks hosted by Starknet ecosystem leaders, giving hackers the context + tools they needed to hack.
Here’s a snapshot of some of some of the speakers and talks:
- 🎤 Eli Ben-Sasson discussed the future of STARK-based scaling
- 🎤 Ariel Elperin delved into the latest developments in Cairo
- 🎤 Louis Guthmann shared insights on launching Starknet
- 🎤 Tarrence highlighted the Dojo ecosystem and how to build open worlds on Starknet
- 🎤 Marcello Bardus discussed the verifiable internet with Herodotus
- 🎤 Alex Rushmere shared about how to build with smart wallets and native account abstraction
Week 1: Workshops, Team Formation, and more 🤓
The first week of StarkHack was dedicated to workshops, team formation and several project check-ins. Hackers got off to a strong start and used the mentor’s help to refine their project ideas.
Some popular workshops here:
- Scaffolding Web Apps on Starknet hosted by Starknet
- Counter Workshop hosted by the Starknet Foundation
Starknet’s developer-friendly tools, like the Cairo programming language and a scaffolding kit for building apps on Starknet were a central focus and made it easier for participants to get their ideas started.
Week 2: All About Building 🛠️
In the second week, hackers focused on crafting their submissions. Regular check-ins and feedback sessions helped teams refine their ideas and prepare for the deadline. The energy and creativity during this week were palpable, as hackers worked tirelessly to bring their visions to life using the Starknet ecosystem’s powerful builder tools.
StarkHack 2024 Finale 🎉
Two weeks of hard work later, hackers submitted their projects filled with excitement and anticipation on how they would be rated. Live judging from industry leaders followed, and they had the tough task of selecting the best projects from the 151 submissions!!
Check out the finale of StarkHack 2024, where the top 7 StarkHack finalists demo their projects:
The Finalists🏆
Seven standout finalists were chosen to demo their projects on Finale day!
👾 Chain Monsters
Chain Monsters: A turn-based RPG action game where players control monsters, engage in PvP battles, and move on a 5x8 grid
⚡️Zap
Zap: A mobile email wallet leveraging SecureEnclave, Account Abstraction, and TLSN proofs to bring a web2-like UX for web3
🛒 zkPages
zkPages: A zero-knowledge digital content single-page store fronts, enabling any user to create their own digital content store on StarkNet
🫡 Solas
Solas: An attestation system on Starknet, allowing anyone to create and sign any form of attestation with any arbitrary type of data
🌀 StarkSwirl
StarkSwirl: A privacy-preserving token mixer that allows users to use the public blockchain Starknet while keeping their privacy intact
🏰 zkKastle
zKastle: A solo strategy card game where players manage resources, upgrade the village, and make decisions to help their village grow
⚛️ 512 Karat
512 Karat: A fully on-chain generative art ERC-721 project made with Ohayo Dojo and Origami
Finalists and StarkHack Themes
The finalists all touched one of the major themes that were listed above:
- Zero-knowledge proofs (ZKPs) and privacy
- Gaming as a use case
- Improving user experience
- DeFi as a use case
- Digital content and NFTs
StarkSwirl focused on maintaining user privacy with a token mixer that ensures transactions remain confidential. zkPages created zero-knowledge digital content storefronts to enhance privacy and security, offering users a secure way to manage their digital assets.
Chain Monsters and zKastle are both strategy games which leveraged the Dojo engine and Catridge to create immersive experiences.
Zap focused on usability by building a mobile email wallet that delivers a web2-like user experience for web3. Solas developed an attestation system for arbitrarty data on StarkNet which ultimately helps DeFi use cases. 512 Karat created a fully on-chain generative art ERC-721 project showcasing the intersection of AI and NFTs.
Celebrating the StarkHack Community 🎊
Thank you to our epic partners (StarkWare, Starknet, Nethermind, Dynamic, Voyager, Token Flow, Cartridge, Herodotus, and Argent) who are leading the charge in defining the Starknet ecosystem.
We are excited to see projects built at StarkHack become live projects and make a massive impact in the Starknet ecosystem.
Up Next: ETHGlobal Brussels, July 12–14, 2024 🇧🇪
Join us in Brussels for another thrilling hackathon weekend. Apply now for ETHGlobal Brussels, and prepare for our biggest European hackathon, with over $500,000 in prizes. 🙀
Sign up now: ETHGlobal Brussels
See you soon, The ETHGlobal Team 💙
