IOTA Launches MOVEATHON Hackathon Series to Kickstart the Year of Building

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The IOTA Foundation has officially launched MOVEATHON, a new global series of virtual hackathons designed to ignite innovation across its upcoming protocol upgrade. Set to unfold throughout 2025, this ambitious initiative marks the beginning of what IOTA calls the “Year of Building” — a pivotal chapter in its evolution as one of the longest-standing distributed ledger technologies (DLT) in the Web3 space.

MOVEATHON invites developers, builders, and innovators worldwide to explore the powerful capabilities of IOTA’s next-generation network, which is being rebuilt using the Move programming language. The first edition will run from March to June 2025, culminating in an in-person grand finale in Singapore, where top teams will showcase their solutions for a chance to win a share of the $150,000 prize pool.

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The Evolution of IOTA: A Protocol Reimagined

IOTA is undergoing its most transformative upgrade yet. As it transitions to a fully decentralized, high-performance blockchain-like architecture, the reimagined protocol introduces groundbreaking features that position it at the forefront of Web3 infrastructure:

By combining the security and flexibility of Move — originally developed by Meta for Diem — with Ethereum Virtual Machine compatibility, IOTA enables developers to build scalable, secure, and interoperable applications across multiple environments. This hybrid approach opens doors for broader adoption in decentralized finance, real-world asset tokenization, AI-integrated dApps, and beyond.

Under the guidance of the IOTA Foundation based in Berlin, the project continues its mission of bridging digital innovation with tangible real-world impact. Collaborations with institutions like the World Economic Forum, Tony Blair Institute for Global Change, and various national governments underscore its commitment to responsible, scalable technology deployment.

Inside the MOVEATHON: Structure, Tracks & Incentives

MOVEATHON isn’t just another hackathon — it’s a year-long global movement aimed at accelerating the development of use cases that leverage IOTA’s upgraded capabilities. The inaugural event provides a structured pathway for builders to innovate, collaborate, and compete on an international stage.

Key Dates & Participation Flow

Participants are encouraged to form teams or join solo, with access to technical documentation, developer toolkits, and live support during the build phase.

Prize Pool Breakdown

A total of $150,000 in prizes will be distributed across multiple categories:

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Four Innovation Tracks to Shape the Future

MOVEATHON is structured around four key focus areas, each targeting high-impact domains within Web3 and decentralized systems.

🏦 Payments & Consumer Applications: Redefining Digital Transactions

This track challenges developers to reimagine how people send, receive, and spend digital value. Using IOTA’s Move VM, builders can create frictionless payment experiences — from microtransactions and cross-border remittances to embedded commerce solutions.

Ideal projects might include wallet integrations with smart spending logic, privacy-preserving payment layers, or social payment platforms leveraging digital identity.

🌍 Real-World Asset Applications: Bridging Physical and Digital

One of IOTA’s core strengths lies in connecting physical assets with blockchain systems through digital twins and tokenization. This track invites developers to build solutions that bring real-world data — such as supply chain logs, energy meter readings, or ownership records — onto the ledger securely and efficiently.

Use cases could span sustainable agriculture tracking, carbon credit systems, or decentralized property registries powered by IoT sensors.

💸 DeF(A)i: Merging Decentralized Finance with Artificial Intelligence

Short for Decentralized Finance with AI, this track explores how machine learning and autonomous agents can enhance financial protocols. Developers are encouraged to integrate AI models into lending platforms, prediction markets, risk assessment engines, or algorithmic trading bots.

Imagine a DeFi protocol that uses on-chain analytics and off-chain data to dynamically adjust interest rates or detect anomalies in real time — all running autonomously on IOTA’s secure infrastructure.

🛠 Tools & Infrastructure: Building the Foundation for Tomorrow

The future of Web3 depends on robust tooling. This track focuses on developer experience — including SDKs, testing frameworks, monitoring dashboards, wallet connectors, or cross-chain bridges.

Projects here should aim to lower entry barriers for new developers while enhancing scalability and security for advanced users.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: Who can participate in MOVEATHON?
A: Developers, designers, product thinkers, and innovators from around the world are welcome. Whether you're an experienced blockchain engineer or a newcomer eager to learn Move and DLT fundamentals, there's a place for you.

Q: Is prior experience with Move or IOTA required?
A: Not necessarily. While familiarity helps, educational resources and workshops will be provided to help teams get started quickly. The Discord server will also host live Q&A sessions with core contributors.

Q: Can I join remotely?
A: Yes! The majority of the hackathon takes place online. Only finalists invited to Singapore will need to attend in person (travel support may be available).

Q: What happens after the hackathon ends?
A: Winning projects may receive ongoing mentorship, funding opportunities via IOTA Ecosystem Accelerator programs, and integration pathways into live networks.

Q: How are submissions judged?
A: Criteria include technical complexity, originality, usability, alignment with IOTA’s vision, and potential for real-world impact.

Q: Are there any restrictions on team size?
A: Teams can range from individuals to groups of up to five members.

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Final Thoughts: A Gateway to the Next Era of Web3

With MOVEATHON, IOTA isn’t just hosting a competition — it’s catalyzing a global shift toward scalable, sustainable, and inclusive digital infrastructure. By empowering developers with cutting-edge tools and substantial incentives, the foundation is laying the groundwork for a new wave of innovation that bridges finance, AI, IoT, and real-world applications.

If you’re ready to shape the future of decentralized technology — whether through code, design, or visionary thinking — now is the time to get involved.

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