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🔥 The Nexis Forge: AI x DeFi Builder Summit

Program Status

LIVE NOW - Rolling monthly submissions with $420,000+ total prize poolNext Judging: February 15, 2025 | Final Submission: February 10, 2025
Welcome to The Nexis Forge - where the world’s best developers forge the future of AI x Blockchain. This isn’t just another hackathon. It’s a builder summit designed to onboard the next wave of Web3, DeFi, and AI innovators to the first Layer-2 blockchain purpose-built for verifiable AI inference and autonomous agent coordination.
What Makes The Forge Different:
  • 🎯 8 Specialized Tracks - From AI agents to DeFi protocols to cross-chain bridges
  • 💰 $420,000+ Prize Pool - Largest AI x Blockchain hackathon in 2025
  • 🏗️ Milestone-Based Rewards - Get paid for hitting development milestones
  • 🤝 Elite Mentorship - Direct access to core team + VC partners
  • 🚀 Post-Hackathon Support - Top teams get grants, audits, and VC intros
  • ⚡ Fast-Track to Production - Built-in infrastructure for mainnet launch

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Why Build on Nexis?

Unlike traditional L1s or generic L2s, Nexis Appchain is purpose-built for AI:

Proof-of-Inference

Every AI inference cryptographically verified on-chain

2-Second Finality

Lightning-fast blocks for real-time AI applications

Economic Security

Stake-backed AI agents with slashing for misbehavior

Reputation System

Multi-dimensional on-chain reputation for AI quality

Task Marketplace

Built-in marketplace for AI task execution

Full EVM Compat

Deploy any Solidity contract - plus AI-native features
The Opportunity: The AI x Crypto market is projected to reach $10B+ by 2026. Early builders who establish on Nexis will capture significant market share in this explosive sector.

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🏆 Prize Structure - $420,000+ Total

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Track Prizes (8 Tracks x Multiple Winners)

Track1st Place2nd Place3rd PlaceTotal Pool
🤖 AI Agent Arena$40,000$20,000$15,000$75,000
💎 DeFi Innovation Lab$40,000$20,000$15,000$75,000
🌉 Cross-Chain Catalyst$25,000$15,000$10,000$50,000
🎨 NFT & Creator Economy$20,000$12,000$8,000$40,000
🛠️ Infrastructure & Tooling$20,000$12,000$8,000$40,000
🏛️ DAO & Governance$15,000$10,000$5,000$30,000
💵 Stablecoin & Payments$15,000$10,000$5,000$30,000
✨ UX & Onboarding$15,000$10,000$5,000$30,000

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Grand Prizes (Cross-Track)

🏆 Grand Prize

$50,000 - Best overall project across all tracks

🌟 AI Innovation Award

$25,000 - Most creative use of proof-of-inference

⚡ Speed to Market

$15,000 - Most production-ready project

👥 Community Choice

$10,000 - Winner of community voting

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Milestone Rewards (Submit Early, Get Paid)

First 10 teams to submit a working prototype with deployed contracts:
  • **1,000each∗∗(1,000 each** (10,000 total)
  • Early feedback from judges
  • Priority mentor matching
Requirements:
  • Smart contracts deployed to Nexis testnet
  • Basic frontend or API
  • GitHub repo with README
First 10 teams to complete full Nexis integration (agents, tasks, or subscriptions):
  • **2,000each∗∗(2,000 each** (20,000 total)
  • Technical review session
  • Infrastructure credit bonus
Requirements:
  • Uses at least one AI Agent economics contract
  • Proof-of-inference implementation
  • Full documentation
First 5 teams to achieve mainnet-ready status:
  • **3,000each∗∗(3,000 each** (15,000 total)
  • Security audit credit ($5,000 value)
  • VC pitch deck review
Requirements:
  • Passes security checklist
  • User testing completed
  • Go-to-market plan

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Special Recognition Awards

  • 🥇 Best Solo Builder: $5,000
  • 👨‍🎓 Best Student Team: $5,000
  • 🆕 Best First-Time Blockchain Builder: $3,000
  • 🌍 Best International Team: $3,000
  • ♀️ Best Women-Led Team: $3,000
  • 🎓 Best Academic Research Application: $3,000
Total Prize Pool: $420,000+

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🎯 Complete Track Breakdown

Due to the extensive detail required for each track (40+ project ideas with full specifications), the complete track documentation including:
  • Track 1: AI Agent Arena (Trading bots, content platforms, oracles, auditors, multi-agent systems)
  • Track 2: DeFi Innovation Lab (Lending, DEXs, liquidity managers, options, yield optimizers)
  • Track 3: Cross-Chain Catalyst (Bridges, messaging, liquidity aggregation, NFT bridges)
  • Track 4: NFT & Creator Economy (Generative NFTs, dynamic NFTs, marketplaces, music NFTs)
  • Track 5: Infrastructure & Tooling (SDKs, testing frameworks, analytics, explorers, monitoring)
  • Track 6: DAO & Governance (AI-advised governance, reputation systems, treasury management)
  • Track 7: Stablecoin & Payments (Stablecoins, payment gateways, remittance, savings accounts)
  • Track 8: UX & Onboarding (Smart wallets, no-code builders, on-ramps, tutorials)
For the complete detailed breakdown with 5+ project ideas per track, technical specifications, judging criteria, and code examples, visit: The Nexis Forge Complete Guide (Coming Soon)

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Quick Track Overview

  • AI Agent Arena
  • DeFi Innovation
  • Cross-Chain
  • NFT & Creator
  • Infrastructure
  • DAO & Governance
  • Stablecoin & Payments
  • UX & Onboarding
Build autonomous AI agents with proof-of-inferencePrize Pool: $75,000Example Projects:
  • Autonomous DeFi portfolio manager
  • Verifiable AI content marketplace
  • Predictive oracle network
  • AI-powered code auditor
  • Multi-agent task swarm
Key Tech: Agents.sol, Tasks.sol, OpenAI/Anthropic APIs, LangGraph

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📋 Submission Requirements

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Mandatory Deliverables

1

Smart Contracts

  • Deployed to Nexis testnet (mainnet optional but +10 bonus points)
  • Verified on block explorer
  • Open-source (MIT, Apache 2.0, or GPL)
  • Test coverage >50% (>80% preferred)
2

Frontend/Interface

  • Live demo with working wallet connection
  • Mobile-responsive
  • Error handling and loading states
  • User-friendly UX
3

GitHub Repository

  • Public repo with full source code
  • Comprehensive README (see template below)
  • Installation and deployment instructions
  • Architecture documentation
4

Demo Video

  • 3-5 minute walkthrough
  • Problem statement and solution
  • Live demo of key features
  • Upload to YouTube or Loom
5

Submission Form

Complete at nexis.network/forge/submit

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README Template

# Project Name

**Tagline** - One sentence describing your project

## 🎯 Problem Statement
What problem does this solve?

## 💡 Solution
How does your project solve it?

## 🏗️ Architecture
- Smart Contracts: List and purpose
- Frontend: Tech stack
- AI Integration: Models and proof-of-inference

## 🚀 Getting Started

### Installation
```bash
git clone https://github.com/yourteam/project
pnpm install
cp .env.example .env
pnpm dev

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📝 Contract Addresses

  • Testnet: 0x…
  • Mainnet: 0x…

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🎬 Demo

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👥 Team

  • Alice - Smart Contracts
  • Bob - Frontend
  • Carol - AI/ML

---

## 🏆 Judging Process

### Timeline

<Steps>
  <Step title="Submission Deadline - Feb 10, 2025">
    All materials due by 11:59 PM EST
  </Step>
  <Step title="Initial Screening - Feb 11-12">
    Technical verification and eligibility check
  </Step>
  <Step title="Technical Review - Feb 12-14">
    Core developers evaluate code and architecture (50% of score)
  </Step>
  <Step title="Panel Judging - Feb 14-15">
    5-judge panel scores innovation and impact (40% of score)
  </Step>
  <Step title="Community Voting - Feb 13-15">
    Public votes for Community Choice (10% of score)
  </Step>
  <Step title="Winner Announcement - Feb 17">
    Live event at 10am EST
  </Step>
  <Step title="Prize Distribution - Feb 20">
    USDC sent to winners
  </Step>
</Steps>

### Scoring Rubric

Projects scored 0-100 points based on:

**Track-Specific Criteria (60 points)** - Varies by track
- Example (AI Arena): AI Innovation 30%, Proof-of-Inference 25%, Economic Model 20%

**Universal Criteria (40 points)**
- Code Quality: 10 points
- User Experience: 10 points
- Completeness: 10 points
- Presentation: 5 points
- Innovation: 5 points

**Bonus Points (up to +20)**
- Mainnet deployment: +10
- Security audit: +10
- Open source contributions: +5
- Ecosystem integration: +5
- Exceptional documentation: +5

---

## 🎓 Resources & Support

### Developer Resources

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Documentation" icon="book" href="/introduction">
    Complete technical docs
  </Card>
  <Card title="Tutorials" icon="graduation-cap" href="/tutorials/deploy-contract">
    12+ step-by-step guides
  </Card>
  <Card title="Code Examples" icon="code" href="https://github.com/nexis-network/examples">
    20+ example projects
  </Card>
  <Card title="API Reference" icon="brackets-curly" href="/api-reference/introduction">
    Complete API documentation
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

### Infrastructure Credits

All participants receive:

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="RPC Credits" icon="server">
    $500 in free RPC calls
  </Card>
  <Card title="AI API Credits" icon="brain">
    $200 in AI credits
  </Card>
  <Card title="Storage Credits" icon="database">
    100GB IPFS storage
  </Card>
  <Card title="Hosting Credits" icon="cloud">
    1 year free hosting
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

### Mentorship Program

<Accordion title="Weekly Office Hours">
  Every Thursday at 2pm EST with Nexis core team

  [Zoom Link](https://nexis.network/officehours)
</Accordion>

<Accordion title="1-on-1 Mentor Matching">
  Top 50 projects get dedicated mentors

  Apply at [nexis.network/forge/mentor](https://nexis.network/forge/mentor)
</Accordion>

<Accordion title="Discord Support">
  24/7 community support in #forge channels

  <2 hour average response time

  [Join Discord](https://discord.gg/nexis)
</Accordion>

### Post-Hackathon Support

Top teams receive:

<Steps>
  <Step title="Follow-On Grants">
    Up to $250,000 for continued development
  </Step>
  <Step title="Security Audits">
    $50,000 in audit credits from top firms
  </Step>
  <Step title="VC Introductions">
    Direct intros to 15+ partner VCs
  </Step>
  <Step title="Accelerator Fast-Track">
    Priority admission to Alliance DAO, Kernel, etc.
  </Step>
  <Step title="Marketing Support">
    Blog posts, social amplification, PR support
  </Step>
</Steps>

---

## 💬 Community

### Official Channels

<CardGroup cols={3}>
  <Card title="Discord" icon="discord" href="https://discord.gg/nexis">
    Primary hub - 10,000+ members
  </Card>
  <Card title="Twitter" icon="twitter" href="https://twitter.com/nexis_network">
    Use #NexisForge
  </Card>
  <Card title="GitHub" icon="github" href="https://github.com/nexis-network">
    Code and examples
  </Card>
  <Card title="Telegram" icon="telegram" href="https://t.me/nexis_forge">
    Quick updates
  </Card>
  <Card title="YouTube" icon="youtube" href="https://youtube.com/nexisnetwork">
    Tutorials and workshops
  </Card>
  <Card title="Email" icon="envelope" href="mailto:forge@nexis.network">
    forge@nexis.network
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

---

## ❓ FAQ

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Can I submit to multiple tracks?">
    No, choose one primary track. However, you'll be considered for Grand Prize across all tracks.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Can I use existing code?">
    Yes, but clearly attribute it. Judges evaluate YOUR contributions.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Do I need mainnet deployment?">
    No, testnet is fine. Mainnet = +10 bonus points.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Can I be a solo builder?">
    Yes! You're eligible for "Best Solo Builder" award ($5,000).
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Can I keep developing after submission?">
    Yes! Judges evaluate your submission at the deadline. Post-deadline work shows commitment.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="What if I don't win?">
    You still get: infrastructure credits, judge feedback, community exposure, potential grants.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Are international teams welcome?">
    Yes! All countries except OFAC-sanctioned nations.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="How are prizes distributed?">
    USDC on Ethereum mainnet. KYC required for $10,000+ prizes.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

---

## 🚀 Get Started

<Steps>
  <Step title="Join Discord">
    Introduce yourself in #hackathon channel
  </Step>
  <Step title="Read Docs">
    Familiarize yourself with Nexis architecture
  </Step>
  <Step title="Explore Examples">
    Review tutorials and code samples
  </Step>
  <Step title="Get Testnet Tokens">
    Use the faucet to get testnet NZT
  </Step>
  <Step title="Start Building">
    Deploy your first contract
  </Step>
  <Step title="Submit Project">
    Complete form when ready
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Card title="Submit Your Project" icon="paper-plane" href="https://nexis.network/forge/submit">
  Ready to forge the future? Submit now.
</Card>

---

## 📜 Legal & Rules

### Eligibility

<Warning>
**Not eligible:**
- Nexis Labs employees/contractors (within 6 months)
- Immediate family of Nexis team
- Minors without parental consent
- Residents of OFAC-sanctioned countries
</Warning>

### Intellectual Property

- You retain all IP rights
- Must be open-source (MIT, Apache 2.0, or GPL)
- You grant Nexis right to showcase (with attribution)

### Disqualification

Instant DQ for:
- Plagiarism or IP theft
- Malicious code
- Missing deliverables
- Late submission
- Harassment or cheating

### Prize Terms

- Paid in USDC or ETH
- You're responsible for taxes
- KYC required for $10,000+ prizes
- Prizes may be forfeited if unable to complete KYC

See full [Terms of Service](https://nexis.network/terms) for details.

---

## 🔨 FORGE THE FUTURE

<Card title="The Nexis Forge Is Live" icon="hammer" color="#0D6B93">
  **$420,000 in prizes. 8 tracks. Unlimited potential.**

  🎯 Deadline: February 10, 2025

  💰 Grand Prize: $50,000

  🏆 Track Prizes: $75,000 each (AI & DeFi)

  [Submit Project](https://nexis.network/forge/submit) | [Join Discord](https://discord.gg/nexis) | [View Leaderboard](https://nexis.network/forge/leaderboard)
</Card>

**The forge is hot. The metal is ready. All that's missing is your vision.**

### FORGE THE FUTURE. BUILD ON NEXIS. WIN BIG. 🔥

---

<Note>
**Questions?** Email forge@nexis.network or ask in Discord #forge-general

**Report Issues:** [GitHub Issues](https://github.com/nexis-network/nexis-mintlify-docs/issues)
</Note>

**Last Updated:** January 15, 2025