Imagine a world where sending money to another country, between different digital wallets, was as simple as sending an email. Universal, instant, and frictionless. Sounds good, right? The reality is that, despite advancements, payments in our region are still broken: closed ecosystems that don’t communicate, high fees that hold back small businesses, and millions of people still excluded from the system.
To solve this, the Interledger Foundation, in partnership with Finnosummit, is bringing its annual Interledger Hackathon to Mexico City on November 8th and 9th, 2025. This isn’t just a competition; it’s an open invitation to entrepreneurs, developers, and banking leaders to be part of the solution.
5 Reasons the Interledger Hackathon Belongs on Your Calendar
1. Solve a problem that matters (and Is worth millions)
This hackathon aims to tackle real problems that cost money and hinder growth. Think of remittance costs, the lack of interoperability between wallets, or the exclusion of unbanked communities. You’ll work on solutions with massive market potential.
2. Master the technology defining the future of payments
While others talk about innovation, here you will build it. The event focuses on Interledger’s Open Payments API. You’ll learn to master it directly from the foundation’s experts—a powerful competitive edge for your knowledge base that can streamline your startup or company.
3. Turn an idea Into a business (with cash prizes)
A 24-hour hackathon is an incubator in turbo mode. It’s the perfect place to prototype and validate an idea. Best of all, there’s a prize pool of up to $12,000 USD for the top teams, providing ideal seed capital to bring your project to life.
4. Connect with the Fintech ecosystem’s elite
An event of this caliber is a meeting point where the energy of students, the skill of developers, the vision of entrepreneurs, and the strategic experience of banking and Fintech leaders converge. This unique confluence creates an ecosystem of opportunity for everyone: a space to forge alliances, discover innovation, and co-create the solutions that will shape the future of the industry.
5. Gain visibility and validation that accelerate growth
Winning this hackathon is an immense seal of validation. It’s an opportunity to put your name and your project on the map of financial innovation in Latin America.
Your challenge, Your opportunity
The future of payments won’t wait. The question is: are you going to be a builder or a bystander? The Interledger Hackathon is your invitation to take a leading role.
You can apply to the hackathon as an individual or with a team of up to four people. Don’t have a team yet? No worries—you can join our Slack channel and go to #interledger-hackathon-2025 to connect with other participants.
Before you apply: Key rules and details
To ensure a great experience for everyone, please keep the following in mind:
- Who: Participants must be 18 years of age or older.
- Location: This is a fully in-person event taking place in Mexico City on November 8-9, 2025. There is no remote option, and attendance on both full days is mandatory.
- Equipment: You must bring your own laptop and necessary chargers, as no equipment will be provided.
- The Challenge: Your project must be started and completed during the 24-hour event. All code must be original to the hackathon and incorporate Interledger technology.
- Application: Participation is free, but spaces are limited. If you are offered a spot, you must confirm your attendance within 3 days.
- Costs: Please note that travel and accommodation expenses are not covered by the event organizers.
- What you’re competing for
Bring your best ideas and compete for a share of the prize pool, including:
- 1st Place: $5,000 USD (or its equivalent in vouchers)
- 2nd Place: $3,500 USD (or its equivalent in vouchers)
- 3rd Place: $2,000 USD (or its equivalent in vouchers)
All prizes are divided equally among team members.
If you’re curious about the hackathon and want a deeper understanding of the Interledger world, consider joining us at the Interledger Summit on November 5–6. It’s the perfect opportunity to explore the technology, meet the community, and gain inspiration for your future projects.
For a complete overview of the rules, judging criteria, and intellectual property guidelines, please review the full Terms and Conditions before applying.
The call for applications is open until October 27th, 2025. Don’t wait, apply as soon as possible and join the community changing the rules of the financial game.