The World Computer Hacker League (WCHL) 2025, a global hackathon initiative led by the ICP HUBS Network, is moving full steam ahead with its multi-stage journey to uncover the brightest minds in Web3 development.

Following an overwhelming Qualification Round and an intense National Round that ran throughout August, the Regional Round has now officially commenced, bringing together the strongest teams from each participating country to compete on a continental level. This phase marks a significant milestone in the four-month-long event, setting the stage for the Global Finale.

WCHL 2025 is designed to identify, support, and showcase top developer talent within the Internet Computer Protocol (ICP) ecosystem. More than just a competition, it serves as a launchpad for groundbreaking applications and long-term innovation, aiming to drive technical excellence, foster global collaboration, and expand the worldwide ICP developer community.

From Qualification to Regional Competition
The recently concluded Qualification Round, WCHL’s first phase, received a record-breaking 11,774 registrations and 1,554 project submissions from developers across the globe. Participants built within five core tracks:

• Bitcoin DeFi
• AI
• Fully On-Chain Applications
• Real-World Assets (RWA)
• Open Track

These tracks created opportunities for innovation across cutting-edge and established Web3 sectors. Projects spanned decentralized finance, AI-driven tools, gaming, governance, and infrastructure, demonstrating the growing maturity and creativity of the ICP builder ecosystem. During this phase, 51 standout projects were awarded for their uniqueness, real-world applicability, technical strength, and alignment with the vision of the ICP ecosystem.

Following rigorous evaluation, 50% of projects advanced to the National Round, where teams transformed their ideas into functional MVPs (Minimum Viable Products) through mentorship, technical workshops, and expert feedback. From there, the top 30% progressed to the now-active Regional Round, where continental-level competition has begun, setting the stage for the most promising projects to compete for a place in the Global Finale.

What’s Next: The Global Finale
Winners from the Regional Round will move on to the Global Finale, where they will present their projects on a world stage, compete for top honours, and gain unmatched exposure within the Web3 ecosystem.

“WCHL gives developers what they’ve been asking for: real time to focus and build, real support from experts, and real pathways to growth,” said Emilio Canessa, Director of Global Adoption at DFINITY Foundation. “We’re not just running a hackathon; we’re creating the environment developers need to succeed. Most importantly, we want this event to be an unforgettable experience for tens of thousands of builders around the world.”

About Internet Computer
The Internet Computer (ICP) is a fully decentralized Web3 cloud platform that allows developers to deploy code directly onto the blockchain without relying on servers or centralized infrastructure. Fast, cost-efficient, and highly scalable, ICP redefines the operational paradigm of decentralized platforms by offering the same functionalities as centralized clouds, while delivering economical computation, enhanced security, and rapid processing speeds intrinsic to decentralized technology.