August 2025 — The World Computer Hacker League (WCHL) 2025, a global hackathon initiative led by the ICP HUBS Network, has officially entered its National Round, which runs from August 1 to 31, 2025.

Designed to identify, support, and showcase top developer talent within the Internet Computer Protocol (ICP) ecosystem, WCHL 2025 is more than just a competition—it is also a launchpad for groundbreaking applications and long-term innovation. The initiative spans four months, aiming to drive technical excellence, foster collaboration among developers on a global scale, and expand the global ICP developer community. 

The National Round marks a critical phase, where selected teams further develop their ideas into functional MVPs. Participants will benefit from weekly mentorship, access to technical workshops, and expert feedback designed to help them refine their products and prepare for the next stages of the competition. This phase not only emphasizes execution and scalability, but also deepens engagement with the broader ICP ecosystem through collaboration and exposure.

“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.”

The recently concluded Qualification Round–the WCHL’s first phase–received an overwhelming response, with 11,774 registrations and 1,554 project submissions from developers across the globe. Participants were invited to build within one of five core tracks:

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

By offering distinct focus areas, these tracks open up a range of opportunities for builders to innovate across both cutting-edge and established sectors within the Web3 space. Qualified projects covered a variety of use cases, from decentralized finance and AI tools to gaming, governance, and infrastructure solutions. They showcased the growing maturity and creativity of the ICP builder community. During the Qualification Round, 51 standout projects were awarded prizes. They were selected for uniqueness in innovation, real world applicability, technical strength, and alignment with the vision of the ICP ecosystem.

Following a thorough evaluation, 50% of projects successfully advanced from the Qualification to the National Round. In this phase, teams will continue developing their projects with a strong focus on delivering viable MVPs (Minimum Viable Products). The top 30% will then advance to the next stage – the Regional Round, which brings together the strongest teams from each nation to compete on a continental level. Finally, the best-performing projects will progress to the Global Finale, where they will showcase their work and compete for top honors and prizes on a world stage.

About Internet Computer

The Internet Computer (ICP) represents a fully decentralized Web3 cloud platform, enabling developers to deploy code directly onto the blockchain without relying on servers or centralized infrastructure. This fast, cost-efficient, and highly scalable protocol redefines the operational paradigm of a decentralized Web3 platform. ICP offers the same functionalities as centralized clouds but with economically efficient computation, heightened security, and rapid processing speeds intrinsic to decentralized technology.

For more information, please visit: https://wchl25.worldcomputer.com/