Two major players were dominating this space: XMTP and the Push protocol. Both projects had their merits, but Push seemed to be doing much more than just focusing on messaging. However, XMTP had the advantage of simplicity and ease of use.

Using XMTP was a breeze. All I had to do was authenticate my wallet through the client, pass my wallet parameters to a few functions, and messages were already flowing through the decentralized channel. During the conference, I witnessed its application in a local cafe, where you could order a cup of coffee and croissants and pay for it directly within the channel using USDC on the Polygon network. It was a remarkable demonstration of the technology's potential.

As I delved into the hackathon and started working on XMTP, one of the challenges we set for ourselves was sending an image. It may sound simple, but it turned out to be one of the more complex tasks. XMTP used end-to-end encryption, which meant that we had to upload the image to web3 storage units to ensure its security and integrity. It was a reminder of the decentralized and trustless nature of web3 technologies.

I couldn't help but be excited about the future of web3 messaging services. It had been a while since I had seen a chat client that exceeded everyone's wildest web3 dreams. The potential for secure, private, and decentralized communication through crypto wallets was just the beginning. I was eager to see where this technology would take us and what new innovations and applications would emerge in the world of web3 messaging.

My primary goal was to participate in the hackathon, and this one was a behemoth, boasting nearly 1500 attendees. Here's a glimpse of my experience at this grand event:

Team Formation

As I navigated the Discord channels, searching for potential collaborators, I found a group of individuals who shared my enthusiasm for building something groundbreaking. Despite the tight time constraints, we embarked on the journey together, brainstorming ideas and ultimately deciding to create a chatbot.

Choosing the Right Tech Stack

Selecting the tech stack was a pivotal decision, and we weighed the pros and cons of various protocols. After careful consideration, we narrowed our choices down to XMTP and the Push protocol. XMTP emerged as the preferred option due to its user-friendly SDK and the burgeoning ecosystem of companies building on top of it. We also incorporated Airstack for token discovery across networks and WalletConnect for web3 authentication.

Hacking Away

With only 36 hours to develop a minimum viable product (MVP), we entered into a sprint that redefined my understanding of what's achievable in a short span. The experience was exhilarating, and I marveled at the innovation that could emerge under such intense time pressure. However, our initial product idea left some loose ends, and it was unclear if it would find a place in the market.

Demo Morning Drama

When it was time to showcase our creation, our nerves were put to the test. Our first demo to the finalist group experienced a live hiccup, but we bounced back when presenting it to our partners. Sleep deprivation had never felt so intense, yet in the end, it added to the adventure.

Reaping the Rewards

One of the standout aspects of ETH Global is the incredible diversity of prizes available. We were fortunate to receive a partner prize from Airstack, which allowed us to query token holders in a truly creative way. It was a moment of triumph, affirming the dedication and hard work put into our project.

I'm immensely grateful to my team for sharing in this extraordinary journey, and I extend my heartfelt thanks to ETH Global for orchestrating such remarkable events that bring together the brightest minds in the Ethereum space from around the world. It's events like these that continue to push the boundaries of what's possible in the realm of decentralized innovation.

Amidst the connectivity hiccups, I found myself immersed in a whirlwind of ideas, projects, and passionate people. Three projects stood out among the rest and captured my attention:

F.A.S.T - The Selfie Wallet Magicians: These guys came up with something that felt like pure magic. Imagine taking a selfie, and poof, you have a crypto wallet with 0.01 MATIC deposited into it! And the kicker? You can send it to a friend by taking another picture together. The sheer brilliance of linking image recognition technology with wallet creation left me in awe. It's not every day you see such creative solutions in the crypto space. Check out their demo here.

MEVictim Rebate - Fighting Frontrunners: As someone who's dabbled in DeFi, I've heard my fair share about frontrunners on Uniswap. These guys took it upon themselves to tackle this problem head-on. Their project, MEVictim Rebate, provided a technical solution to identify victims of DeFi frontrunning on Uniswap. It was like watching the heroes of crypto defending the innocent from malicious forces. You can see their demo here.

FRAMED! - ZK Magic in Mafia: The FRAMED! team brought a fresh twist to the good old game of Mafia, demonstrating how zk-rollups could elevate traditional gaming experiences. It was a revelation, showing that complex concepts could be wrapped into familiar settings. This project made me realize the incredible potential of zk-rollups in everyday applications.

You can check out their demo here.

The New York ETH Global hackathon was nothing short of amazing. In less than 36 hours, these brilliant minds brought their ideas to life. It's a place where creativity knows no bounds, and people turn dreams into reality, even when the internet decides to be cryptic. It's a testament to the power of the Ethereum community and the sheer determination of hackers to push the boundaries of what's possible in the crypto world. It's a reminder that, despite the occasional connectivity hiccup, innovation flourishes when brilliant minds come together.