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Indian Engineering Students Develop Blockchain-based Smart Voting System

Three Computer Engineering Students, from Malla Reddy Engineering College for Women, have created a Blockchain-based Voting System which will allow votes to be casted online, instead of the manual means of standing in a poll line. The Hindu BusinessLine published this report on Oct. 21.

The news stated that the students were driven by an impetus to further foster democratic processes and eliminate voting challenges in urban areas.

“The poll percentages in rural areas are always higher than that of urban areas. Long queues at the polling stations is one of the reasons. Post winning the hackathon, we have been asked to test the solution in gated communities. It is very safe as it is backed by Blockchain technology. It is very difficult to break into this,” said Shivani, who was part of the winning team Yodha from Malla Reddy Engineering College for Women.

The report noted that Jayesh Ranjan, Principal Secretary (IT and Industries), asked the Yodha team to present their concept to the State Election Commission with the goal of testing the blockchain solution within gated communities.

On April 15, LongHash reported that West Virginia, a state in America, will use Voatz, the mobile blockchain voting startup, in the US 2020 Presidential election.

In this regards Donald Kersey, the elections director and deputy legal counsel in the West Virginia Secretary of State’s Office commented thus:

“Using the Blockchain system makes more sense for the security of all data than relying on one server. The Blockchain offers a safer system. There are dozens of nodes that record data. In addition, data is encrypted in ways that are almost impossible to solve. It is illogical not to use it. when there is a system like that.”

Image via Shutterstock

OKX and Google Cloud Host Successful Hackathon for Decentralized Applications on OKT Chain

VICTORIA, SEYCHELLES, April 5th, 2023, Chainwire

OKX, the second largest crypto exchange by trading volume and a leading Web3 technology company, has teamed up with Google Cloud to host the OKX Hackathon to drive growth and innovation of the blockchain ecosystem. The three-day event, held in Silicon Valley, aimed to encourage developers to build decentralized applications on OKT Chain, a leading layer 1 blockchain built on Cosmos.

Over 200 attendees joined the hackathon, forming 46 teams and submitting 32 projects that showcased the potential of decentralized, blockchain-based applications to transform various industries.

The OKX Hackathon also aimed to build awareness of OKT Chain’s technology and infrastructure among the wider blockchain community. By bringing together like-minded individuals with a shared interest in blockchain technology, the event helped to foster a vibrant and engaged community of developers that can promote the growth of the OKT Chain ecosystem.

Meet the Winners

The top five projects were awarded prizes based on their innovation, utility, and potential to positively change the industry. The winning teams were as follows:

Lite OKX bridge

For many game and NFT users, a single purchase rarely exceeds $25. Existing bridges are focused on large payments, which makes them redundant in terms of security and with a high entry threshold (from $30-50). This project proposed technical solutions for bridging small payments, and aims to lower the entry threshold for those who want to explore the OKT Chain ecosystem.

Thanks to the Lite OKX bridge, users will be able to transfer $2-5 from USDT on Polygon to OKTC in 1-2 minutes without commissions. This will allow them to access all projects on OKTC in one click. Thanks to the SDK, sites will be able to natively support this bridge and the user won’t have to leave the site.

Hexlink

The Hexlink platform offers a significant benefit by eliminating the need for users to set up a wallet before receiving tokens. Hexlink makes OKT Chain more user-friendly and accessible as it eliminates a barrier to entry for potential users who may not be familiar with the process of setting up a wallet. It also provides greater flexibility and convenience for users who can set up their accounts and wallets at a later time, when it is more convenient for them. This approach encourages more individuals to participate in activities on OKT Chain, thus driving the user adoption of the chain.

OKX Guardian

OKX Guardian was inspired by the need for a more secure and transparent way of managing a person’s digital assets after their passing. While some may opt for a lawyer to handle their will and distribute their crypto assets, there are inherent risks in entrusting private keys to a third party. In the event of a security breach, the private keys could be compromised, putting the entire estate at risk. OKX Guardian proposed a decentralized and trustless solution, ensuring that the wishes of the deceased are executed without any reliance on a single individual or institution.

Web3 Ads

A lack of transparency in the advertising marketplace due to intermediaries increases costs for both advertisers and publishers and leads to inefficiencies, distrust, and potential ad fraud. This project proposed smart contracts to make it possible for advertisers and publishers to use OKT Chain to buy and sell directly without intermediaries.

Petreat

Every year, 6.5 million dogs, cats, and other former pets are abandoned or lost and enter shelters. Of all these animals, only 3.2 million are adopted, and many see shelters again after less than a year of finding a new home. In order to provide suitable conditions for animals, shelters need regular donations.

Petreat collects donations from supporters and sends this amount to shelters in need. The project was developed with the belief that a reward system is also crucial to motivate and thank donors for their support. Petreat added a NFT reward system so that supporters receive a unique NFT in return for doing a good deed.

Top teams at the Hackathon received OKX tokens, Google Cloud credits, and other rewards. Senior executives from OKX and Google Cloud praised the participants for their hard work and innovation and encouraged them to continue exploring the possibilities of decentralized applications on the OKT Chain.

OKX and Google Cloud’s partnership in organizing the hackathon underscores their commitment to fostering innovation and creating a more decentralized future.

About OKX

OKX is the second largest global crypto exchange by trading volume and a leading Web3 ecosystem. Trusted by more than 50 million global users, OKX is known for being the fastest and most reliable crypto trading app for investors and professional traders everywhere.

OKX’s leading self-custody solutions include the Web3-compatible OKX Wallet, which allows users greater control of their assets while expanding access to DEXs, NFT marketplaces, DeFi, GameFi and thousands of dApps.

OKX partners with a number of the world’s top brands and athletes, including: English Premier League champions Manchester City F.C., McLaren Formula 1, The Tribeca Festival, golfer Ian Poulter, Olympian Scotty James, and F1 driver Daniel Ricciardo.

OKX is committed to transparency and security and publishes its Proof of Reserves on a monthly basis.

To learn more about OKX, visit: okx.com

About OKT Chain

OKT Chain is an EVM- and IBC-compatible L1 built on Cosmos with a focus on true interoperability and maximized performance. At high scalability, developers can build and scale with low gas fees. The OKT Chain ecosystem and infrastructure, including the all-in-one multi-chain Web3 interface, enables a seamless experience for both developers and users.

About Google Cloud

Google Cloud supports customers’ needs in building, transacting, storing value, and deploying new products on blockchain-based platforms. Customers choose Google Cloud to build on the industry’s cleanest cloud, to develop on Google’s world-class developer platform, and to ensure that data, applications, games, or digital assets like NFTs will be delivered on a stable, secure and trusted global network.

Contact

OKXmedia@okx.com

Solana Announces Hyperdrive Hackathon

Solana, a leading blockchain platform, unveiled its latest initiative, Hyperdrive, in a series of tweets on September 6, 2023. The event is described as an engineering and business competition where teams can transform an idea into a fully operational project within a span of five weeks.

Key Highlights

Grand Prize & Speciality Prizes: Solana has partnered with various entities for specialty prizes in categories such as Mobile Apps by MagicEden, Finance/Payments by Helio Pay, AI by UXD Protocol, DePIN by ionet official, Crypto Infrastructure by Ironforge Cloud, Gaming by Phantom, and DAOs/Network States by Balajis & The Network State.

Resources & Support: For participants seeking guidance, Solana has provided a range of resources available on its official website, along with FAQs and a dedicated Discord channel.

Past Success: According to Solana, their previous hackathons have garnered over 48,000 participants, led to the creation of more than 3,000 eco products, and attracted over $600 million in venture funding for winners.

Physical Locations: In addition to the online format, Solana is also facilitating in-person collaborations through Solana Hacker Houses in Bengaluru and Mumbai.

Eligibility: The competition is open to participants who are of the age of majority in their state or country of residence. No purchase is necessary to enter or win.

Third-Party Perspective

While Solana’s Hyperdrive aims to foster innovation in the crypto space, it’s worth noting that the competition is one among many in a crowded field of blockchain initiatives. The event does, however, offer a structured platform for developers and entrepreneurs to bring their ideas to fruition, backed by a blockchain that has previously demonstrated its ability to attract significant venture capital.

SEO Metrics

As of the latest data, the keyword “Solana Hyperdrive” is yet to gain significant search volume. However, related terms like “Solana Hackathon” and “Solana Competition” have shown consistent interest over the past year, indicating a potential uptick in searches as the event progresses.

Conclusion

Hyperdrive presents an opportunity for both novice and experienced developers to engage with Solana’s ecosystem. With a history of successful hackathons and a variety of specialty prizes, the competition could serve as a launchpad for the next wave of crypto innovations.

Chainlink Unveils Constellation: A Grand Hackathon Event

Chainlink has taken the wraps off its most extensive hackathon event to date, dubbed Constellation, set to commence on November 8 and run through December 10, 2023. This announcement comes on the heels of Chainlink’s evolution since its initial virtual hackathon in 2020, which had garnered over 1,000 registrations and 70+ project submissions from enthusiasts spanning 45 countries. The initiative was a frontier at the time when the Decentralized Finance (DeFi) space was in its nascency, and Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) were just beginning to make a mark.

Hackathon’s Progression Over Years

The narrative of Chainlink’s hackathons over the years is one of growth, advancement, and betterment. Each subsequent hackathon has surpassed its predecessors in scale and sophistication, culminating in the upcoming Constellation event. This platform has been meticulously crafted to offer a straightforward success pathway for Web3 engineers of all experience levels, through the Chainlink platform, which serves as a universal conduit to myriad blockchain networks. Over the years, these hackathons have morphed into a launchpad for developers to interact with state-of-the-art infrastructure elements, thereby reshaping the global perception and utilization of Web3.

Prize Distribution and Categories

The Constellation hackathon boasts a prize pool of $350,000, spread across seven core prize tracks. The prize tracks are designed to cover a broad spectrum of blockchain applications.

Grand Prize ($25,000): This top accolade is set aside for the project that exemplifies superior implementation, irrespective of its vertical or theme.

DeFi and Payments ($22,500): A call to arms for developers to forge lightning-fast DeFi applications that could serve as the financial bedrock of the future.

Cross-Chain Solutions ($22,500): Capitalizing on Chainlink’s CCIP, developers have the chance to pioneer secure cross-chain projects.

Web3 Gaming and Dynamic NFTs ($15,000): This track focuses on expanding the horizons of Web3 gaming and NFT collections.

SocialFi Innovation ($15,000): An avenue to explore the amalgamation of Web3 and social platforms.

Web3 and AI ($15,000): This confluence of two tech frontiers offers a playground for connecting AI with smart contracts.

Tech for Good ($15,000): A category for those with a penchant for creating tech-driven solutions for societal betterment.

Additionally, 20 Top-Quality Prizes of $500 each will be awarded to projects that showcase exceptional implementation.

Technical Recommendations and Evaluation Metrics

The evaluation of submissions will be executed via a point system, encapsulating factors like User Experience (UX), technical implementation, practicality, and creativity. The anticipation is for projects that not only embody creativity but are polished, practical, and stretch the boundaries of Web3 tech. Bonus points are on the table for projects incorporating multiple Chainlink services in a meaningful manner.

Constellation is not merely a competition but a comprehensive learning experience. It offers a plethora of educational resources, technical workshops, and real-time support to cater to developers at different stages of their Web3 journey. The gamut of learning tracks spans from beginner to expert levels, each laden with tailored resources to expedite the learning and development process.

Conclusion

At the core, Constellation aims to act as a catalyst in nurturing the new generation of Web3 developers by equipping them with the requisite tools, networking opportunities, support, and incentives. Chainlink provides a fertile ground for developers, featuring access to scalable blockchains, secure cross-chain operability, and seamless API connectivity, thereby setting the stage for breakthrough projects that could potentially redefine the Web3 landscape and elevate the industry to unprecedented heights.