Announcing The DomainFi Challenge: $1M Doma Hackathon on Dorahacks
We’re excited to launch the DomainFi Challenge, Doma’s first-ever hackathon, live now on the Dorahacks platform.
This is a global call to developers to build innovative dApps on the Doma Protocol and shape the future of DomainFi - the fusion of domain names as real-world assets with the power of DeFi.
A total of $50,000 in USDC is up for grabs, with $10,000 awarded to the top project across five tracks. All qualified submissions will be automatically shortlisted for Doma Forge grants, giving you a shot at funding from a $1 million USDC pool to take your project from prototype to production.
Every challenge is based on actual request for proposals (RFPs) from the Doma ecosystem - from auction mechanics and domain trading bots to onchain scoring models.
You’ll get access to Doma’s testnet, complete with tools for tokenization, state sync, and multichain support. And if your project stands out? Expect mentorship, funding, and the backing you need to go live.
The hackathon does not need an entry fee and is open to everyone. All you have to do is register!
Registration and Judging Details
- Hacker Pre-Registration Opens: Aug 9, 2025.
- BUIDL Submissions Open: Aug 15, 2025
- First Round Deadline: Sept 5, 2025
- Final Submission Deadline: Sept 19, 2025
- Winners Announced: Oct 3, 2025
Judging will focus on:
- Innovation (40%): Are you pushing the boundaries of what's possible with domains and DeFi?
- Integration (30%): How well does your application leverage Doma Protocol’s features?
- Usability (20%): Is your product intuitive and practical?
- Demo Quality (10%): Does your submission clearly show how it works and why it matters?
Push the envelope, build with purpose, and make it easy (and exciting) to use.
Rules For Participants
Developers must adhere to the following rules when participating in the hackathon.
- Each team must submit under one track, and can have up to five members. The team must also submit a GitHub repo and a short video explaining the project.
- Projects must integrate Doma Protocol tools, including SDK/APIs for tokenization/on-chain actions. Any submissions that are off-topic, incomplete, and do not integrate Doma Protocol tools will be disqualified.
- Participants must submit original projects, not recycled ones. Plagiarism will result in an immediate disqualification.
- Projects must use the Doma testnet, focusing on quality, transaction potential, and user adoption.
Tracks And Challenges
Participants can build under any one of the five tracks listed below.
Track 1: On-Chain Auctions & Price Discovery
Build innovative and engaging auction systems for premium or expiring domains on Doma that focus on enabling transparent price discovery, custom strategies, transactions, and fees.
Track 2: Trading Competitions & Portfolio Tools
Create an on-chain trading platform for domain portfolios, including competitions and leaderboards that can generate high-value transactions and ETF-esque yields. Participants are encouraged to use oracles/heuristics for valuations and whitelisted operations for sales/derivations.
Track 3: Bots & Event Subscriptions
Develop bots and subscription services for domain alerts like expirations, sales, and other events. The services must integrate Doma to deliver on-chain notifications, drive community engagement, and user acquisitions.
Track 4: Trait Scoring & Analytics
Participants must build AI-driven tools to score domain traits using on-chain data, capture trends to inform trades, and unlock opportunities to increase volume and DeFi integrations.
Track 5: Landing Pages & Messaging Interfaces
Design custom, user-friendly landing pages or messaging dApps for domain sales and communications. The landing pages must integrate SEO, orderbooks, or domain-linked chats to enhance visibility, drive transactions, and reduce friction.
Doma Ambassador Bonus Challenges
Want to go beyond the build and stand out to the Doma core team? The Ambassador Bonus Challenges are optional side quests designed to supercharge your submission and your future in the ecosystem.
Complete any of the following to earn extra points, bonus prizes, and priority access to Forge ambassadorships (including paid content and community roles). Submit screenshots or links as proof alongside your hackathon project.
Top contributors will earn exclusive badges, cash prizes, and more.
- Join and Engage With The Community: Join the official Doma Discord server and follow the official X account. Share updates about your progress in the #hackathon channel.
- Create Content and PR: Write articles and blogs on the Doma Protocol. Top content creators earn a badge and recognition across the ecosystem
- Contribute To The Growing Ecosystem: Submit codes or documents to the Doma GitHub repository or Forge. Participants can also host AMA sessions on their build. Best contributions earn rewards from a $2.5k pool and an ambassador badge
- Bug Bounty: Help secure the Doma testnet by identifying and reporting bugs. Valid issues earn $500–$1,000 bounties from a dedicated $2.5k pool
Ambassador Bonus Prize Pool
$5,000 in total rewards for top contributors across these challenges
- All qualified applicants receive:
- A Doma Forge Ambassador badge
- Discount codes for new and existing top-level domains (.ape, .core, .vic, .shib, etc.)
- Priority access to Forge roles and future grant programs
The Ambassador track is your gateway to becoming a long-term contributor in the Doma ecosystem.
Let’s start building!
