I find myself at a pivotal crossroads of my web3 journey. The adrenaline of the competition, the sleepless nights fueled by caffeine, Red Bull and code, and thrill of turning ideas into reality in a short amount of time have defined my life over the past few years.
But I’ve decided to step away from the IRL Hackathon scene. ETHGlobal Bangkok will be my last one, marking the end of a chapter - my own “last dance” in the world of the web3 hacking.
This decision wasn’t made lightly. Hackathons have been more than just events for me; they’ve been a way of life. Stepping away doesn’t mean abandoning the community, but rather I want to help the current and next generation of hackers to shine and embrace this crazy but amazing lifestyle.
This article is my love letter for hackathons.
You gave me the chance to create and strengthen bonds with people with whom I’m still friends with today. I’ve shared an incredible journey with amazing people, some of the best in the whole web3 world and I want to thank all of them, because they were the ones that always made me feel at home, even if home was really far away.
You taught me resilience in the face of tight deadlines and sleepless nights. In those high-energy environments, I learned that true innovation happens not in comfort but in chaos. You showed me that creating something meaningful doesn’t require endless time or thinking - it requires a spark, a dedicated team, and a willingness to push boundaries, even if it means breaking a few things along the way.
You gave me the incredible experience of seeing my ideas come to life and sometimes even go viral, helping me realize that dreams don’t stay just dreams if you actually give them a chance. You showed me the strength of collaboration, of joining forces with people with different skill sets, but all united under the same vision.
You unlocked the world for me, from huge cities to hidden gems, each event was a ticket to explore new places, cultures, food and perspectives. You reminded me that innovation and creativity have no borders.
You made my code feel alive. For all these hours spent hacking, code became more than just lines on an IDE on my screen: it was a language, a tool, a living entity I molded to make my ideas real. You reminded me of the excitement I felt when I first started coding, bringing me back to the pure joy of creation.
You filled my journey with unforgettable memories, moments of laughter, frustration, triumph and even exhaustion. Each hackathon and project has its own story, its characters, its plot and its own special magic.
But most importantly, you made me feel part of something bigger. I wasn’t just there to code; I was part of a movement, of people united by a vision of making technology more open, decentralized and accessible for everybody. You really showed me that together people can build a better and fairer web.
As I step away, my love and gratitude are as strong as ever. I’ll take these memories and lessons to my next phase, watching with excitement as a new wave of hackers continues to push innovation to new heights.