ETH Sofia 2024: Make ETHEREUM CypherPunk Again
October 21st, 2024

The ETH Sofia, held in October 2024, marked a significant milestone in Bulgaria's blockchain ecosystem. Bringing together veteran Web3 developers, university students, and professionals looking to explore the Ethereum ecosystem, the three-day event showcased cutting-edge projects and attracted participants from across the region.

Hosted by DoraHacks, the hackathon featured a $30,000 prize pool and offered participants the chance to work on a variety of open track and sponsor-specific challenges. The hackathon emphasized creativity, openness, and collaboration, with projects ranging from DeFi solutions to privacy-enhancing applications.

ETH Sofia Hackathon Stats
ETH Sofia Hackathon Stats

AthleteProof: A Winning Project

For me, ETH Sofia was not only my first hackathon participation as a hacker but also an incredibly rewarding experience. Competing alongside my stellar team— **Razvan, Marcin, Yoan, and Ruth **—we developed AthleteProof, a blockchain solution designed to securely verify and showcase athletes' achievements. AthleteProof leverages Ethereum's decentralized ledger to provide a transparent, trusted method for recording performance data, making it particularly useful for athletes looking to share their accomplishments with sponsors and event organizers.

First Hacker Experience
First Hacker Experience

Our hard work paid off, and we were thrilled to win a $250 prize from iExec. The sense of accomplishment was immense, and I couldn’t have asked for a better group of people to build with​.

A Personal Journey of Growth and Connection

Beyond the competition, ETH Sofia was a powerful networking experience. I made over 50 new connections, including meeting key figures in the Bulgarian blockchain ecosystem, and even reuniting with old acquaintances. A highlight of the event was reconnecting with Jan from DoraHacks, whose support and help at ETH Bucharest has been invaluable. Thank you, Jan, for always being there!

I also want to give a big shout-out to Alina, who played a critical role in making the event hackathon smoothly. She’s an absolute legend, and her efforts were key to the hackathon's success​.

THE LEGEND (aka Mother of Hackers) - Alina
THE LEGEND (aka Mother of Hackers) - Alina

Proud of the ETH Sofia Team

I’m incredibly proud of Vlad and the ETH Sofia team for bringing this event to life. Two years ago, I met Vlad through Darren from IPOR and we shared our dreams of organizing Ethereum-focused events in Eastern Europe. I was planning ETH Bucharest, and Vlad was considering ETH Sofia. Seeing him finally pull off such a well-organized and inspiring hackathon fills me with pride. The side events, workshops, and team-building activities created an enriching experience for everyone involved.

GG Vlad! You and the team did a great job!
GG Vlad! You and the team did a great job!

A Shared Experience Across Borders

ETH Sofia didn’t just attract Bulgarian participants. I was thrilled to see many fellow Romanians at the event, both as hackers (GG SnapData for winning one of the main prizes) and speakers (Andrei Duma - Li.Fi). The cross-border collaboration between Romanian and Bulgarian builders highlighted the regional strength of the blockchain community. I also had the opportunity to meet and learn from many new people, all passionate about advancing blockchain technology and contributing to the Web3 movement.

Proud of my fellow Romanians! #LFG
Proud of my fellow Romanians! #LFG

Looking Forward

ETH Sofia has left me with incredible memories, new connections, and invaluable experiences. This event wasn’t just about hacking—it was about building bridges, celebrating creativity, and pushing the boundaries of what’s possible within the Ethereum ecosystem. I’m excited to take the lessons and inspiration from ETH Sofia back to ETH Bucharest and other upcoming projects.

All in all, ETH Sofia 2024 was a tremendous success, and I can’t wait to see what next year brings!

See you in 2025, Sofia! #LFG
See you in 2025, Sofia! #LFG

In the end, as always, I leave you with this:

Love people and use things, because the opposite never works! - The Minimalists

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