NO PURCHASE OR PAYMENT OF ANY KIND IS NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED OR WHERE REGISTRATION OR BONDING REQUIRED. SUBJECT TO ALL FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL LAWS. 

ENTRY VIA ONLINE CONTEST SUBMISSION FORM. INTERNET ACCESS IS REQUIRED AND REQUIREMENT OF USE OF INTERNET IS A VALID AND FREE METHOD OF ENTRY. 

THE CONTEST WINNER WILL BE REQUIRED TO RESPOND TO THE NOTIFICATION (DEFINED BELOW) FROM THE ORGANIZER OR CONTEST PRIZE MAY BE FORFEITED IN ORGANIZER’S SOLE DISCRETION). AFFIDAVIT OF ELIGIBILITY / RELEASE OF LIABILITY / PRIZE ACCEPTANCE MAY BE REQUIRED 

The TBD Hackathon Contest (“Contest”) is sponsored by Block, Inc. (TBD) (“Organizer”). Please read these Official Rules carefully before entering the Contest. By entering the Contest, you (“you” or “Participant”) agree that you will be bound by these Official Rules, and you represent that you satisfy all Contest eligibility requirements. 

1. Eligibility and General Conduct

• Participants must be at least 18 years old at the time of entry. 
• Participants must be a resident of a country in Africa.
• Participants must have a valid passport and/or visa to enter Nairobi, Kenya.
• Participants must conduct themselves in a professional and respectful manner throughout the Hackathon. Harassment, discrimination, or inappropriate behavior will not be tolerated and may result in disqualification.
• Employees, contractors, and immediate family members of the Organizer are not eligible to participate.
• Participants must comply with all applicable laws and regulations throughout the Contest. Any activity that is illegal or violates these Official Rules will result in immediate disqualification from the Contest.

2. Team Composition

• Participants may work individually or in teams of up to 2 members.
• Each participant can only be a member of one team.

3. Submission Guidelines

• Submissions must be original and developed during the Hackathon period.
• Each Submission must integrate the tbDEX SDK and connect to the sandbox of liquidity providers.
• Submissions must be hosted in a public GitHub repository with a README.md file that includes an overview and addresses the design considerations specified in the instructions.
• Participants must submit a submission form with Participant’s project details and a link to Participant’s GitHub repository.
• Submissions cannot contain any offensive or inappropriate content. 
• All Submissions must be completed and submitted by 15 September 2024, 11:59 PM EAT (“Submission Deadline”). Once a Participant submits a submission, it is final and may not be modified or edited further. Incomplete submissions will be disqualified; however, the Organizer reserves the right to allow for minor deviations from the guidelines and restrictions set forth herein, based on a clear intent to comply with these Official Rules, as determined by the Organizer in their sole discretion. The Organizer, reserves the rights, in its sole discretion, to disqualify any and all Participants who submit more than one Submission using multiple/different addresses, identities or any other methods, or who the Organizer believes has attempted to tamper with, influence or impair the administration, security, fairness or proper administration of this Contest or Organizer determines to be inconsistent with the letter or spirit of the Official Rules or the Contest or potentially damaging to its, the Contest’s or another’s image or reputation. 

4. Representations and Warranties

Participant represents and warrants that:

• the Submission is original and is Participant’s own work and does not infringe and misappropriate any third party’s copyright, trademark, patent, trade secret, defamation, privacy, publicity, false light, idea or any contractual rights or any other rights;
• Participant has not copied or used other works or others in the Submission without permission or the right to do so; 
• No other persons other than Participant has any right, title or interest in any part of the Submission; and
• Participant has not engaged in any activity that would interfere with or disrupt the Contest or the associated systems and networks.

5. Use of Pre-existing Code

• Participants may use pre-existing libraries and frameworks, provided they have the right to use them.
• All pre-existing code and resources used in the submission must be properly attributed.
• Participants retain ownership of their Submissions. However, by participating, Participants grant the Organizer a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free, perpetual, irrevocable and fully sublicensable right and license to use, reproduce, modify, adapt, change, edit, publish, broadcast, translate, create derivatives from, distribute, redistribute, and/or publicly display the Submissions for promotional purposes, without further notice or compensation to or permission from Participant or any third party. The Organizer has the right to use any and all Submissions and any and all elements appearing in the Submissions, including the names, likenesses, symbols and phrases of any kind for future advertising, marketing, commercial, promotion and publicity in any manner throughout the world in perpetuity without further notice or compensation to or permission from Participants. Each Participant waives any and all “moral rights” they have in the Submission. 
• As a condition to participating in this Contest, each Participant agrees to permit the Organizer to use any audio or video footage recorded as part of the Contest and the Participant’s name, likeness, and trademarks in connection with the Organizer’s marketing and promotional purposes.

6. Collaboration and Sharing

• Participants are encouraged to share knowledge and collaborate within their teams.
• Participants must not share their code or solutions with other teams during the Hackathon.

7. Finalists and Presentations

• Semi-finalists will be required to submit a video presentation explaining their project.
• Finalists will present their projects in person at the Africa Bitcoin Conference in Nairobi, Kenya. Finalists will receive flight, hotel accommodations, a stipend, and conference tickets to attend the Africa Bitcoin Conference in Nairobi, Kenya. Finalists are responsible for obtaining any necessary travel documents, including a valid passport and/or visa to enter Nairobi, Kenya and complying with any health and safety regulations.
• Presentations must be professional and clear, outlining the project’s goals, implementation, and results.

8. Judging Process

• All eligible Submissions received before the Submission Deadline. Submissions will be judged based on innovation, functionality, user experience, and alignment with the Hackathon objectives.
• The decisions of the judges are final and binding.
• Submissions will be judged based on criteria including but not limited to innovation, functionality, user experience, and alignment with the Hackathon objectives. The decisions of the judges are final and are not subject to challenge or appeal.

9. Prizes and Awards

• Prizes will be awarded as follows: 1st Place: $15,000 USD in Bitcoin; 2nd Place: $10,000 USD in Bitcoin; and 3rd Place: $5,000 USD in Bitcoin (“Contest Prize”). Finalists of Contests will receive, flight, hotel, stipend, and conference ticket to attend Africa Bitcoin Conference in Nairobi, Kenya, not to exceed $2,000.  Finalists must have a valid passport and/or visa to enter Nairobi, Kenya.
• All prizes are non-transferable and no cash alternatives will be provided.
• The Organizer reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to substitute any prize with another of equivalent value without notice. 
• The Participant is responsible for all federal, state and local taxes, if any, as well as any other costs and expenses associated with the acceptance of the Contest Prize and use not specified herein as being provided. The Contest Winners should consult their tax attorney regarding any potential tax implications in connection with the acceptance of the Contest Prize. 

10. Confidentiality

Participants agree not to disclose any confidential information provided by the Organizer or other participants without prior written consent from the Organizer.

11. Limitation of Liability

The Organizer is not responsible for any damages, loss, or injury resulting from participation in the Hackathon or Contest or acceptance and use of any prize. Participants assume all risks associated with participation. TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW: (1) ANY AND ALL CLAIMS, JUDGMENTS AND AWARDS WILL BE LIMITED TO ACTUAL THIRD-PARTY, OUT-OF-POCKET COSTS INCURRED, (IF ANY), NOT TO EXCEED TEN UNITED STATES DOLLARS (U.S. $10.00), BUT IN NO EVENT WILL ATTORNEYS’ FEES BE AWARDED OR RECOVERABLE; (2) UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES WILL ANY PARTICIPANT BE PERMITTED TO OBTAIN ANY AWARD FOR, AND ENTRANT HEREBY KNOWINGLY AND EXPRESSLY WAIVES ALL RIGHTS TO SEEK, PUNITIVE, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, LOST PROFITS AND/OR ANY OTHER THAVE DAMAGES MULTIPLIED OR OTHERWISE INCREASED; AND PARTICIPANT’S REMEDIES ARHAN ACTUAL OUT-OF-POCKET EXPENSES NOT TO EXCEED ($10.00), AND/OR ANY RIGHTS TO E LIMITED TO A CLAIM FOR MONEY DAMAGES (IF ANY) AND PARTICIPANT IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT TO SEEK INJUNCTIVE OR EQUITABLE RELIEF.

Participants agrees to release, indemnify and hold harmless the Organizer and their respective parent companies, affiliates, advertising/promotion agencies and prize providers and all of their respective officers, directors, agents, employees and representatives (collectively, “Released Parties”) for any damage, loss or liability to person or property, due in whole or part, directly or indirectly, by reason of the acceptance, possession, use or misuse of the Contest Prize or participation in this Contest or Released Parties’ use of any Submission.  The Organizer reserves the right, in their sole discretion, to modify, cancel or suspend part or all of this Contest or Official Rules for any reason, including but not limited to: non-authorized human intervention, fraud, or other causes that corrupt or impair the administration, security, fairness or proper play of the Contest. If terminated, a notice will be posted online. 

12. Disqualification

The Organizer reserves the right to disqualify any Participant or team that violates these Official Rules, engages in dishonesty, or disrupts the Hackathon or Contest. 

13. Governing Law

These Official Rules are governed by the laws of the State of California. Any disputes arising out of or in connection with these Official Rules will be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of Alameda County, California.

14. Contact Information

For any questions or concerns regarding the Hackathon or these Official Terms, please contact the Organizer in Discord.