UW to Host Groundbreaking Blockchain Hackathon Event
The University of Wyoming says it will be hosting a groundbreaking event this fall centered on blockchain technology, which is believed to be the first of its kind in the state.
The “WyoHackathon 2018: Breakin’ Through,” will emphasize the university’s commitment to blockchain technology and aligns with the efforts of UW and the state of Wyoming to incorporate new technology into the state’s economy and education.
The Wyoming Blockchain Coalition, a volunteer organization, will coordinate the event. Rob Jennings with the WBC said the name of the event is a bit of a misnomer, as the only actual hacking that will take place is hacking issues that we face in our everyday lives.
Jennings said participants will take part in a series of workshops that present different issues in technology and will be challenged to come up with solutions. The team that develops the best solution will be declared the winner.
Organizers are hoping for 300 developers to participate in the event and all sponsorship proceeds from the hackathon will go to support the event at UW.
A number of well-regarded blockchain pioneers will be visiting Laramie for the event, such as Joe Lubin, founder of ConsenSys and co-founder of Ethereum; Patrick Byrne, founder and CEO of Overstock.com; Erik Voorhees, founder and CEO of ShapeShift; and Caitlin Long, co-founder of the Wyoming Blockchian Coalition and a UW alumna. A few educational events will be available for the public.
Blockchain is a breakthrough database of technology used for storing information, most notably cryptocurrency, and the concept is already being taught in UW classrooms.
The event comes as Wyoming has made a push to assume a leadership role in blockchain technology. In March, Gov. Matt Mead signed five blockchain-related bills into law. About 200 new companies have registered in Wyoming with names that indicate their involvement in blockchain. The UW Foundation now accepts bitcoin donations and UW is among the first universities to do so.
“We are excited to host this groundbreaking event at the University of Wyoming,” UW President Laurie Nichols says in a statement. “This emerging technology has great promise to boost the state’s economy, and our faculty and students are immersed in the exploration of its potential. The hackathon will shine a bright light on these efforts and those of people from across the country.”
The hackathon will take place Sept. 7-9 at the War Memorial Fieldhouse.