Greetings from low-Earth orbit!
Welcome to the winners’ announcement for Round 2 of the Spacecoin Writing Contest, presented by Spacecoin and HackerNoon!
Since the contest launched at the start of the year, we’ve published well over 200 stories across all contest tags, keeping readers engaged for 150+ hours. Round 1 closed on May 7, 2025, and saw 4 talented writers awarded cash prizes for their work.
Check out the full list of round 1 finalists and winners here.
Is this your first time hearing about the Spacecoin Writing Contest?
No worries—there’s still one round left, and up to 7 more winners to be awarded from the contest’s 15,000 USDT prize pool.
Here’s what’s up for grabs:
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General Prizes (3000 USDT awarded after each round) |
Sponsor prizes (6000 USDT awarded after the final round) |
|---|---|
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#decentralized-internet - 1000 USDT for best story |
#spacecoin - 2000 USDT for best story |
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#spacetech - 1000 USDT for best story | 500 USDT for runner up |
#creditcoin - 2000 USDT for best story |
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#blockchain-use-case - 500 USDT for best story |
#gluwa - 2000 USDT for best story |
Submission Deadline: October 7, 2025.
Round 2 was even more hotly contested than the first. Over 60 eligible entries (submitted before the July 7, 2025, deadline) were reviewed and narrowed down to 25 finalists.
Let’s meet them!
The Spacecoin Writing Contest: Round 2 Finalists
In no particular order:
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@mojomonkey for Cosmic DePIN: How Space‑Based Decentralized Networks Will Redefine Connectivity
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@hacker-Antho for Leveraging Blockchain and Decentralized Identity to Combat Ad Fraud: A Strategic Analysis
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@Toto_Bugelman for The Case for Breaking the Internet Apart (in a Good Way)
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@web3judge for Forget Mars—The Real Future of Colonization Is Floating in Space
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@Orymeth for Can We Hitch a Ride Through Space on Hypervelocity Stars?
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@bigmao for Proof Of Waste: Why the Blockchain Belongs In The Dumpster
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@dawnteh for Even if Decentralization Could End Censorship, Would We Let It?
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@defititan for Everything You Thought Was Sci-Fi? The European Space Agency Is Building It
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@1stonwe for Blockchains Need “Escape Hatches” in Layer-2
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@thesavvyben_ for The Internet Is Rigged, Only Decentralization Can Fix It
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@marcushaldd for Chaos on Earth: Wars, Crises, Disasters... What if We Just Move to Mars?
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@induction for How Blockchain Is Redefining Financial Inclusion for the Unbanked in 2025
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@Letotheelf for What Will the Decentralized Internet Look Like in The Next 10, 50 or 100 Years?
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@IHODLem for How Sci-Fi Writers Secretly Built Our Space Program
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@ileolami for How Blockchain Technology Can Transform Nigeria's Education System
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@ibukun8717 for Post-Quantum Privacy for Post-Platform Internet
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@induction for Is Terraforming a Scientific Possibility or Just Science Fiction?
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@walo for Can Blockchain Rebuild Trust in Global Cooperatives?
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@adetarah for Censorship, Surveillance, and the Splinternet: Why We Need a Decentralized Web
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@thebojda for What If You Could Vote Anytime—Without Anyone Knowing How?
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@chidinmaa for Can Decentralization Save the Internet from Itself?
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@nebojsaneshatodorovic for LiDAR Space Technology and Lost Civilizations Archeology
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@sshshln for Ethereum Is More Than Crypto. It’s a Machine for Making Worlds
Flash crashes, floating cities, proof-of-waste blockchains, and a very good case for blowing up the internet (metaphorically). The second round of the Spacecoin Writing Contest took us everywhere, from decentralized identity systems to interstellar hitchhiking on hypervelocity stars. Some stories questioned the systems we’ve built. Others asked: What if we started over?
Whether you're here for the science, the fiction, or the somewhere-in-between, these writers have something for you. Make sure to follow their work on HackerNoon!
Now, for the moment we’ve all been waiting for…
The Spacecoin Writing Contest: Round 2 Winners 🎉
The #decentralized-internet Category
The top-voted #decentralized-internet story in Round 1 of the Spacecoin Writing Contest is @dawnteh’s Even if Decentralization Could End Censorship, Would We Let It?
https://hackernoon.com/even-if-decentralization-could-end-censorship-would-we-let-it?embedable=true
TL;DR: A decentralized internet promises freedom from censorship—but it won’t succeed on infrastructure alone. The real challenge is psychological: most people don’t feel censored, so they don’t resist it. For decentralization to matter, it must make suppression visible, freedom intuitive, and participation rewarding. Until then, people will choose convenience over principle.
Congratulations @dawnteh, you’ve won 1000 USDT!
The #spacetech Category
This category awards two winners!
- Best #spacetech story goes to @walo’s Gigaton Run: Space Technology vs Climate Change
https://hackernoon.com/gigaton-run-space-technology-vs-climate-change?embedable=true
TL;DR: This fiery manifesto blends science, satire, and startup thinking to argue that satellites—and a bioeconomy built on carbon tokens—may be Earth’s last hope. With only 25 years left, it’s time to scale real, profitable climate action using space technology, satellite data, and environmental biotech, starting in Africa—where the crisis hits hardest.
Congratulations @walo, you’ve won 1000 USDT!
Runner up: @marcushaldd for Chaos on Earth: Wars, Crises, Disasters... What if We Just Move to Mars?
TL;DR: The most promising candidate for terraforming is Mars, but turning it into a livable world would require massive transformations. Right now, our technologies just aren’t there yet. But that hasn’t stopped the world’s brightest minds from coming up with bold, fascinating ideas.
Congratulations @marcushaldd, you’ve won 500 USDT!
The #blockchain-use-case Category
The top-voted story in the #blockchain-use-case category is Proof Of Waste: Why the Blockchain Belongs In The Dumpster by @bigmao
https://hackernoon.com/proof-of-waste-the-blockchain-belongs-in-the-dumpster?embedable=true
TL;DR: Informal waste disposal is a quiet system that’s thriving—with 20 million people moving junk across the world with no apps, no tokens, and no visibility. It’s decentralized. It’s reputation-based. It works. But it can’t grow without proof. Blockchain promised to serve the unbanked, the undocumented, the forgotten. Instead, it mostly built synthetic markets no one needed. This is a blueprint for something real: not a network to coordinate trash, but one to remember it. It's a shot to finally deliver on the original promise of Web3—not through pitch decks, but proof of work that stinks.
Congratulations @bigmao, you’ve won 500 USDT!
Congratulations once again to all our winners. Thank you for your hard work!
How to Claim Your HackerNoon Writing Contest Prize
- Contact [email protected] and [email protected] and share the email ID/and or wallet address attached to the winning HackerNoon account.
- We will validate your claim and share a form requesting your details for reward distribution.
- You will receive your winnings in 2-4 weeks after completing the form.
Please note that you must contact us within 60 days after the winners’ announcement date.
Ready to Feature on Our Next Winners’ List?