Blockchain Energy Project Wins Consensus 2016 Hackathon

CoinDesk's ‘Building Blocks’ Hackathon at Consensus 2016 concluded today. Here's our recap of the event's big winners.

AccessTimeIconMay 1, 2016 at 10:43 p.m. UTC
Updated Sep 11, 2021 at 12:15 p.m. UTC
10 Years of Decentralizing the Future
May 29-31, 2024 - Austin, TexasThe biggest and most established global hub for everything crypto, blockchain and Web3.Register Now
Consensus 2016
Consensus 2016

The two-day ‘Building Blocks’ Hackathon at Consensus 2016 concluded today with the news that Decentralized Energy Utility, a project aimed at improving utility services in the developing world, had been named the $5,000 grand prize winner.

In total, 26 projects were presented, a figured event emcee and CoinDesk team lead Ryan Selkis indicated was an increase from the 15 participants last year. Each group had two days to build a blockchain project, with the winner being the one that developed the prototype that had the most immediate commercial application.

Boasting a two-person international team, Decentralized Energy Utility aimed to solve issues with electrical services, enabling a network of existing utility companies and household generators to work more effectively to meet the needs of a rural populace.

The project showcased a series of smart meters that, when paid, used Hyperledger and IBM's Bluemix to facilitate the operation of a streetlight. In demonstration, the role of the streetlight was played by an iPhone, which turned on its flashlight application when a payment was sent to surprise and applause.

Project’s developer Oleg Abdrashitov said:

"Among kindness of neighbors you need to enable trust."

Panel judges included Andrew Keys, head of ConsenSys Enterprise; Christine Avanessians, senior program manager at Microsoft; Deloitte strategic disrupter Eric Piscini; head of blockchain at Allianz Group, Fei Zhang; and Tierion CEO Wayne Vaughn.

The full spectrum of projects included experiments that showcased how blockchain could be applied to identity, video gaming and even a "Smart AirBnb" that aimed to more efficiently resolve conflicts between guests on the popular lodging marketplace

More winners

Elsewhere, the runner-up for the competition was Community Relief, a distributed autonomous organization (DAO) that would make the tracking of disaster relief funds more transparent. An honorable mention was given to UnionD, a project aimed at replicating traditional employment unions on the blockchain, using Ethereum smart contracts and DAOs.

Event sponsors Microsoft, IBM, Deloitte, ConsenSys, Tierion and Ether.Camp each awarded prizes to a startup of their choice, with secondary prizes ranging from an all-expenses-paid trip to the Deloitte innovation lab to a single bitcoin, worth $452 at press time.

Other winners included Fleetchain, a construction rental tool platform built on the Hyperledger project; Proof of Phone, which used the Ethereum blockchain to link a phone number to a wallet application for website login; and Black Ops Messaging, a blockchain-based communications platform for use by spies and military personnel.

Images via Pete Rizzo for CoinDesk

Disclosure

Please note that our privacy policy, terms of use, cookies, and do not sell my personal information has been updated.

CoinDesk is an award-winning media outlet that covers the cryptocurrency industry. Its journalists abide by a strict set of editorial policies. In November 2023, CoinDesk was acquired by the Bullish group, owner of Bullish, a regulated, digital assets exchange. The Bullish group is majority-owned by Block.one; both companies have interests in a variety of blockchain and digital asset businesses and significant holdings of digital assets, including bitcoin. CoinDesk operates as an independent subsidiary with an editorial committee to protect journalistic independence. CoinDesk employees, including journalists, may receive options in the Bullish group as part of their compensation.


Learn more about Consensus 2024, CoinDesk's longest-running and most influential event that brings together all sides of crypto, blockchain and Web3. Head to consensus.coindesk.com to register and buy your pass now.