The Spacecoin Writing Contest by Spacecoin and HackerNoon: Round 2 Results 🎉

Greetings from low-Earth orbit! Welcome to the winners’ announcement for Round 2 of the Spacecoin Writing Contest, presented by Spacecoin and HackerNoon! Spacecoin Writing Contest Spacecoin 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. @jroseland took home 1000 USDT for his winning entry in the #decentralized-internet category. @thebojda and @nftbro split 1500 USDT for their wins in the #spacetech category. And finally, @maxo1st claimed the 500 USDT prize in the #blockchain-use-case category. @jroseland @jroseland 1000 USDT #decentralized-internet @thebojda @thebojda @nftbro @nftbro 1500 USDT #spacetech @maxo1st @maxo1st @maxo1st #blockchain-use-case Check out the full list of round 1 finalists and winners here. Check out the full list of round 1 finalists and winners here. 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: General Prizes (3000 USDT awarded after each round) Sponsor prizes (6000 USDT awarded after the final round) #decentralized-internet - 1000 USDT for best story #spacecoin - 2000 USDT for best story #spacetech - 1000 USDT for best story | 500 USDT for runner up #creditcoin - 2000 USDT for best story #blockchain-use-case - 500 USDT for best story #gluwa - 2000 USDT for best story Is this your first time hearing about the Spacecoin Writing Contest? 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: Here’s what’s up for grabs: General Prizes (3000 USDT awarded after each round) Sponsor prizes (6000 USDT awarded after the final round) #decentralized-internet - 1000 USDT for best story #spacecoin - 2000 USDT for best story #spacetech - 1000 USDT for best story | 500 USDT for runner up #creditcoin - 2000 USDT for best story #blockchain-use-case - 500 USDT for best story #gluwa - 2000 USDT for best story General Prizes (3000 USDT awarded after each round) Sponsor prizes (6000 USDT awarded after the final round) #decentralized-internet - 1000 USDT for best story #spacecoin - 2000 USDT for best story #spacetech - 1000 USDT for best story | 500 USDT for runner up #creditcoin - 2000 USDT for best story #blockchain-use-case - 500 USDT for best story #gluwa - 2000 USDT for best story General Prizes (3000 USDT awarded after each round) Sponsor prizes (6000 USDT awarded after the final round) General Prizes (3000 USDT awarded after each round) General Prizes (3000 USDT awarded after each round) awarded after each round) Sponsor prizes (6000 USDT awarded after the final round) Sponsor prizes (6000 USDT awarded after the final round) awarded after the final round #decentralized-internet - 1000 USDT for best story #spacecoin - 2000 USDT for best story #decentralized-internet - 1000 USDT for best story #decentralized-internet - 1000 USDT for best story #spacecoin - 2000 USDT for best story #spacecoin - 2000 USDT for best story #spacetech - 1000 USDT for best story | 500 USDT for runner up #creditcoin - 2000 USDT for best story #spacetech - 1000 USDT for best story | 500 USDT for runner up #spacetech - 1000 USDT for best story | 500 USDT for runner up #creditcoin - 2000 USDT for best story #creditcoin - 2000 USDT for best story #blockchain-use-case - 500 USDT for best story #gluwa - 2000 USDT for best story #blockchain-use-case - 500 USDT for best story #blockchain-use-case - 500 USDT for best story #gluwa - 2000 USDT for best story #gluwa - 2000 USDT for best story Enter now! Submission Deadline: October 7, 2025. Enter now! Enter now! Enter now! Enter now! Submission Deadline: October 7, 2025. 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: @doaakoms for What Will a Decentralized Internet Look Like? @mojomonkey for Cosmic DePIN: How Space‑Based Decentralized Networks Will Redefine Connectivity @hacker-Antho for Leveraging Blockchain and Decentralized Identity to Combat Ad Fraud: A Strategic Analysis @Toto_Bugelman for The Case for Breaking the Internet Apart (in a Good Way) @web3judge for Forget Mars—The Real Future of Colonization Is Floating in Space @Orymeth for Can We Hitch a Ride Through Space on Hypervelocity Stars? @bigmao for Proof Of Waste: Why the Blockchain Belongs In The Dumpster @dawnteh for Even if Decentralization Could End Censorship, Would We Let It? @defititan for Everything You Thought Was Sci-Fi? The European Space Agency Is Building It @1stonwe for Blockchains Need “Escape Hatches” in Layer-2 @thesavvyben_ for The Internet Is Rigged, Only Decentralization Can Fix It @marcushaldd for Chaos on Earth: Wars, Crises, Disasters... What if We Just Move to Mars? @induction for How Blockchain Is Redefining Financial Inclusion for the Unbanked in 2025 @Letotheelf for What Will the Decentralized Internet Look Like in The Next 10, 50 or 100 Years? @IHODLem for How Sci-Fi Writers Secretly Built Our Space Program @ileolami for How Blockchain Technology Can Transform Nigeria's Education System @ibukun8717 for Post-Quantum Privacy for Post-Platform Internet @induction for Is Terraforming a Scientific Possibility or Just Science Fiction? @walo for Can Blockchain Rebuild Trust in Global Cooperatives? @adetarah for Censorship, Surveillance, and the Splinternet: Why We Need a Decentralized Web @walo for Gigaton Run: Space Technology vs Climate Change @thebojda for What If You Could Vote Anytime—Without Anyone Knowing How? @chidinmaa for Can Decentralization Save the Internet from Itself? @nebojsaneshatodorovic for LiDAR Space Technology and Lost Civilizations Archeology @sshshln for Ethereum Is More Than Crypto. It’s a Machine for Making Worlds @doaakoms for What Will a Decentralized Internet Look Like? @doaakoms for What Will a Decentralized Internet Look Like? @doaakoms What Will a Decentralized Internet Look Like? @mojomonkey for Cosmic DePIN: How Space‑Based Decentralized Networks Will Redefine Connectivity @mojomonkey for Cosmic DePIN: How Space‑Based Decentralized Networks Will Redefine Connectivity @mojomonkey Cosmic DePIN: How Space‑Based Decentralized Networks Will Redefine Connectivity @hacker-Antho for Leveraging Blockchain and Decentralized Identity to Combat Ad Fraud: A Strategic Analysis @hacker-Antho for Leveraging Blockchain and Decentralized Identity to Combat Ad Fraud: A Strategic Analysis @hacker-Antho Leveraging Blockchain and Decentralized Identity to Combat Ad Fraud: A Strategic Analysis @Toto_Bugelman for The Case for Breaking the Internet Apart (in a Good Way) @Toto_Bugelman for The Case for Breaking the Internet Apart (in a Good Way) @Toto_Bugelman The Case for Breaking the Internet Apart (in a Good Way) @web3judge for Forget Mars—The Real Future of Colonization Is Floating in Space @web3judge for Forget Mars—The Real Future of Colonization Is Floating in Space @web3judge Forget Mars—The Real Future of Colonization Is Floating in Space @Orymeth for Can We Hitch a Ride Through Space on Hypervelocity Stars? @Orymeth for Can We Hitch a Ride Through Space on Hypervelocity Stars? @Orymeth Can We Hitch a Ride Through Space on Hypervelocity Stars? @bigmao for Proof Of Waste: Why the Blockchain Belongs In The Dumpster @bigmao for Proof Of Waste: Why the Blockchain Belongs In The Dumpster @bigmao Proof Of Waste: Why the Blockchain Belongs In The Dumpster @dawnteh for Even if Decentralization Could End Censorship, Would We Let It? @dawnteh for Even if Decentralization Could End Censorship, Would We Let It? @dawnteh Even if Decentralization Could End Censorship, Would We Let It? @defititan for Everything You Thought Was Sci-Fi? The European Space Agency Is Building It @defititan for Everything You Thought Was Sci-Fi? The European Space Agency Is Building It @defititan Everything You Thought Was Sci-Fi? The European Space Agency Is Building It @1stonwe for Blockchains Need “Escape Hatches” in Layer-2 @1stonwe for Blockchains Need “Escape Hatches” in Layer-2 @1stonwe Blockchains Need “Escape Hatches” in Layer-2 @thesavvyben_ for The Internet Is Rigged, Only Decentralization Can Fix It @thesavvyben_ for The Internet Is Rigged, Only Decentralization Can Fix It @thesavvyben_ The Internet Is Rigged, Only Decentralization Can Fix It @marcushaldd for Chaos on Earth: Wars, Crises, Disasters... What if We Just Move to Mars? @marcushaldd for Chaos on Earth: Wars, Crises, Disasters... What if We Just Move to Mars? @marcushaldd Chaos on Earth: Wars, Crises, Disasters... What if We Just Move to Mars? @induction for How Blockchain Is Redefining Financial Inclusion for the Unbanked in 2025 @induction for How Blockchain Is Redefining Financial Inclusion for the Unbanked in 2025 @induction How Blockchain Is Redefining Financial Inclusion for the Unbanked in 2025 @Letotheelf for What Will the Decentralized Internet Look Like in The Next 10, 50 or 100 Years? @Letotheelf for What Will the Decentralized Internet Look Like in The Next 10, 50 or 100 Years? @Letotheelf What Will the Decentralized Internet Look Like in The Next 10, 50 or 100 Years? @IHODLem for How Sci-Fi Writers Secretly Built Our Space Program @IHODLem for How Sci-Fi Writers Secretly Built Our Space Program @IHODLem How Sci-Fi Writers Secretly Built Our Space Program @ileolami for How Blockchain Technology Can Transform Nigeria's Education System @ileolami for How Blockchain Technology Can Transform Nigeria's Education System @ileolami How Blockchain Technology Can Transform Nigeria's Education System @ibukun8717 for Post-Quantum Privacy for Post-Platform Internet @ibukun8717 for Post-Quantum Privacy for Post-Platform Internet @ibukun8717 Post-Quantum Privacy for Post-Platform Internet @induction for Is Terraforming a Scientific Possibility or Just Science Fiction? @induction for Is Terraforming a Scientific Possibility or Just Science Fiction? @induction Is Terraforming a Scientific Possibility or Just Science Fiction? @walo for Can Blockchain Rebuild Trust in Global Cooperatives? @walo for Can Blockchain Rebuild Trust in Global Cooperatives? @walo Can Blockchain Rebuild Trust in Global Cooperatives? @adetarah for Censorship, Surveillance, and the Splinternet: Why We Need a Decentralized Web @adetarah for Censorship, Surveillance, and the Splinternet: Why We Need a Decentralized Web @adetarah Censorship, Surveillance, and the Splinternet: Why We Need a Decentralized Web @walo for Gigaton Run: Space Technology vs Climate Change @walo for Gigaton Run: Space Technology vs Climate Change @walo Gigaton Run: Space Technology vs Climate Change @thebojda for What If You Could Vote Anytime—Without Anyone Knowing How? @thebojda for What If You Could Vote Anytime—Without Anyone Knowing How? @thebojda What If You Could Vote Anytime—Without Anyone Knowing How? @chidinmaa for Can Decentralization Save the Internet from Itself? @chidinmaa for Can Decentralization Save the Internet from Itself? @chidinmaa Can Decentralization Save the Internet from Itself? @nebojsaneshatodorovic for LiDAR Space Technology and Lost Civilizations Archeology @nebojsaneshatodorovic for LiDAR Space Technology and Lost Civilizations Archeology @nebojsaneshatodorovic LiDAR Space Technology and Lost Civilizations Archeology @sshshln for Ethereum Is More Than Crypto. It’s a Machine for Making Worlds @sshshln for Ethereum Is More Than Crypto. It’s a Machine for Making Worlds @sshshln 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! 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? 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… 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? The top-voted #decentralized-internet story @dawnteh 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 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. 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! Congratulations @dawnteh, you’ve won 1000 USDT! @dawnteh 1000 USDT! The #spacetech Category This category awards two winners! This category awards two winners! Best #spacetech story goes to @walo’s Gigaton Run: Space Technology vs Climate Change Best #spacetech story goes to @walo’s Gigaton Run: Space Technology vs Climate Change Best #spacetech story @walo Gigaton Run: Space Technology vs Climate Change https://hackernoon.com/gigaton-run-space-technology-vs-climate-change?embedable=true 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. 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! Congratulations @walo, you’ve won 1000 USDT! @walo 1000 USDT! Runner up: @marcushaldd for Chaos on Earth: Wars, Crises, Disasters... What if We Just Move to Mars? Runner up: @marcushaldd Chaos on Earth: Wars, Crises, Disasters... What if We Just Move to Mars? https://hackernoon.com/chaos-on-earth-wars-crises-disasters-what-if-we-just-move-to-mars?embedable=true https://hackernoon.com/chaos-on-earth-wars-crises-disasters-what-if-we-just-move-to-mars?embedable=true 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. 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! Congratulations @marcushaldd, you’ve won 500 USDT! @marcushaldd 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 Proof Of Waste: Why the Blockchain Belongs In The Dumpster @bigmao @bigmao https://hackernoon.com/proof-of-waste-the-blockchain-belongs-in-the-dumpster?embedable=true 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. 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 @bigmao, you’ve won 500 USDT! @bigmao, @bigmao 500 USDT! Congratulations once again to all our winners. Thank you for your hard work! Congratulations once again to all our winners. Thank you for your hard work! How to Claim Your HackerNoon Writing Contest Prize Contact asher@hackernoon.com and yes-reply@hackernoon.com 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. Contact asher@hackernoon.com and yes-reply@hackernoon.com and share the email ID/and or wallet address attached to the winning HackerNoon account. asher@hackernoon.com yes-reply@hackernoon.com 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. Please note that you must contact us within 60 days after the winners’ announcement date. Ready to Feature on Our Next Winners’ List? Learn how to enter the Spacecoin Writing Contest! Ready to Feature on Our Next Winners’ List? Ready to Feature on Our Next Winners’ List? Learn how to enter the Spacecoin Writing Contest! Learn how to enter the Spacecoin Writing Contest! Learn how to enter the Spacecoin Writing Contest!