Do I need to be a developer to participate?

Phase 1 requires technical skills. Phase 2 is open to anyone with marketing, growth, or distribution expertise. You do not need to code to compete in Phase 2.

Can I apply solo?

Yes. Solo applications are accepted. There is no minimum or maximum team size.

What is USDG?

USDG is the Global Dollar, a yield-bearing stablecoin issued by Paxos. All prizes on Spark are paid in USDG.

How does the jury vote work?

Project backers trade on Combinator.trade, a decision market powered by the project's Meteora liquidity pool. They express conviction on which builder proposal delivers the most value — weighing quality, timeline, and budget. No new funds needed, just the tokens they already hold. The market also includes a "no one deserves to win" option.

How are milestone payments handled?

You define your milestones and budget in your builder proposal, submitted before the decision market opens. Each milestone unlocks a portion of the project treasury. When you complete a milestone, you submit it. If no token holder contests it within 72 hours, the payment is released automatically. If contested, a 48-hour decision market determines whether the milestone was delivered as promised.

Is my builder profile public?

Yes. Your profile, hackathon history, and leaderboard score are all public and linked to your wallet.

Can I participate in multiple hackathons at the same time?

Yes. Each hackathon is fully independent.