Virtual-First,
Execution-Driven

The NEARCON 2026 Innovation Sandbox is designed to elevate real working demos that demonstrate NEAR’s technical capabilities across AI, privacy, intents, and account abstraction. Winners will be showcased in front of the world at NEARCON 2026.

Virtual-First,
Execution-Driven

The NEARCON 2026 Innovation Sandbox is designed to elevate real working demos that demonstrate NEAR’s technical capabilities across AI, privacy, intents, and account abstraction. Winners will be showcased in front of the world at NEARCON 2026.

Prize Tracks

The Private Web and Private Life

Build consumer apps or Web3 widgets where privacy is the default across finance, assets, identity, and user data.

AI That Works for You

Leverage NEAR’s AI stack, including private cloud, private chat, Shade Agents, and agentic payments to build user-owned AI.

Open Society: From Finance to the Real World

Build solutions that integrate stablecoins, tokenized assets, and NEAR Intents, or products that turn real-world facts into reliable on-chain outcomes.

Only on NEAR

Additional recognition for exceptional use of NEAR-native capabilities such as account model, global contracts, chain abstraction, off-chain computation patterns, and Shade Agents or code hash attestation.

Sandbox Timeline

Virtual Builder Sprint

January 26

February 16

During this global, fully virtual sprint, teams build independently with light-touch support.
Submissions include a working prototype, demo video, repository and documentation, and short
product narrative.

Judging and Winner Selection

February 16

February 19

Virtual judging begins immediately after submissions close. Winners will be announced during a virtual closing ceremony.

NEARCON Showcase

February 23

February 24

The Sandbox cultivates into NearCon where you will find builder-oriented content such as workshops, technical deep dives, and panels, as well as networking opportunities with ecosystem partners and accelerators.

Our Sponsors

FAQS

What kind of builders is the NEARCON Innovation Sandbox for?
The Sandbox is specifically aimed at AI-native builders, protocol and infrastructure engineers, product-focused teams exploring NEAR, and experienced builders seeking visibility and next steps.
The Sandbox is fully virtual by default. No travel is required to submit, win, or be featured. Teams may optionally attend NEARCON if already planning to.
Projects will be evaluated based on the following factors: Working Demo, NEAR Leverage, Product Clarity, Technical Quality, Future Potential.
The Innovation Sandbox will provide participants with lightweight technical guidance from NEAR ecosystem contributors, scheduled virtual workshops, weekly office hours, and async support via shared channels and documentation.