Cycle 3 of the Mini Apps Competition opens Wednesday, October 14, and this time it comes with a theme.
Instead of a build-anything competition, we're giving builders directional guidance and concrete examples across four prize categories. The goal is higher-quality Mini Apps that add real functionality to the ecosystem. Build something people will actually use!
PAY, SAVE, EARN, ON/OFF RAMPS
New in Cycle 3, the competition will have a theme to inspire you and give you a pool of ideas to choose from. The focus will be on omini-apps that add functionalities that empower users to 'Pay, Save, Earn Money and enable On/Off ramps to get money in and out of the app'.
Pay:
Nimiq Pay is made for payments. Extend how far those payments can reach. Open up a new way for Nimiq Pay to pay and there's a prize for it, reaching a merchant, bill, or person that money cannot reach today.
Save:
Nimiq Pay allows users to interact with any token supported by Ethereum via the Mini Apps framework. This enables new ways to save money. With access to EVM-compatible chains, a Mini App can hold more than NIM and USDT. Extend what a user can hold: a different currency, tokenized gold, bitcoin, or yield-bearing dollars.
Earn:
The Nimiq Blockchain allows you to stake NIM, but the Mini Apps framework allows you to do so much more via EVM-compatible chains. Explore new ways to put your money to work.
On/Off-Ramp:
As it currently stands, it is not possible to top up or cash out from inside Nimiq Pay. There are many creative ways Mini App builders could extend the app so users can move money in and out without leaving it.
Why the shift
Cycle 3 is looking for submissions that align with growing the Nimiq ecosystem and with Nimiq's mission. Nimiq exists to empower individuals with independent and universal money. That mission runs through everything this competition is asking you to build:
- Nimiq is a public good
- Nimiq is open source by default
- Nimiq sees self-custody as a fundamental right
- Nimiq holds to high moral and legal standards
- Nimiq is closely connected to the community
- Nimiq is committed to NIM
- Nimiq is focused on innovation
Build with that in mind. The strongest Mini Apps give someone real independence over their own money: a way to pay, hold, grow, or move value that they did not have before, that they control themselves, and that works in the real world.
One thing worth noting: useful integrations count even if they rely on a centralized provider or are not entirely coded from scratch. If it works and adds value to the ecosystem, it counts. Pick a real user, a real place, and make one thing work end to end.
Prizes
17,000 USD in total prizes, one winner per category:
- 4,000 USDC for the best Pay Mini App
- 4,000 USDC for the best Save Mini App
- 4,000 USDC for the best Earn Mini App
- 4,000 USDC for the best On/Off-Ramp Mini App
- 1,000 USD bonus, awarded by the Community Council to another Mini App that deserves recognition
Payouts are made in USDC.
Need ideas on what to build?
The forum is open for brainstorming. Each category has its own thread where you can find Mini App ideas, share your own, and see what the community wants to use:
You can also find ideas and connect with other builders here:
- The Skool community, where builders share ideas, get feedback, and find teammates.
- Follow @nimiq & @miniappscomp, where we post examples and ideas throughout the cycle.
Throughout the cycle we'll share concrete examples of what these Mini Apps could look like, broken down by category, with enough to spark a real build.
Pick a direction, start there, and bring your questions to the live calls.
Sip & Ship events
Every week of the cycle we run a live Sip & Ship call. Grab a coffee, join us, and get your build in front of the team and other builders.
- Sip & Ship #1: Wednesday, October 14, 11:00 AM ET (15:00 UTC)
- Sip & Ship #2: Wednesday, October 21, 11:00 AM ET (15:00 UTC)
- Sip & Ship #3: Wednesday, October 28, 11:00 AM ET (15:00 UTC)
- Sip & Ship #4: Wednesday, November 4, 11:00 AM ET (16:00 UTC)
Key dates
- Wednesday, October 14: Cycle opens, submission portal live
- Wednesday, November 11: Submission deadline, 23:59 UTC
How to get started
- Register and read the full guidance at miniappscompetition.com
- Join the Skool community to meet other builders
- Browse example ideas in the Nimiq Forum
- Follow along on X: @nimiq & @miniappscomp
- Show up to Sip & Ship #1 on October 14, where we walk through everything live
Cycle 3 is your chance to build something useful, in a direction that matters for Nimiq.
We can't wait to see what you ship.
Pura Vida
Team Nimiq