Nimiq, an open-source blockchain project focused on digital payments, has opened the second cycle of its Mini Apps Competition. The four-week competition began on Aug. 24, giving developers, AI builders and indie hackers the opportunity to create open-source applications for Nimiq Pay. It offers $17,000 in prizes as part of a three-cycle competition with more than $50,000 in total prizes.
The new round follows the first competition, which attracted 62 Mini App submissions. The competition is built around the Nimiq Pay Mini Apps Framework, which lets developers create and host lightweight web applications that users can access through Nimiq Pay.
Developers Can Build Apps for Nimiq Pay
Nimiq Pay provides the wallet and payment functionality used by Mini Apps, while developers keep control of their applications, infrastructure and intellectual property. The framework also allows developers to distribute their applications without submission fees, platform commissions or revenue sharing.
Nimiq Executive Director Max Burger described the model as an “App Store moment” for crypto payments, saying developers can bring extensions to the Nimiq payment experience directly to users instead of keeping them in separate applications.
The framework is intended to reduce some of the work involved in launching conventional applications through mobile app stores. Developers do not need to build separate payment infrastructure for their Mini Apps, allowing them to focus on building their applications.
The competition is open to developers, AI builders, vibe coders and indie hackers. Participants can use AI development tools during the building process, while eligible projects include games, productivity tools, marketplaces, social experiences and other web applications.
Cycle II runs through Sept. 18. Participants can use the Mini Apps Framework along with competition rules and starter resources to build and launch their applications for Nimiq Pay users.
The competition is part of Nimiq’s broader move to turn its payment app into an open platform where developers can create Mini Apps and distribute them directly to the Nimiq community. The approach gives the payment app additional functionality while allowing developers to build products without operating within a separate distribution platform.
