Agentic Commerce on Arc AI Hackathon: How 1,200 Builders Are Redefining Onchain Payments

Wednesday, January 28, 2026 by stevekimoi

Event Overview

The landscape of digital commerce is undergoing a radical shift, and the builders of tomorrow are leading the charge.

From January 9–24, 2026, more than 1,200 participants across 222 teams came together for the Agentic Commerce on Arc hybrid hackathon on LabLab.ai. Powered by Circle, Arc, and NativelyAI, and supported by Google, Google DeepMind, and Google AI Studio, the event challenged developers to build agentic payment and commerce experiences with USDC on Arc, where AI agents don't just recommend actions, they coordinate, pay, and settle value onchain in real time.

A Vision for Agentic Commerce

The hackathon was designed to push the boundaries of how AI agents can automate and simplify onchain financial workflows. Leveraging Arc as the settlement layer and USDC as native gas and value, participants built systems where agents could handle everything from usage-based API payments and escrow to storefront operations with deterministic, sub-second finality.

Builders focused on creating "agentic" experiences where AI interprets user intent, reasons with Gemini models via Google AI Studio or the Gemini API, and autonomously interacts with Circle infrastructure and Arc smart contracts to execute commerce-driven tasks end to end.

This hybrid AI hackathon brought together online and on-site builders who needed to prototype real-world use cases in just two weeks. For many teams, it was their first artificial intelligence hackathon, and they used the event to test ideas, ship working products, and learn from other global teams. If you want to join similar online AI hackathons and build your own AI hackathon projects, explore LabLab.ai’s global AI hackathons.

From Global Visionaries to On-Site Innovators

The event saw a massive global turnout, featuring both a competitive online track and a high-energy on-site component. On-site participants gathered to collaborate and code, while thousands more joined virtually to redefine the intersection of AI and Web3.

The intensity of the two-week build culminated in a showcase of projects that weren't just prototypes, they were viable businesses. Judges were so impressed by the quality of the submissions that Google increased their prize pool from $10,000 to $40,000 in GCP Credits just before the winners were announced, adding five additional "Honorable Mention" slots to recognize more standout teams.

Highlights and Winners

After a rigorous judging process, the most promising projects were selected for their technical excellence, innovation, and real-world potential.

Main Hackathon Winners (Arc & Circle)

On-Site Track:

1st Place: NewsFacts – A project by NewsFacts ($3,000 in USDC).
2nd Place: AisaEscrow – Built by AisaPay ($1,500 in USDC).
3rd Place: VibeCard – A viral rewards network by VibeCard ($1,000 in USDC).

Online Track:

1st Place: RSoft Agentic Bank – Developed by RSoft LATAM ($2,500 in USDC).
2nd Place: Arcana – A project by Arcana ($1,500 in USDC).

Special Awards:

Best Product Design: AI Merchant Studio and Storefront – Created by Commerce Studio ($500 in USDC).

Google Track Winners (GCP Credits)

1st Place: OmniAgentPay – Payment infrastructure for AI agents by OmniArc ($20,000 in GCP Credits).
2nd Place: Arc Merchant – Autonomous X402 Micropayments by Status 402 ($10,000 in GCP Credits).
3rd Place: JoyKeep – Built by JoyKeep ($5,000 in GCP Credits).

Honorable Mentions ($1,000 in GCP Credits each):

RouterAI by RouterAI
FEIN (Financial Entity Intelligence Network) by FEIN of the Gemini
Arcent by Protocol 402
Universal Stablecoin Payment SDK for Arc Network by ArcPay SDK
InsuranceAI / Settle by 1x1 Labs

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I use events like the Agentic Commerce on Arc AI hackathon to build better projects?

Agentic Commerce on Arc showed how powerful it is to combine USDC on Arc, Circle infrastructure, and Gemini models in a focused AI hackathon setting. You can use similar events to experiment with agentic payment flows, onchain settlement, and AI agents that move real value—not just demo data.

Is this type of AI hackathon suitable for beginners?

Yes. While the technology stack is advanced, many teams joined as newcomers to AI hackathons and Web3. As long as you are comfortable with basic development tools and willing to learn fast, events like this are a great entry point for AI hackathons for beginners.

What are some AI hackathon project ideas inspired by this event?

The winning teams built projects like agentic banks, escrow systems, storefronts, and automated reward networks. Similar AI hackathon ideas include subscription billing agents, usage-based API metering, autonomous merchant dashboards, and fraud detection tools that plug into existing payment rails.

How long does an AI hackathon like this usually last?

The Agentic Commerce on Arc AI hackathon ran for about two weeks, giving teams enough time to go from idea to working prototype. Other online AI hackathons can be shorter (48 hours) or longer (a month), but they all emphasize rapid prototyping and shipping something demo-ready.

Do I need experience with AI or crypto to join an AI hackathon like this?

Prior experience helps, but it is not required. Many participants used the hackathon as a way to learn about artificial intelligence hackathons, agentic AI, and onchain development by building alongside more experienced teammates and mentors.

Looking Ahead

The Agentic Commerce on Arc AI Hackathon provided a glimpse into a future where commerce is autonomous, seamless, and on-chain. By merging AI-driven intent with the deterministic execution of the Arc network, these innovators have laid the groundwork for a more efficient global economy.

All submissions from the hackathon are now live. Explore them here: Agentic Commerce on Arc projects, and check out more global AI hackathons on LabLab.ai if you’re ready to build your next AI hackathon project.