There’s something special about returning to a place that has already sparked something in everyone of us and our team.

"México lindo y querido" is a phrase that keeps coming back to us whenever we talk about returning. It reflects the deep appreciation we have for a country that is culturally rich, resilient, incredibly talented, and filled with people who bring incredible energy to building meaningful change across our ecosystem.

Last year, we had the privilege of spending two weeks traveling across four amazing locations for our hackathons: Oaxaca, Estado de México, Aguascalientes, and Mexico City, working alongside more than 40 technical institutes, colleges, and universities. Together, the students built projects using the Open Payments API, and we witnessed them approach financial innovation with curiosity, creativity, and a genuine desire to solve real-world problems. 

We're Going Back to Mexico!   🇲🇽

This September, the Interledger Foundation is returning for student hackathons, this time in Mérida, Yucatán.

Open Payments Hackathon - Student Hack Mérida

Host:  Tecnológico de Software, Tecnológico de Mérida
September 11–12, 2026
📍Tecnológico de Software
C. 18 103, Col. México, México Oriente, 97100 Mérida, Yuc., México

Tec de Software is one of the flagship software engineering programs within the Tecnológico Nacional de México network, and we're excited to see what students create when given the tools, mentorship, and an open financial infrastructure challenge.

Thanks to our collaboration with Instituto Tecnológico de Mérida, we're also extending this invitation to students from across the Yucatán region. We hope to welcome participants from universities throughout the Yucatán peninsula who are passionate about software development, fintech, and open technologies. Sign up today.

What to Expect at our Events

During our hackathons, students from diverse disciplines will work in multidisciplinary teams to design solutions that address real-world challenges related to financial inclusion, interoperability, and digital payments.

🚀 Hands-on development with the Interledger Protocol and Open Payments API. 
💡 Technical talks and live demos from the Interledger Foundation team.
🤝 Mentorship throughout the event from engineers and developer advocates.
🌙 Optional overnight hacking for teams that want to keep building.
☕ Meals, drinks, networking, and plenty of opportunities to connect.
🎁 Swag, prizes, recognition, and the opportunity to join a growing global community building the future of digital payments.

Who Should Come

• Computer science, engineering, and systems students who love to build. 
• Finance, Economics, Business, FinTech, and Digital Innovation students interested in the future of money and payments.
• Anyone curious about open financial infrastructure or fintech in general. 
• Developers at any level, you don't need to know ILP (Interledger protocol) before you show up. 
• Students who want to connect with an international community working on real problems.

If you're at Tec de Software or Instituto Tecnológico de Mérida, or know someone who is, share this information with them. Spots are limited, and we expect both events to fill up.

We can't wait to build with you.

¡Nos vemos pronto, México! • See you in September. 🇲🇽

Learn More about our Hackathons.

The  Open Payments  Hackathons - Student Hacks, are proudly sponsored by the Interledger Foundation. By participating, attendees agree to follow the Interledger Foundation Code of Conduct.