🏦 BNB Chain Stablecoin Market Reaches $15.​2B on Payment Infrastructure Growth

BNB Chain's **Good Vibes Only: OpenClaw Edition** hackathon has attracted over 200 developers building AI-powered blockchain applications. The competition offers **$100,000 in prizes**. **Projects being developed include:** - AI agents that autonomously trade and manage DeFi strategies - Wallet security bots providing 24/7 onchain monitoring - Natural language tools converting plain text into blockchain actions - Agent frameworks that observe, decide, and execute onchain operations - AI-native marketplaces for autonomous agents and data - Consumer applications powered by AI agents rather than traditional interfaces The hackathon focuses on AI agent development within the BNB Chain ecosystem, with participants building tools that bridge artificial intelligence and blockchain functionality. [Learn more and register](https://www.bnbchain.org/en/blog/win-a-share-of-100k-with-good-vibes-only-openclaw-edition)

BNB Chain has implemented **ERC-8004**, a new standard designed to solve the identity problem for AI agents. **The core issue:** AI tools often feel unreliable because they reset, lose context, or behave inconsistently. Users struggle to trust agents without knowing their history or performance. **The solution:** ERC-8004 provides agents with: - Verifiable identity that persists across sessions - A trackable record of behavior and performance - Practical implementation that's cheap, fast, and scalable for daily use This approach shifts the focus from infrastructure challenges to identity verification, allowing users to check an agent's track record rather than guess at its reliability. [Read the full details on BNB Chain's blog](https://www.bnbchain.org/en/blog/making-agent-identity-practical-with-erc-8004-on-bnb-chain)

**Registration deadline today** for BNB Chain's Local Hack event in Bengaluru. **Prize pool and support:** - $160,000 in cash prizes - Access to YZi Labs' $1B Builder Fund - Ecosystem support and mentorship - Incubation opportunities Builders can compete in four focus areas: - Prediction markets - Token launchpads - Smart collateral for Web3 credit and BNPL - Privacy solutions **Event schedule:** - Orientation and team formation: February 15 - In-person hacking: February 27-28 in Bengaluru [Register here](https://x.com/BNBCHAIN/status/2021519854453370975?s=20)

**Application deadline approaching for Bengaluru hackathon** The registration window for the Local Hack event in Bengaluru, India closes on February 15th. Interested participants have less than 48 hours remaining to submit their applications. **Event highlights:** - 4-day in-person hacking session - One-on-one mentoring and workshops - Wellness activities included - $70,000 prize pool - Focus on building onchain solutions This follows the Open Hacker House format previously announced in August 2025. The event provides developers an opportunity to work on blockchain projects with direct mentorship support. [Apply now](http://lu.ma/openhousehack-india)

BNB Chain has extended its zero-fee promotion for stablecoin transactions across its network. **Key Details:** - Users can transfer, withdraw, and bridge USDC, U, and USD1 without paying transaction fees - Available on BSC and opBNB networks (availability depends on partner support) - This extends a previous promotion that included USDT, USDC, and FDUSD The initiative aims to reduce friction for stablecoin users on BNB Chain's infrastructure. Fee waivers apply to specific partner platforms participating in the program. Full program details and participating partners: [BNB Chain Blog](https://www.bnbchain.org/en/blog/the-carnival-continues-0-fee-transactions-for-usdc-usd1-u-extended)