Stellar expanded into the Turkish market in 2025 through a strategic four-phase plan by Rise In, starting with developer education workshops and a mini-hackathon. This led to Hack Pera, Turkey's largest Web3 hackathon with 72 projects and $25K prizes, followed by a massively popular Stellar Sunset Party and a prominent booth at Istanbul Blockchain Week. The initiative resulted in 1,646 learners, 130+ projects, and projects advancing to Stellar's $150K Build Grant Program.
In March 2025, Rise In launched Stellar's Turkey expansion with education programs, attracting 1,600+ developers for workshops, a mini-hackathon, and AI-assisted Stellar development sessions, resulting in 60 projects and 200+ wallets created. June's Hack Pera during Istanbul Blockchain Week saw 200+ builders submit 72 projects, with 40% from prior bootcamps and one launching on mainnet. The Stellar Sunset Party drew nearly 1,000 applications for 490 spots at a Bosphorus venue, fostering ecosystem networking. A bustling booth at IBW solidified engagement. Outcomes include two projects advancing in the $150K SDF Build Grant, deep cultural immersion by the Stellar team, and upcoming programs. Quotes from Stellar's Elliot Voris highlight the engaged Turkish builders. This pipeline turned curiosity into a thriving community.
