APU Blockchain team wins big at ETHTaipei Hackathon

A team of students from Asia Pacific University (APU) in Malaysia has emerged victorious at the prestigious ETHTaipei hackathon.

Competing against over 300 participants from 12 countries, APU’s “Team CrossYield” impressed judges with their innovative DeFi protocol.

“CrossYield” addresses key challenges in decentralised finance (DeFi) by offering greater flexibility, lower transaction costs, and improved debt management for borrowers and lenders.

Their project secured a total of $5,100 USD (approximately RM24,000) in prizes, winning top honors in categories like best use of dual investment on Dyson Finance, best smart contract deployment on ThunderCore, and best overall project on Zircuit.

Team CrossYield’s success is attributed to a combination of factors. Professor Dr. Vinesh Thiruchelvam, Chief Innovation & Enterprise Officer at APU, provided invaluable mentorship, while the team members themselves brought a wealth of experience to the table.

Team Lead Yudhishthra Sugumaran, a seasoned hackathon participant with experience in leading blockchain companies, spearheaded the project’s development.

The team also benefitted from the diverse expertise of Vanessa Chan (Financial Technology), Benjamin Tan (Cyber Security & Blockchain Development), Viman Vinesh (Software Engineering & Marketing), and Cheong Yee Chian (Cyber Security & Blockchain Market Research).

The university’s emphasis on web development, project management, and programming fundamentals played a crucial role in preparing the team for success. Additionally, technical workshops and hackathons organised by APU communities provided a platform for honing their skills and developing innovative ideas.

Professor Dr. Vinesh Thiruchelvam highlighted APU’s commitment to providing students with the skills they need to thrive in the digital age.

“The development of both hard and soft skills is essential,” he stated. “APU equips students with diverse intelligence training, ensuring they graduate with the skills to meet future job demands.”

ETHTaipei 2024 not only served as a stage for APU students to showcase their talent, but also provided a valuable learning experience.

The opportunity to interact with industry leaders like Ethereum founder Vitalik Buterin and other participants undoubtedly contributed to their understanding of cutting-edge blockchain technologies and applications.