ALGORAND FOUNDATION

Global x402 Challenge

Official Rules

1.

Overview

The Global x402 Challenge, presented by Algorand Foundation Cayman (“Algorand Foundation”), is designed to create a competitive environment for builders to launch x402-powered endpoints on Algorand Mainnet. The goal is to challenge developers to turn APIs into live pay-per-request services, compete through real usage, attract users, process real payments, and demonstrate practical use cases for agentic payments, API monetization, and on-chain settlement.

Projects will be evaluated by a panel of judges based on their technical merit, real usage, use case strength, and overall alignment with the competition’s goals. Legal or regulatory feasibility is not part of the judging criteria. All Entrants (as defined below) are obligated to adhere to all relevant laws and regulations when launching any software they've developed for the Final Presentation

The educational resources and other content provided by Algorand Foundation are solely for informational purposes. Algorand Foundation neither promotes nor approves the deployment of any applications in contravention of prevailing laws or regulations.

Algorand Foundation strictly prohibits any deployment, integration, or use that contravenes these guidelines.

2.

Defined Terms

“Administrator” means Algorand Foundation Cayman, an exempted company with limited liability, incorporated in the Cayman Islands.

“Award” has the meaning set forth in Section 14.

“Content” means all materials, submissions, information, code, or otherwise submitted by Entrant hereunder.

“Creative Materials” means Program-related marketing materials, which the Administrator may produce based upon the Program and which may include Entrant’s name, image, likeness, and Content.

“Entrant” means an Individual that meets the applicable eligibility requirements set forth in Section 3 of these Official Rules and that signifies agreement to these Official Rules in full and participates in the Program.

“Individual” means a natural person.

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“Member” means an Individual participating in the Program as part of a Team.

“Official Rules” means this document.

“Partner” means the company hired to produce the Program in the region, if applicable.

“Profile Information” means the information, including personal information, required to enter the Program. This information may be used to identify an Individual.

“Program” means Global x402 Challenge.

“Program Sponsor” means a promotional sponsor of the Program that is procured by the Administrator.

“Project Submission” means the work product that an Entrant submits for entry into the Final Presentation.

“Team” means a group of Individuals, including a Team Leader, who participate together in the Program.

“Team Leader” means the Individual who provides the Profile Information of Members of the Team and acts as the contact and representative for the Team.

3.

Eligibility

This Program welcomes Entrants who fulfill the criteria outlined below:

(a) Age Requirements: Entrants must be an adult of at least 18 years old or the relevant “age of majority” in your country of residence or domicile, without a criminal record, and be able to legally and lawfully participate in the Program.

(b) Exclusions: Owing to increased compliance risks with US, UN, EU, and other sanctions, as well as export control regulations, you are not eligible if you are domiciled in or resident of, or physically present and/or located in any country subject to sanctions (including but not limited to of China, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Russia, Venezuela and the Crimea, Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine) and jurisdictions in which the Program is or may be prohibited, restricted or unauthorized in any form or (hereinafter referred to as “ Excluded Jurisdictions ”). The following Individuals are also not eligible to

i. Individuals under U.S. or other relevant sanctions, including those by the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control.

ii. Anyone affiliated with entities under U.S. blocking sanctions, Entity List restrictions, or other

relevant asset freeze or prohibited party sanctions. iv. Employees, contractors, directors, and

You are required to furnish such documents and personal information to prove your identity, status and/or eligibility for the Program. We reserve the right to reject your application or eligibility if you are unable to furnish such documents or information to our satisfaction and suspend or terminate your participation in the Program if you are unable to furnish such documents or information to our satisfaction or if the information you provide is untrue, inaccurate, not current or incomplete. As a

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condition to receiving any Award, each winner shall represent and warrant that, at the time of Award delivery: (i) they are not subject to any applicable sanctions or export control restrictions; (ii) receipt of the Award does not violate the laws or regulations of their jurisdiction; and (iii) any wallet address provided is not associated with any sanctioned or prohibited person or entity.

(c) Professional Obligations: Entrants affirm that their involvement in the Program would not infringe on the rights or obligations of third parties. This includes, but is not limited to, employer policies, contractual commitments, or any other third-party restrictions. You are solely responsible to ensure that you can participate in this Program and the activities contemplated under these Official Rules in a lawful manner.

(d) Language Proficiency: It is imperative for Entrants to be proficient in English, encompassing speaking, reading, writing, and comprehension. All Program-related communications will be in English.

(e) Participation is null and void where legally prohibited.

4.

Terms and Conditions

(a) Rule Acceptance: By selecting the 'Official Rules' checkbox during registration, Entrants confirm their full agreement with these rules. Winning and receiving any prize, award, or funding from this competition depends on Entrants adhering to all the stipulated rules.

(b) Decision Finality: Entrants acknowledge that the Administrator's decisions regarding winner selection are conclusive and indisputable.

(c) Integrity Assurance: The Administrator does not solicit any undue advantages or commitments for itself or its associated entities in return for participation in the Program. Entrants, by entering, assert and ensure that:

i. Their involvement, including the acceptance of an Award, does not breach any laws, regulations, or rules of their locality.

ii. Any potential prize is not a quid pro quo for influencing any act or decision that could provide the Administrator with business benefits.

right to alter, pause, or terminate the Program (including the Final Presentation) due to reasons like fraud, technical glitches, or any factor that might compromise its integrity.

(e) Fair Play: Entrants accept that any deliberate attempt to disrupt the Program's legitimate proceedings may be legally actionable. The Administrator retains the right to pursue legal remedies, including requiring the violating participant to cover the Administrator’s legal costs, against any participant found engaging in such activities.

(f) Accuracy of Information: The Administrator is not liable for any inaccuracies in the entry details or Content provided by participants, whether due to technical issues, human errors, or external

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(g) Rule Amendments: Entrants acknowledge that the Administrator can revise these Official Rules whenever deemed necessary. The Administrator commits to making reasonable efforts to inform Entrants about any such changes.

5.

Timeline

(a) Program Registration Window: The registration phase commences at 11:45 pm Eastern Standard Time on June 12, 2026, and concludes at 11:45 pm on September 1, 2026.

(b) Final Presentation Registration Window: The registration phase commences at 11:45 pm Eastern Standard Time on September 2, 2026, and concludes at 11:45 pm on September 29, 2026.

(c) Final Presentation Shortlist Window: The shortlist window phase commences at 11:45 pm Eastern Standard Time on September 30, 2026, and concludes at 11:45 pm on October 8, 2026. Selected participants will be notified via email on October 9, 2026.

(d) Final Presentation Date: The Final Presentation will take place on November 2, 2026, time and place to be announced.

(e) Winner Declaration: The winners of the Program will be unveiled no later than November 12, 2026.

For the purpose of this Program, the official time will be determined by the Administrator's computer system. Entrants should ensure they align their submissions with the corresponding time in their respective regions. Please note that the dates mentioned might undergo minor adjustments. In the event of any changes, the Administrator will update the Program's official website.

6.

Registration and Submission

Following registration for the Program, Entrants are required to submit additional project information to be considered for the Final Presentation, those interested in participating must fill out the registration form and submit the requested information before 11:45 pm Eastern Standard Time on September 29, 2026. Selection of potential finalists will be based on both leaderboard review and the project information submitted by Entrants. To be eligible for consideration as one of the 10 finalists invited to participate in the Final Presentation, a project must be ranked among the top 50 projects on the leaderboard and the Entrant must have submitted all requested project information. The submission form link, together with all information related to the Final Presentation, will be sent to eligible Entrants via email.

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An Entrant’s failure to provide Profile Information and provide express consent in accordance with this Section is grounds for disqualification from the Program. The Profile Information must conform to the guidelines and Content restrictions set forth below in Section 12. Failure to conform constitutes grounds for disqualification. Administrator reserves the right to require a Team to modify its name as needed to conform to the guidelines and Content restrictions set forth in Section 12, or to otherwise avoid confusion.

7.

Restrictions

(a) Team Membership: Each participant can be affiliated with only one team.

(b) Project Submission: Each team is allowed to submit one (1) project.

(c) Confidentiality: To the furthest extent permitted by law, Entrants should be aware that any data or information shared in relation to their project or profile will not be treated as confidential, other than personal data, which is collected and processed in accordance with the “Entrant’s Personal Information” section below and the Administrator’s Privacy Policy.

8.

Assessment Criteria

A designated panel of judges, appointed by the Administrator, will evaluate each Project Pitch and presentation based on the following evenly weighted criteria:

(a) Volume: Evaluation will be based on the amount of USDC processed through the submitted x402 endpoint during the Competition. Judges may consider both total payment volume and the level of real, measurable activity generated through the endpoint.

(b) Use case quality: x402 should be meaningfully integrated into the core payment flow, rather than added as a secondary feature to a product that could operate without it. The use case should show clear value in areas such as pay-per-request access, agentic payments, API monetization, data access, or digital services.

(c) Sustained potential: Project should demonstrate the potential to remain active beyond the Competition. Judges may consider whether the endpoint could continue to generate usage after the prize period and whether the project shows a credible path toward long-term adoption or viability.

(d) Innovation: Project should demonstrate a novel, thoughtful, or technically meaningful use of x402. Judges may consider whether the submission introduces a new payment flow, agentic commerce use case, infrastructure pattern, or practical implementation that expands how x402 can be used.

9.

Entrant's Intellectual Property Rights

Furthermore, Entrants commit to notifying the Administrator about the status, ownership, or any open-source

10.

Intellectual Property Retained by Administrator

Administrator shall, at all times, retain all rights, title, and interest, in and to any Creative Materials. Any use of Creative Materials incorporating Entrant Content shall be for Program-related, educational, or promotional purposes only. The Administrator shall have no obligation to publish, distribute, or otherwise use any Creative Materials.

11.

Entrant’s Personal Information

All information provided by Entrants in the Program will be processed in line with the Administrator’s Privacy Policy as found at https://algorand.co/algorand-foundation/privacy-policy. By actively agreeing to these rules and participating in the Program, Entrants consent to share their information with the appointed judges, Program Sponsors, and with the Partner as a function of the Partner’s administration of the Program and to receive emails from the Administrator or the Partner.

Furthermore, Entrants acknowledge that their personal data might be stored on servers outside their home country and processed by the Administrator in line with its Privacy Policy.

Collected data, such as names, email addresses, postal addresses, and locations, will be used for Programrelated communication or, if opted in to, for sending additional information from the Administrator.

Participants can access, modify, or withdraw their personal data and can oppose data collection under specific conditions. To exercise these rights, Entrants can email legal@algorand.foundation. The Administrator will only share personal data when necessary to: (i) manage the Program; (ii) adhere to legal mandates from government authorities; (iii) safeguard and assert the rights or assets of the Administrator; or (iv) enforce these Official Rules.

For Participants in the European Economic Area (EEA) Only: Participants should be aware that they can:

(a) Withdraw consent at any time with regards to personal data requiring consent to process, without affecting prior lawful data processing.

(b) Exercise rights over their personal data held by the Administrator, including access, rectification, erasure, restriction, and data portability.

(c) Obtain a machine-readable copy of their personal data or have it transferred to another entity.

12.

Content Guidelines & Restrictions

(d) Lodge a complaint with an EEA member state's data supervisory authority if unsatisfied with the Administrator's data processing.

(a) All Content must be in English.

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(b) Entrants must possess or have secured all necessary rights to their Profile Information to participate in this Program and to grant the required permissions to the Administrator.

(c) Content should not infringe upon the rights of others, including but not limited to intellectual property rights, privacy, and publicity.

(d) Content should not tarnish or negatively impact the reputation, brand, or goodwill of the Administrator or any affiliated Individual or entity.

(e) If content features any individuals, Entrants must have obtained their explicit consent to use their likeness and grant the rights outlined herein.

(f) Content should be free from malicious components such as viruses, worms, spyware, or any other harmful elements.

(g) Content should not be inappropriate, indecent, offensive, defamatory, or libelous.

(h) Content should not endorse or promote prejudice, racism, or harm against any Individual or group, nor should it discriminate based on race, gender, religion, nationality, disability, sexual orientation, or age.

(i) Content should comply with all applicable laws and regulations of the country where it is created and should not breach the terms of any third-party platforms where it might be uploaded.

13.

Winner Announcement and Requirements

The winners of the Program will be announced within ten (10) days of November 2, 2026 via email.

To be officially recognized as a winner, Entrants must complete the Award Acceptance Documents (as defined below) and any other paperwork deemed necessary by the Administrator and/or the Program Sponsors. Additionally, winners must successfully meet the due diligence standards set by the Administrator and/or the Program Sponsors.

14.

Awards

The fourth place award is $17,500, the fifth place award is $15,000 (collectively, referred to as the “ Award ” or part, in USD, USDCa, or other award of comparable or superior value.

Receipt of the Award will be conditioned on completing certain documents and providing additional information, as the case may be, that are provided by the Administrator and/or the Program Sponsor and

In addition, there will be a 500,000 ALGO prize pool distributed across the top 20 projects on the leaderboard. The final leaderboard order will be subject to review and verification by the Administrator, including checks to confirm that participants have not engaged in artificial volume, wash transactions, repeated self-payments, or other activity intended to manipulate leaderboard results. The Administrator reserves the right to exclude or adjust any leaderboard activity it determines, in its sole discretion, to be inauthentic, manipulated, or otherwise inconsistent with the Competition rules.

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which the Entrant must complete and submit to confirm eligibility and accept the Award (“Award Acceptance Documents”).

Selection as a winner does not confer any vested right, entitlement, or guarantee to receive an Award. All Awards are granted at the sole discretion of the Administrator and remain subject to eligibility verification, compliance review, legal permissibility, and completion of all required Award Acceptance Documents to the satisfaction of the Administrator.

Any Award provided under the Final Presentation is a discretionary promotional award and is not compensation for services, consideration for any transaction, inducement to develop, deploy, promote, or maintain any product or protocol, or payment in exchange for any present or future goods or services.

15.

Taxes and Other Restrictions and Limitations

(a) For the avoidance of doubt, the Award is the gross amount that the winner shall receive under the Final Presentation, the winner shall not receive any gross-up or reimbursement of any kind for any taxes, social security contributions and/or any levy payable by the winner as a result of collecting the Award.

(b) Any valuation of an Award is determined, if at all, at the time of transfer by the Administrator in its sole discretion. The Administrator makes no representations regarding the fair market value of any Award and undertakes no obligation to provide tax advice, reporting, or documentation except where required by applicable law. Winners are solely responsible for all tax reporting, declarations, and payments arising from receipt or use of an Award.

(c) All Awards, whether in cash, ALGO, USDCa or its equivalent, will be directed to the Team Leader.

(d) Winning teams might be instructed to establish a wallet address, as specified by the Administrator, to receive and access the Award if the Award is provided in ALGO or USDCa.

(e) Awards are strictly non-transferable. Any alterations or substitutions are only permissible with the explicit consent of the Administrator.

(f) Winners bear the responsibility for any tax declarations and payments as mandated by their local laws.

(g) Upon accepting any Award, winners, in accordance with the law, absolve the Administrator and associated parties from any claims or actions, including property damage or loss, stemming from their participation in the Final Presentation or from the utilization or mishandling of the Award. This waiver does not encompass claims against the Administrator or associated parties due to personal injuries, fatalities, or any damages resulting from intentional or gross negligence.

asset would be unlawful, impracticable, or create regulatory, licensing, sanctions, tax, or compliance right to modify, delay, withhold, substitute, or convert the Award (including payment in fiat currency or a different digital asset of comparable or greater value) without further obligation.

(i) These Official Rules are not designed to override, limit, or alter an Entrant's rights under prevailing consumer protection laws.

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(j) The Administrator does not custody digital assets on behalf of any Entrant or winner and does not opoperate as a broker, dealer, exchange, or money services business. Winners are solely responsible for providing a valid, self-hosted wallet address capable of receiving the Award. The Administrator does not facilitate secondary transfers, conversions, or trading of any Award.

16.

Disclaimer

Participation in the Program does not constitute an endorsement, investment recommendation, or guarantee by the Administrator, judges, or Program Sponsors of any startup, product, service, or token presented. All Entrants are independent entities solely responsible for their operations, marketing, and compliance with applicable laws and regulations. The Administrator, judges, or Program Sponsors do not provide legal, financial, or investment advice, and expressly disclaims liability for any representations made by participating Entrants, including claims regarding business performance, product functionality, token utility, or potential returns. Entrants acknowledge that they have not relied, and will not rely, on any statements, feedback, evaluations, educational materials, or communications from the Administrator, judges, or Program Sponsors in making business, technical, legal, or financial decisions. Participation in the Program is entirely at the Entrant’s own risk.

17.

No Employment Implication

These Official Rules do not constitute an employment offer or contract with any participant. Entrants recognize that their Profile Information and Project Submission are provided willingly and not under any form of confidentiality or trust. They also acknowledge that no confidential, fiduciary, agency, or implied contractual relationship exists between them and the Administrator or any associated parties due to the submission of any Content as per these Official Rules.

Entrant Behavior

Throughout the Program, the Administrator may, at its sole discretion, conduct background checks on Entrants, in each case only where permitted by applicable law and subject to obtaining any consent and providing any notices required under applicable data-protection and consumer-reporting laws. If Entrants receive sponsorship from third parties, including brands, such endorsements must receive prior written approval from the Administrator. Entrants, including their sponsors, must not use or allow the use of the Administrator's trademarks, logos, or other intellectual property without prior written consent.

19.

Limitations of Liability

(a) Any inaccuracies, be they caused by the Entrant, printing errors, or equipment or software related to the

(b) Technical disruptions of any nature, including but not limited to, equipment or network failures or botting.

(c) Unauthorized interventions in any part of the Program.

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(d) Delays or failures in communication, including mail.

(e) Any damage claims resulting from Program participation or acceptance of an Award.

(f) Claims by Entrants regarding similarities or competitiveness between their submissions and products or technologies independently developed by the Administrator or received from third parties, including other Entrants.

(g) Any act, omission, unavailability, interruption, delay, or error of the GoPlausible facilitator or any other third-party facilitator, tool, or service used in connection with the Program, including any inaccuracy, incompleteness, corruption, or unavailability of the transaction tracking, volume data, leaderboard, or public dashboard relied upon to determine eligibility, rankings, or Awards. The GoPlausible facilitator, all such third-party services, and all data and dashboards generated by them are provided on an “as-is” and “as-available” basis, and neither the Administrator nor any party associated with the Administrator makes any representation or warranty, express or implied, as to their accuracy, completeness, reliability, security, or availability.

NOTWITHSTANDING ANYTHING TO THE CONTRARY IN THESE OFFICIAL RULE, TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED UNDER APPLICABLE LAWS, WE, OUR SUBSIDIARY AND RELATED COMPANIES, TOGETHER WITH THEIR OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES, AGENTS AND REPRESENTATIVES SHALL NOT BE RESPONSIBLE OR LIABLE FOR ANY EXPENSE, LOSS, DAMAGE, LIABILITY OR OTHER CONSEQUENCES, WHETHER DIRECT, INDIRECT, SPECIAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL, SUFFERED OR INCURRED BY YOU OR ANY THIRD PARTY ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH YOUR PARTICIPATION IN THE PROGRAM AND/OR RECEIPT AND USE OF THE AWARD.

20.

Dispute Resolution; Governing Law

These Official Rules together with any non-contractual obligations arising out of or in connection with it, is governed by and shall be construed in accordance with the laws of the state of Delaware and the United States without regard to conflict of laws provisions thereof, and without regard to the United Nations Convention on the International Sale of Goods. Exclusive jurisdiction and venue for any litigation arising under these Official Rules is in the federal and state courts located in Delaware and each party hereby consents to such jurisdiction and venue for this purpose. Each party hereby waives trial by jury in any court action or proceeding to which they may be parties, arising out of, in connection with, or in any way pertaining to, these Official Rules. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, all claims arising out of or relating to these Official Rules or the Program must be brought in an individual capacity, and not as a plaintiff or class member in any purported class, collective, or representative proceeding.

Severability

Any provision of these Official Rules that are declared invalid, void, or unenforceable due to its application to specific circumstances by any competent authority or court shall be deemed severable and shall not affect