Arbitrum has emerged as one of the leading blockchain solutions, offering the technical scalability, security, and cost-efficiency necessary to support the next generation of decentralized applications. With over $14 billion in total value locked, according to l2beat, and a thriving ecosystem of DeFi protocols, NFTs, and on-chain experimentation, Arbitrum's technology has become a foundational layer for Web3 developers globally.
But beyond metrics and infrastructure, Arbitrum represents a broader vision: a decentralized, inclusive, and permissionless ecosystem where developers from all regions can meaningfully participate in building the future.
Latin America has been at the forefront of this vision. The region's dynamic developer communities, early adoption of crypto, and urgent need for financial and technological alternatives have made it a natural focus for Arbitrum's growth. From pioneering programs in Mexico to the expansion of ambassador initiatives and content in Brazil, Arbitrum is not only investing in the region but becoming part of the Web3 fabric, intertwined with the region's distinct culture of innovation and resilience.
This article describes the multifaceted approach that Arbitrum is adopting to strengthen its presence in Latin America, including community programs, developer-focused hackathons, innovative content incentives, and deeper localization efforts.
Ambassadors: strengthening grassroots leadership in Latin America
Arbitrum's expansion across Latin America has been supported by the launch of its Ambassador Program, starting in Mexico, expanding to Brazil, and now reaching Argentina.
In June 2024, the Arbitrum Foundation launched Phase 2 of its Ambassador Program in Mexico, along with Nigeria and India. This new phase expanded beyond universities to embrace Web3 enthusiasts from all backgrounds, emphasizing content creation, events, and community engagement. Since the launch, Arbitrum has collaborated with regional communities such as Ethereum Mexico, HerDAO, and ETH Cinco de Mayo, participating in in-person meetups, workshops, and events that have significantly strengthened local engagement.
This success has established a model for community-driven growth and laid the groundwork for further expansion across Latin America.
Building on momentum from Mexico, the Ambassador Program expanded to Brazil in early 2025. Unlike Mexico, where the program leveraged established collaborations in the Web3 community, Brazil presented an opportunity to explore a rapidly growing but less formally organized network of creators, developers, and enthusiasts. The expansion into Brazil aimed to harness this organic energy by providing structure and support for content creation, meetups, and developer integration.
Localized content production has been a central pillar of this effort, with support for Portuguese content enabling ambassadors to create educational resources that resonate with Brazil's rapidly evolving crypto landscape. Community engagement in Brazil has been particularly vibrant, focusing on a robust online presence through content creation and videos, reflecting the country's dynamic social culture and technically skilled population.
In July 2025, the Ambassador Program was officially launched in Argentina, further deepening Arbitrum's commitment to Latin America. With Devconnect 2025 scheduled to take place in Buenos Aires, the timing couldn't be better. The initiative invites local leaders to educate, integrate, and activate their communities in a way that is regionally authentic and globally aligned.
Through this multifaceted approach, empowering leaders, nurturing grassroots advocacy, and fostering regional pride, Arbitrum is not only reinforcing its presence in key markets in Latin America but also cultivating the foundations for sustainable ecosystem growth and deeper integration in the region.
MXNB Hackathon: strengthening developer engagement in the region
Arbitrum's strategy in Latin America is not limited to empowering local ambassadors; it extends further to create meaningful and practical opportunities for developers to engage directly with the ecosystem. One of the most effective avenues for this has been through hackathons.
Hackathons are not just competitions; they are mechanisms to integrate developers, foster experimentation, and catalyze the next generation of Web3 startups. For Arbitrum, they represent a strategic touchpoint to deepen its presence, allowing localized solutions while reinforcing its position as the ecosystem of choice for scalable, high-impact applications in emerging markets.
Building on successful collaborations in the region, such as the Modular Carnival hackathon in Brazil and the ETH Cinco de Mayo Hackathon, Arbitrum has intensified this approach through the MXNB Hackathon, a key initiative co-developed with Bitso Business, Juno, Portal, and QED. The hackathon is designed to accelerate the adoption of MXNB as a leading stablecoin, while also expanding Arbitrum's relevance in cross-border payments and DeFi innovation. MXNB is issued natively on Arbitrum, leveraging the low fees, scalability, and security of the network to enable efficient and hassle-free payment solutions.
Developers are encouraged to explore solutions primarily in payment integrations and DeFi using MXNB, all within the Arbitrum ecosystem. Participants can benefit not only from prizes but also from technical mentorship, ecosystem support, and the opportunity to present at the Stablecoin Conference, one of the most significant industry meetups in the region, taking place in August.
This initiative exemplifies Arbitrum's broader commitment to cultivating a vibrant developer-centered community in Latin America, transforming hackathons from isolated events into strategic portals for sustainable innovation and long-term ecosystem growth.
Kaito Yapper Challenge: encouraging regional content creation
To further strengthen its global presence, the Arbitrum Foundation launched the Kaito Yapper Challenge in May, a community campaign inviting creators, developers, and enthusiasts to produce content and compete for a share of a $400,000 ARB pool. The initiative introduces the Arbitrum Mindshare Leaderboard, a dynamic ranking system that identifies and rewards the most engaged content creators, or 'yappers,' within the global Arbitrum community.
It is important to note that 50,000 ARB are specifically allocated for non-English speaking participants reaching the Top 50 of the leaderboard, providing creators from Latin America and other regions with an extra incentive to contribute.
This initiative not only promotes global engagement but also actively encourages regional creators, offering Latin American communities opportunities to grow their presence and influence within the Arbitrum ecosystem while earning rewards.
Unlocking global opportunities for LATAM builders
In addition to hackathons and community events, developers in the region now have access to a growing number of ecosystem programs focused on grants, technical support, and long-term success. These initiatives offer not only funding but the technical and operational support needed to take projects from idea to production.
One of the most impactful programs for teams in Latin America is ArbiFuel, which allows developers to eliminate gas fees for users through Paymasters, a game changer for those working on payments, integration flows, or user-friendly experiences, critical to mass adoption in the region.
Another great opportunity is Trailblazer 2.0: a $1 million initiative from the Arbitrum Foundation that supports developers creating AI agents and on-chain native AI applications on Arbitrum networks.
Additional ecosystem programs open to developers in the region include:
Arbitrum Grants by Questbook: Delegated Domain Allocation 3.0 is a $6.75 million grant program approved by ArbitrumDAO and managed by Questbook, covering five domains — New Protocols and Ideas, Development Tools, Gaming, Education + Events, and the new experimental domain Orbit.
Arbitrum Grants Fund by Alchemy: $10 million committed by Alchemy to support Arbitrum developers launching Orbit chains, offering up to $500,000 per project.
Arbitrum Gaming Ventures (AGV): Supported by 225 million ARB from ArbitrumDAO, AGV is an investment initiative aimed at funding and partnering with game studios and publishers utilizing Arbitrum technology.
Onchain Labs: A joint initiative between Offchain Labs and the Arbitrum Foundation to accelerate on-chain experiences. Early-stage teams expanding the Arbitrum application layer can receive product, IT, and GTM support directly from Offchain Labs.
Arbitrum Audit Program: A 1-year initiative, 30 million ARB approved by the DAO to subsidize security audits for Arbitrum projects, ensuring that new projects meet high technical and security standards.
The goal is not only to activate developers but to keep them building, growing, and launching real products that expand the Arbitrum ecosystem in meaningful ways.
Future outlook: expanding impact in the region
Arbitrum's strategic presence in hackathons, ambassador-led initiatives, content incentives, and localization efforts signals a long-term commitment to Latin America. The region is not just a growing market but a vibrant engine of Web3 innovation. From empowering developers to amplifying local creators, Arbitrum is laying the groundwork for a sustainable and inclusive ecosystem that reflects the diverse realities and aspirations of Web3 communities in Latin America.
Looking to the future, Arbitrum is ready to continue expanding partnerships, deepening educational initiatives, and creating more pathways for participation. The region will also host major future events, such as ETH LATAM and Devconnect, where Arbitrum plans to maintain an active presence, which will be announced at a later date.
This multifaceted approach ensures that Latin America remains at the forefront of the global layer 2 revolution, with Arbitrum ready not only to support but to help define the next chapter of Latin America in Web3.
The article Arbitrum expands in Latin America with hackathons, ambassador program, and partnerships was first seen on BeInCrypto Brazil.
