The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has announced the launch of its fourth global hackathon – HaRBInger 2025: Innovation for Transformation, opening a new chapter in the journey of financial innovation and digital transformation. Launched on October 23, 2025, this global competition aims to bring together creative minds, fintech innovators, developers, and entrepreneurs to design cutting-edge solutions for the future of secure and inclusive banking.
Theme: “Secure Banking: Powered by Identity, Integrity and Inclusivity”
The 2025 edition of HaRBInger revolves around the theme “Secure Banking: Powered by Identity, Integrity and Inclusivity.” The theme highlights the RBI’s focus on strengthening trust, security, and inclusiveness in the rapidly evolving digital banking landscape. As digital payments, digital identity, and Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) adoption grow globally, security and trust have become key pillars of sustainable innovation.
To drive purposeful innovation, HaRBInger 2025 features three thought-provoking problem statements:
- Tokenised KYC:
Exploring ways to enhance data privacy and interoperability through tokenised Know Your Customer (KYC) processes. The challenge encourages the creation of solutions that allow secure, consent-based data sharing between financial institutions while maintaining confidentiality and regulatory compliance. - Offline CBDC (e₹):
Building systems and solutions to enable offline usage of the Digital Rupee (e₹) — ensuring seamless transactions even in low or no-internet connectivity areas. This innovation aims to make digital currency more accessible and inclusive across rural and remote regions of India. - Enhancing Trust:
Designing mechanisms, frameworks, or technologies to strengthen trust in the banking ecosystem — covering areas such as transaction validation, digital identity assurance, fraud detection, and ethical AI use in financial services.
Opportunities and Rewards for Innovators
HaRBInger 2025 offers participants not just an opportunity to compete, but to collaborate, learn, and make a real impact. Shortlisted teams will receive mentorship from industry leaders, allowing them to refine their prototypes and pitch their solutions to an eminent jury comprising experts from banking, technology, and innovation sectors.
The rewards reflect the RBI’s commitment to fostering innovation:
| Category | Prize Amount |
|---|---|
| Winner across each problem statement | ₹40 lakh |
| Runner-up across each problem statement | ₹20 lakh |
| Special prize for the best all-woman team | ₹20 lakh |
| Stipend for shortlisted teams (for prototype development) | ₹5 lakh |
By including a special prize for all-women teams, the RBI reinforces its emphasis on gender inclusivity and diversity in the fintech ecosystem — ensuring that women innovators play a central role in shaping the future of digital banking.
Registration and Participation
Registrations for HaRBInger 2025 began on October 23, 2025, and detailed information, including eligibility criteria and participation guidelines, is available on the official RBI website. Participants can register online and submit their ideas for evaluation.
Conclusion: Innovation for a Secure Financial Future
The HaRBInger series has emerged as a flagship initiative of the RBI to bridge the gap between regulation and innovation. Each edition challenges participants to rethink the status quo, focusing on impactful use of technology to enhance financial inclusion, transparency, and security.
With HaRBInger 2025, the Reserve Bank of India once again underscores its vision of a digitally empowered and inclusive financial ecosystem — one where innovation is guided by integrity, identity, and trust.
For fintech innovators, startups, and developers, this is not just a competition—it’s an invitation to shape the future of secure and inclusive banking in India and beyond.