Neo Blockchain and SpoonOS Launch AI Hackathon with $100,000 Prize Pool

Neo blockchain and SpoonOS have launched the Scoop AI hackathon, a global competition with a $100,000 prize pool. The event aims to accelerate innovation at the intersection of AI and blockchain, and will run for four months in eight regional communities. Participants will compete across themed tracks focused on AI infrastructure, agent-based systems, and decentralized intelligence. The hackathon is part of the "sentient economy," a new era defined by the convergence of machine intelligence and digital trust.

BigBear.ai Holdings (NYSE: BBAI) experienced a significant stock surge recently, with shares jumping 22% on October 13 after the company announced a new military AI partnership. The stock price climbed to around $9 by mid-week, closing at $7.42 on October 17, but still up over 100% year-to-date in 2025. This volatility is characteristic of BigBear.ai, which has seen frequent 10%+ swings on news.

The rally was fueled by fresh government AI contracts. On October 13, BigBear.ai unveiled a strategic partnership with Tsecond Inc. to deliver AI-enabled “edge” infrastructure for U.S. national security operations, according to a TS2 report. The company also partnered with SMX during the U.S. Navy’s UNITAS 2025 naval exercise to deploy AI-driven maritime surveillance tools on unmanned vessels . Additionally, BigBear.ai launched its “veriScan” biometric system at Nashville International Airport, speeding up passport control with facial recognition .

Despite the positive news, BigBear.ai's financial picture reveals growth challenges. Q2 2025 revenue fell 18% year-over-year to $32.5 million, and a one-time charge drove the net loss to $228.6 million . Management slashed full-year 2025 revenue guidance to $125–$140 million and withdrew EBITDA targets. However, the company ended Q2 with ~$390 million in cash, bolstered by a private placement, and boasts a $380 million contract backlog .

Wall Street is mixed on BBAI despite the recent spike. The consensus rating is Hold with an average 12-month price target around $6 – roughly 20% below the current price . Some bulls, like H.C. Wainwright, reaffirmed a Buy with an $8 target, citing the potential for BigBear to benefit from the new $300B+ defense/AI budget Congress is eyeing . However, other analysts caution that at 13× 2025E sales, the stock’s valuation looks stretched given ongoing losses .

BigBear.ai is often dubbed a “mini-Palantir” in the defense analytics arena. Palantir (PLTR), which focuses on similar government AI applications, has soared ~300% in 2025 and trades near $180/share , backed by billions in revenue, versus BigBear’s ~$30M quarterly sales. C3.ai (NYSE: AI), another peer, has seen slower growth. BigBear’s niche focus and deep government ties are competitive advantages, but its ~25% gross margins pale next to Palantir’s ~80% – underscoring the challenge of scaling profitability in this sector.

BigBear.ai's stock has been on a tear in October as investors pile into defense-focused AI names. On October 13, shares spiked 22% in a single day after the company announced a new AI partnership, leaping from the mid-$7 range to about $8.80 . Heavy trading continued as the rally carried into Oct. 14, when the stock hit an intraday high of $9.39 . By mid-week, BBAI hovered near $9 – more than double its value at the start of 2025 . However, the ride has been volatile. After peaking mid-week, shares pulled back to $7.42 by the Friday, Oct. 17 close , as traders likely took profits.

Technical indicators reflect the speculative fervor. The stock’s RSI hit overbought levels, and implied volatility stands around 136%, several times the market average . Bottom line: BigBear.ai’s share price momentum is strong but unstable – expect a bumpy ride as the market digests each new headline.