Dash Mon[k]ey: A Smarter Way to Trade with On-Chain Copy Trading

Hi, I’m Carol, Developer Program Manager at Rootstock! One of the most exciting aspects of my role is getting to know the brilliant minds behind innovative projects built on Rootstock during hackathons. Seeing developers bring ideas to life in just a matter of days and overcoming technical challenges is truly inspiring.

Recently, I had the opportunity to speak with Palash, the developer behind Dash Mon[k]ey, which secured second place in the Rootstock track at the Encode Hackathon during ETHDenver 2025. Palash competed solo and built a unique on-chain copy trading platform designed to help everyday users leverage the strategies of expert traders. His project explores the intersection of automation, financial accessibility, and blockchain security. Here’s his story!

Introducing Dash Mon[k]ey: On-Chain Copy Trading for Everyone

Dash Mon[k]ey is part of a larger vision Palash has been working on—an on-chain pet monkey that represents a user’s financial health, adapting its personality based on spending habits. The hackathon project focused on a key feature: enabling users to make money through copy trading.

The idea behind Dash Mon[k]ey is simple: not everyone has the time or expertise to trade in the crypto markets, which operate 24/7. Palash set out to build a platform where expert traders can create strategies, and regular users can seamlessly copy their trades without ever relinquishing control of their funds.

"There’s a lot of opportunity in crypto, but most people don’t have the time to monitor the markets all day. I wanted to create a system where users could benefit from expert strategies without worrying about handing over their funds to a third party," Palash explained.

One of the platform’s standout features is that funds remain in the users’ wallets at all times. Trades only execute when all conditions are met, and if anything goes wrong, the transaction is reverted, ensuring security and transparency.

Check out Dash Monk]ey here.

Why Rootstock?

Palash was drawn to Rootstock for a few key reasons:

1. EVM Compatibility – Rootstock’s ability to run Solidity smart contracts meant that Palash could build his platform on Rootstock while keeping it portable across other chains.

2. Exploring a Trending Blockchain – "Rootstock had been making waves last year, and I was curious to explore it. Hackathons are a great place to try out new technologies, so I thought, why not Rootstock?"

3. Strong Developer Support – With direct access to Rootstock engineers during the hackathon, Palash found the support invaluable. "I was spamming Sebas (a Rootstock engineer) on Telegram, and he kept helping me out, even late at night. That’s something you don’t get outside a hackathon."

Technical Highlights & Challenges

One of Palash’s biggest takeaways from the hackathon was how useful it was to have live access to Rootstock’s engineers. "Normally, if I were building at home, I’d have to wait hours for a response on Discord. At the hackathon, I could just walk up to the Rootstock table and debug issues instantly. That made a huge difference."

Another detail that stood out to Palash was the thoughtful design of Rootstock’s documentation. "I spent so many hours looking at the docs, and I have to say—the color scheme was nice. When you’re staring at a screen for 24+ hours, those small things matter."

A Hackathon to Remember

Like many hackathon participants, Palash pulled an all-nighter to complete his project. But what made his experience truly memorable was his creative problem-solving along the way.

"At around 3 AM, I needed to map out my smart contracts but couldn’t find a whiteboard. So, I grabbed paper plates from dinner and spread them out across a huge table—each plate became its own contract or function. That was fun!"

Later that morning, he needed a bigger screen than his laptop. "I found an AirPlay-enabled TV and cast my screen onto it. I had my headphones on, fully focused, and didn’t even realize when people started showing up for the day—I had just commandeered the TV!"

Tips for Future Hackathon Participants

After successfully securing second place, Palash shared two key lessons for hackathon participants:

1. Plan Your Project Beforehand – "Hackathons usually don’t allow coding before the event, but that doesn’t mean you can’t plan. Map out your architecture and tools in advance—it saves a lot of time."

2. Don’t Stress About Building a Full Product – "I used to think I needed to deliver a fully production-ready app, but that’s not realistic in 24-36 hours. Focus on building a strong prototype that demonstrates your idea well."

What’s Next for Dash Mon[k]ey?

Palash isn’t stopping here. He’s already working on refining Dash Mon[k]ey and bringing it to market.

"I structured my code in a way that allows me to reuse and build on it. Right now, I’m participating in another hackathon where I’ll continue working on Dash Mon[k]ey and finalize the missing features. Hopefully, I’ll have a live version within the next two weeks."

Watch the demo video here.

He’s also considering applying for a Rootstock grant. "There are two things I want to work on: one is finishing Dash Mon[k]ey, and the other is building a primitive tool that improves EVM compatibility on Rootstock. A grant could help make that happen."

In the meantime, he has launched a Gitcoin crowdfunding page to rally support and fund the next stage of the project. If you believe in the mission, consider contributing to help bring Dash Mon[k]ey to life. Every bit counts! 💛

Final Thoughts

Dash Mon[k]ey is an exciting glimpse into the future of decentralized finance, making advanced trading strategies accessible to everyone. Palash’s ability to blend automation, security, and user-friendly design makes this project one to watch.

If you’re thinking of participating in a hackathon, take Palash’s advice: plan ahead, focus on a solid prototype, and don’t stress about perfection!

Curious about Dash Mon[k]ey? Check out their GitHub repository for more details on the project.

Ready to start building on Rootstock? Here’s how you can get involved:

📖 Explore the Docs – Get started with Rootstock development.

🏆 Check out the Hacker Hub – Learn about past hackathons and upcoming opportunities.

💰 Contribute and Earn with Hacktivator – Build or create content and earn up to $1,000 per contribution.

💬 Join the Community – Connect with other builders on Discord.