💡Jane Street Launches Chip Reverse-Engineering Challenge
Crack this chip and win a real fabrication slot
TL;DR
Jane Street invites devs to reverse-engineer an ASIC, with the top entries getting fabricated. Submissions close September 4th, 2026.
Jane Street is hosting a unique challenge where participants must reverse-engineer an ASIC provided as a GDS file and recover its netlist. The goal is to understand the circuit's purpose by analyzing sample inputs and outputs, with Easter eggs hidden throughout for those who dig deep. This competition is not just about technical prowess but also ethical hacking guidelines—no spoilers until after submissions close on September 4th, 2026. Devs can use AI tools for scripting but must solve the puzzle themselves.
Key Points
Participants aim to recover netlist from GDS file and understand circuit's purpose by analyzing inputs/outputs
Submissions close on September 4th, 2026; no spoilers allowed until then
AI tools can be used for scripting but not directly feeding puzzle files into AI
Warm-up puzzle provided to help with opening GDS files and testing tools
Design uses an open-source PDK, allowing use of KLayout or Magic VLSI
Why It Matters
If you're a hardware enthusiast looking for a challenge, this is your chance. The competition offers real fabrication slots for the most interesting designs, pushing the boundaries of what's possible in chip design and reverse-engineering.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does this matter?
If you're a hardware enthusiast looking for a challenge, this is your chance. The competition offers real fabrication slots for the most interesting designs, pushing the boundaries of what's possible in chip design and reverse-engineering.
What happened?
Jane Street invites devs to reverse-engineer an ASIC, with the top entries getting fabricated. Submissions close September 4th, 2026.
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