A beginner's Toolkit: Cardano ZKP-based AI Assistant for syndicated transactional privacy and smart contracts using Midnight

[GENERAL] Name and surname of main applicant

Edet Ekpenyong

[GENERAL] Are you delivering this project as an individual or as an entity (whether formally incorporated or not)

Individual

[GENERAL] Please specify how many months you expect your project to last (from 2-12 months)

9

[GENERAL] Please indicate if your proposal has been auto-translated into English from another language

No

[GENERAL] Summarize your solution to the problem (200-character limit including spaces)

We are building a ZKP-based AI assistant tool on Cardano’s Midnight protocol to ensure syndicated transactional privacy and secure smart contract execution while protecting sensitive user data.

[GENERAL] Does your project have any dependencies on other organizations, technical or otherwise?

No

[GENERAL] If YES, please describe what the dependency is and why you believe it is essential for your project’s delivery. If NO, please write “No dependencies.”

We rely on Cardano’s Midnight protocol for ZKP-based privacy solutions and developer support to integrate ZKP technology.

[GENERAL] Will your project’s output/s be fully open source?

Yes

[GENERAL] Please provide here more information on the open source status of your project outputs

The project will be fully open source, hosted on GitHub, enabling community participation in development, transparency in privacy protocols, and continuous innovation for decentralized solutions.

[METADATA] Horizons

Smart Contracts

[SOLUTION] Please describe your proposed solution

Our proposed solution aims to develop a Zero-Knowledge Proof (ZKP)-based AI Assistant built on Cardano’s Midnight protocol. The AI assistant will act as a beginner-friendly toolkit, guiding developers through the process of creating and executing decentralized smart contracts and private transactions with enhanced privacy features. By leveraging ZKPs, this solution will address the growing need for confidentiality and data protection in decentralized applications (DApps), especially for sensitive business or personal information.

The key functionality of the AI assistant will revolve around simplifying complex ZKP concepts and their implementation within Cardano’s ecosystem. With this assistant, developers will be able to seamlessly integrate advanced privacy tools into their DApps, without needing deep expertise in cryptography or ZKPs. This will empower even novice developers to build privacy-focused solutions, making it easier to adopt and implement decentralized privacy solutions in a range of industries, including finance, healthcare, and supply chain management.

The assistant will provide step-by-step guidance to developers, helping them implement ZKPs to ensure that transactional data remains confidential while still maintaining verifiability and compliance. In other words, businesses can conduct transactions or execute contracts without exposing sensitive details, thanks to the zero-knowledge proofs that validate the data without revealing the underlying information.

The AI assistant will also integrate with Cardano’s Midnight protocol, which provides advanced privacy features suitable for regulatory compliance. This ensures that developers can build compliant solutions while preserving transactional privacy, which is crucial for sectors with strict privacy regulations, such as banking or healthcare.

Ultimately, this AI-powered toolkit will accelerate the development of privacy-centric smart contracts and decentralized applications on Cardano. It will lower the barrier for entry for developers, foster innovation, and increase the adoption of secure and private DApps on the Cardano network. By doing so, it will help address one of the most pressing challenges in the decentralized space: ensuring privacy without compromising transparency or functionality.

[IMPACT] Please define the positive impact your project will have on the wider Cardano community

The project will increase adoption of Cardano’s Midnight for privacy, benefiting developers creating private financial tools and ensuring confidential, secure transactions in smart contracts.

[CAPABILITY & FEASIBILITY] What is your capability to deliver your project with high levels of trust and accountability? How do you intend to validate if your approach is feasible?

My team possesses expertise in cryptography, blockchain, and community-driven projects, bolstered by a track record of successful implementations. Leveraging this capability, we plan to engage the Cardano community extensively, fostering collaboration and co-creation to ensure alignment with community needs. Our commitment to transparency, regular progress updates, and inclusive decision-making processes will uphold trust and accountability.

Feasibility will be validated through a phased approach: conducting thorough technical assessments, piloting key components, gathering feedback iteratively where necessary, and continuously refining the strategy based on real-world insights and challenges. This iterative validation process ensures adaptability and mitigates risks, ensuring project success.

Furthermore, our prior submission, titled "Researching Zero-Knowledge Proofs in Blockchain Ecosystems for Enhanced Voting Transparency in Catalyst Voting Process: A Potential Application," secured funding and ranked third among proposals in fund 11, highlighting the community's strong interest in Zero-Knowledge Proofs within the Cardano Catalyst ecosystem. To date, we have not only met our objectives but have also surpassed expectations with our research methodology. You will find our project links and progress updates below:

https://projectcatalyst.io/funds/11/catalyst-systems-improvements-discovery/researching-zero-knowledge-proofs-in-blockchain-ecosystems-for-enhanced-voting-transparency-in-catalyst-voting-process-a-potential-application

https://www.lidonation.com/en/proposals/researching-zero-knowledge-proofs-in-blockchain-ecosystems-for-enhanced-voting-transparency-in-catalyst-voting-process-a-potential-application-f11

[PROJECT MILESTONES] What are the key milestones you need to achieve in order to complete your project successfully?

Project Planning and Requirements Definition (30,000 ADA)

A: Milestone Output:

Finalized project plan including scope, objectives, timeline, and resource allocation.

Detailed requirements for the AI assistant and ZKP integration, outlining use cases, technical architecture, and system dependencies.

B: Acceptance Criteria:

Approved project plan with clear objectives and deliverables.

Comprehensive requirements document reviewed and validated by stakeholders and technical teams.

C: Evidence of Milestone Completion:

Signed-off project plan and requirements document.

Initial project kick-off meeting minutes, ensuring alignment of all stakeholders.

Proof of Concept (PoC) for ZKP Integration (40,000 ADA)

A: Milestone Output:

A working PoC demonstrating the integration of Zero-Knowledge Proofs (ZKP) for secure, private transactions on the Cardano Midnight platform.

B: Acceptance Criteria:

ZKP successfully integrated, enabling a transaction to be processed while preserving privacy, verifiability, and confidentiality.

Prototype shows that syndicated parties can transact without exposing sensitive data.

C: Evidence of Milestone Completion:

Video demonstrations and screenshots of the PoC in action.

A technical report that provides validation of ZKP integration.

AI Assistant Development for Smart Contract Execution (50,000 ADA)

A: Milestone Output:

Development of the AI assistant capable of aiding developers in creating, managing, and executing smart contracts on Cardano, utilizing ZKP to ensure privacy in the contractual process.

B: Acceptance Criteria:

The AI assistant will aid developers to autonomously trigger smart contracts, validate transactions, and interact with the privacy features of the Cardano Midnight platform.

Demonstration of smooth integration of ZKP with smart contract functionalities.

C: Evidence of Milestone Completion:

Demonstration of the AI assistant that aids developers in executing smart contracts with privacy features.

Development logs, screenshots, and video of smart contract execution.

Technical documentation outlining the AI assistant’s smart contract management capabilities.

System Integration and Comprehensive Security Testing (50,000 ADA)

A: Milestone Output:

Full system integration combining the AI assistant, ZKP features, and smart contract execution on the Midnight platform.

Results from end-to-end security and privacy testing.

B: Acceptance Criteria:

All system components are integrated and tested for functionality, ensuring ZKP privacy mechanisms work across all aspects of the system.

The system passes both functional and security testing, with no critical vulnerabilities identified.

C: Evidence of Milestone Completion:

Detailed testing logs from functional, performance, and security assessments.

Finalized integration report and third-party security audit documentation.

User Documentation, Deployment, and Initial User Testing (30,000 ADA)

A: Milestone Output:

Full user documentation, API guide, and deployment manual for Cardano end-users and developers.

Live deployment of the AI assistant in a pilot environment with initial user testing and feedback collection.

B: Acceptance Criteria:

User documentation is clear, comprehensive, and addresses all major use cases and technical requirements.

Positive feedback from the pilot group, confirming ease of use, security, and functionality of the AI assistant.

C: Evidence of Milestone Completion:

Published user documentation and technical manuals.

User feedback reports, deployment logs, and assessment of pilot testing results.

[RESOURCES] Who is in the project team and what are their roles?

Edet Ekpenyong - https://www.linkedin.com/in/edet-ekpenyong-b65056106

Edet Ekpenyong is a seasoned Community Engagement Manager and Executive MBA grad (Quantic School of Business and Technology, Washington) with a diverse background in both community-based and international organizations. With extensive experience as Co-Director, Consultant, and other leadership roles, Ekpenyong possesses the skills and capacity to effectively manage projects across various themes.

He is recognized as a visionary and design-thinker, with a global perspective gained from his roles in notable multi-national incubator and accelerator programs such as Mass Challenge, Bridge to Mass Challenge, and VC4A Mentor Driven Capital. His strong networking and communication abilities have led to achievements in key metrics, notably in BridgingSpace, and have garnered him global opportunities.

Ekpenyong holds a background in Biomedical Science and has received significant training in leadership, management in health, and project management in global health from the Department of Global Health, University of Washington. Additionally, he holds certifications in governance and health, human resources for health, and Google Digital Marketing Fundamentals.

He has been recognized for his contributions to digital innovation, being selected as one of the 30 Most Inspiring Digital Innovations of 2020 by Spindle. Notably, his project BridgingSpace was accepted to represent Nigeria in the GITEX Future Stars Showcase at Dubai World Trade Centre in 2021.

In addition to his accolades, Ekpenyong has been awarded and funded by the Cardano Community for his research on Zero-Knowledge Proofs in Blockchain Ecosystems for Enhanced Voting Transparency in Catalyst Voting Process. He is also an enthusiast of AI translation.

Remostart (https://www.remostarts.com/startup)

Remostart is a platform focused on blockchain, developers, and AI research, providing a collaborative space for startups and developers to work on cutting-edge solutions in these fields. In the context of the project “A Beginner's Toolkit: Cardano ZKP-based AI Assistant for Syndicated Transactional Privacy and Smart Contracts using Midnight,” Remostart could play a critical role in accelerating the development and adoption of such advanced blockchain technologies.

Alignment with our project includes:

1. Blockchain Development Support: Remostart’s focus on blockchain makes it an ideal platform for supporting the development of the Cardano-based AI Assistan

1. AI Research and Development: The platform’s emphasis on AI research aligns perfectly with the ZKP-based AI assistan

1. Developer Ecosystem: Remostart serves as a hub for developers working in the blockchain space, making it easier to recruit and onboard talent for this projec

Godspower Achi (https://www.linkedin.com/in/godspower-emmanuel-achi-5b18591aa?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=android_app) -

Achi Godspower Emmanuel holds a B.Sc (Hons) in Genetics and Biotechnology. He has over five years experience in content writing, creative writing, and doubles as a seasoned researcher. He helps brands design models for the acceptance of their digital innovation and products, manage and plan events and projects, and help in the process and entire design thinking stages of brand digital products. He has worked with local and international brands as a writer, think-thank, researcher, and even consultant. Some of which include an NGO, She-in-Charge which advocates for wholesome gender based education in Calabar; The Mahogany Management Company, UK; Twinset Industries; Cardano crypto community, Onvail Music, UK; Tech 36 Forum; AI and Blockchain researcher with Remo start, and presently the UNCTAD Youth Action Hub community development manager for SDGs in Nigeria.

Achi also consults for businesses, enabling them to understand the existing gap in their market, niche and target audience; and how to religiously leverage available resources to get the unavailable resources that are fundamental to scaling their operations.

[BUDGET & COSTS] Please provide a cost breakdown of the proposed work and resources

Milestone 1: Project Planning and Requirements Definition (30,000 ADA)

Milestone 2: Proof of Concept (PoC) for ZKP Integration (40,000 ADA)

Milestone 3: AI Assistant Development for Smart Contract Execution (50,000 ADA)

Milestone 4: System Integration and Comprehensive Security Testing (50,000 ADA)

Milestone 5: User Documentation, Deployment, and Initial User Testing (30,000 ADA)

[VALUE FOR MONEY] How does the cost of the project represent value for money for the Cardano ecosystem?

The project cost is optimized for Cardano’s long-term value, as it addresses the growing need for privacy-preserving decentralized tools, enhances blockchain security, and encourages adoption across privacy-sensitive industries.