Engaging Developers on the Potential Application of Zero-Knowledge Proofs (ZKPs) in their DApps

[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] Requested funds in ada

100000

[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)

This proposal aims to bridge the knowledge gaps on ZKPs through a robust framework which empowers developers to incorporate ZKPs into their DApps, thereby improving privacy, security & usability.

[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.”

No dependencies.

[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

All educational materials, resources, and tools developed as part of this project will be open source, freely available to the Cardano community. This ensures accessibility and encourages collaboration and innovation.

[METADATA] SDG rating

Our proposal aligns with several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including Goal 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure) and Goal 17 (Partnerships for the Goals), by fostering innovation and collaboration within the blockchain ecosystem.

[SOLUTION] Please describe your proposed solution

We will implement a multi-faceted approach to engage developers on the potential application of ZKPs in their DApps:

Workshop/Informational Series: This will be organized to cover the fundamentals of ZKPs, their applications in DApp development, and hands-on tutorials for implementing ZKPs on the Cardano platform.

Resources: We will develop comprehensive educational materials, including guides, tutorials, PowerPoint presentations and/or code samples, targeted to support developers in integrating ZKPs into their projects.

Community Building: We will foster a supportive community for developers to collaborate, share knowledge, and exchange ideas related to ZKPs and DApp development.

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

The positive impact of engaging developers on the potential application of Zero-Knowledge Proofs (ZKPs) in their DApps on the Cardano blockchain would be significant for the wider community in several ways:

Enhanced Privacy: By leveraging ZKPs, developers can implement stronger privacy measures in their DApps, ensuring sensitive user data remains confidential. This fosters trust among users and attracts a wider audience to the Cardano ecosystem.

Improved Security: Implementing ZKPs can bolster the security of DApps by mitigating the risk of data breaches and unauthorized access. This leads to a more secure environment for users to interact with decentralized applications on the Cardano platform.

Increased Scalability: ZKPs can enable more efficient processing of transactions and data within DApps, thereby enhancing scalability. This ensures that as the Cardano network grows, DApps can handle increased user activity without compromising performance.

Expanded Use Cases: By understanding the potential applications of ZKPs, developers can explore new and innovative use cases for DApps on the Cardano blockchain. This promotes the development of diverse and valuable applications, attracting more users and potential investors to the ecosystem.

Community Empowerment: Engaging developers in exploring ZKPs empowers the Cardano community to actively participate in the evolution of the platform. This fosters a sense of ownership and collaboration, driving further innovation and growth in the ecosystem.

[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?

Capability to Deliver with High Levels of Trust and Accountability: Our team consists of experienced blockchain developers, educators, and community organizers with a proven track record of delivering successful projects within the Cardano ecosystem. We are committed to transparency, accountability, and excellence in all aspects of our work.

Validation of Feasibility: We will validate the feasibility of our approach through a pilot program involving a select group of developers. By measuring their progress, feedback, and outcomes, we will assess the effectiveness of our educational resources and support services.

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?

Workshop Series Launch:

Milestone outputs

• Workshop materials developed and finalized.
• Workshop attendance and participant engagement.
• Workshop feedback and improvements documented.

Acceptance Criteria

• All workshop materials are completed, reviewed, and ready for distribution.
• Minimum attendance of 10 participants per workshop session with active engagement in discussions and activities.
• Feedback from participants is collected and analyzed, identifying areas for improvement.

Evidence of milestone completion

• Documented copies of workshop materials, including presentations, handouts, and resources.
• Attendance sheets and participant feedback forms indicating engagement levels.
• Summary report of feedback along with proposed improvements for future workshops.

Resource Framework Development

Milestone outputs

• Educational guides, tutorials, PowerPoint presentations and/or code samples created.
• Resource accessibility and usability assessed.
• Feedback integrated, and final resources published.

Acceptance criteria

• Comprehensive educational resources covering ZKPs and their applications in DApp development are developed.
• Resources are made accessible online, and usability is tested by a sample group of developers.
• Feedback from usability testing is integrated into resources, and final versions are published online.

Evidence of milestone completion

• Documented copies of all educational materials, including guides, tutorials, and code samples.
• Usability testing report with feedback from developers and any necessary adjustments made.
• Published copies of all educational resources available on designated platforms.

Community Feedback and Iteration

Milestone outputs

• Feedback report summarizing input from developers and the Cardano community on usability, effectiveness, and potential improvements of ZKP-integrated DApps.
• Updated prototypes of ZKP-integrated DApps reflecting iterative improvements based on community feedback.

Acceptance criteria

• Feedback report includes input from a minimum of 20 developers and 20 members of the Cardano community.
• Feedback covers usability, effectiveness, and potential improvements of ZKP-integrated DApps.
• Updated prototypes demonstrate iterative improvements addressing key feedback points.

Evidence of milestone completion

• Feedback report documenting responses from developers and the Cardano community, including survey results, forum discussions, and direct feedback sessions.
• Detailed summary highlighting key themes and actionable insights gathered from the feedback.
• Updated prototypes with annotations or change logs illustrating specific improvements made based on community input.

Dissemination and Adoption

Milestone Outputs

• Dissemination plan outlining strategies and channels for promoting ZKP-integrated DApps within the Cardano ecosystem.
• Metrics report tracking the number of developers engaged, DApps developed, and user adoption rates over a specified period.

Acceptance Criteria

• Dissemination plan includes a mix of online and offline channels, such as forums, word of mouth (WOM) engagements, social media, and developer communities, to reach a diverse audience.
• Metrics report provides quantitative data on the number of developers engaged, DApps developed, and user adoption rates, measured monthly for a minimum of 2 months post-launch.
• At least 20 developers actively engaged in the dissemination process, contributing to the promotion of ZKP-integrated DApps.
• Demonstrated increase in user adoption rates over time, with a target of at least 10% growth within the first six months of the project.

Evidence of Milestone Completion

• Dissemination plan document outlining the proposed strategies, channels, and timelines for promoting ZKP-integrated DApps.
• Metrics report containing data on developer engagement, DApps developed, and user adoption rates, presented in graphical format for easy analysis.
• Records of participation from developers in dissemination activities, such as conference presentations, workshop sessions, or online discussions.
• Comparative analysis showing the increase in user adoption rates over the specified period, supported by user feedback or usage statistics.

Project Close-out Report and Video

Milestone Outputs

• Comprehensive project close-out report summarizing key activities, achievements, challenges, and lessons learned throughout the engagement with developers on ZKPs in DApps.
• Video presentation or documentary highlighting the journey of engaging developers, showcasing successful implementations, and discussing the impact on the Cardano ecosystem.

Acceptance Criteria

• The project close-out report provides a detailed overview of the project, including objectives, methodologies, outcomes, and recommendations.
• The report includes insights gained from developer engagement, feedback received, and the effectiveness of strategies implemented.
• The video presentation or documentary effectively communicates the project's significance, showcasing real-world examples of ZKP-integrated DApps and their impact on privacy, security, and scalability.

Evidence of Milestone Completion

• Project close-out report delivered in digital format, containing comprehensive information organized into sections covering all aspects of the project.
• Testimonials or quotes from developers and stakeholders affirming the value of the engagement and the impact on their understanding and utilization of ZKPs in DApps.
• Video presentation or documentary uploaded to official Cardano channels or platforms, accessible to the community and stakeholders.

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

Ubio Daniel - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ubio-obu-71927276/ U

Ubio as the CEO of Remostart, is a blockchain and AI researcher, with an academic background is in Artificial Intelligence. Ubio has about 4 years of experience in researching and his research works have cut across different fields, from AI, to IoT, agriculture, environment, blockchain, HR, human behaviours etc. He currently has about 7 research paper publications in reputable journals like the American Institute of Physics, and IEEE, etc; He has 2 patents under application and a Copyright on a book titled “Research writing for beginners”. He is a Microsoft Winsider Recipient, KECTIL leadership fellow, and a SingularityNet Ambassador.

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 (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). He is also a blockchain researcher and an enthusiast of AI translation.

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

Cost Breakdown for Proposed Work:

1. Workshop Series Launch:

Workshop materials development and finalization: ₳20,000

Workshop attendance and participant engagement: ₳7,000

Workshop feedback collection and improvements: ₳3,000

Total: ₳30,000

2. Resource Framework Development:

Creation of educational materials: ₳18,750

Usability testing and feedback integration: ₳7,500

Final resource publication: ₳3,750

Total: ₳30,000

3. Community Feedback and Iteration:

Feedback report compilation: ₳10,000

Prototype updates based on feedback: ₳5,000

Total: ₳15,000

4. Dissemination and Adoption:

Dissemination plan development: ₳9,000

Metrics tracking and reporting: ₳5,000

Total: ₳14,000

5. Project Close-out Report and Video:

Project close-out report compilation: ₳4,000

Creation of video presentation or documentary: ₳7,000

Total: ₳11,000

Grand Total: ₳100,000

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

The cost of "Engaging Developers on the Potential Application of Zero-Knowledge Proofs (ZKPs) in their DApps" represents value for money for the Cardano ecosystem in several ways including:

1. Enhanced Understanding: By investing in educational workshops and resources, developers gain a deeper understanding of ZKPs and their applications in DApps. This knowledge empowers them to create more secure, private, and scalable applications on the Cardano blockchain, enhancing the overall ecosystem's quality.
2. Iterative Improvement: Our project will include gathering feedback from developers and the community, ensuring that resources and DApps are continuously refined based on real-world usage and input. This iterative process maximizes the effectiveness and relevance of the solutions developed, leading to long-term value generation.
3. Increased Adoption: Through dissemination efforts and metrics tracking, our project aims to increase developer engagement and user adoption of ZKP-integrated DApps within the Cardano ecosystem. This broader adoption strengthens the network, attracts new users, and fosters innovation, ultimately contributing to the ecosystem's growth and sustainability.
4. Knowledge Sharing: Our project's close-out report and video presentation serve as valuable resources for the broader community, sharing insights, best practices, and lessons learned. This knowledge sharing promotes collaboration, inspires further innovation, and reinforces Cardano's reputation as a leading blockchain platform for secure and scalable decentralized applications.