Empowering Developers with Midnight and Zero-Knowledge Proofs (ZKPs) for Enhanced Privacy and Security in DApps

[GENERAL] Name and surname of main applicant

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

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

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

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

This project will educate developers on using Midnight and ZKPs for privacy, security, and scalability, empowering them to apply these technologies in their DApps on Cardano.

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

[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?

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

All educational resources, including guides, tutorials, and code samples, will be freely available to the Cardano community to encourage collaboration and innovation.

[METADATA] Horizons

[SOLUTION] Please describe your proposed solution

The project involves empowering developers on the potential application of Midnight and ZKPs in their DApps through:

Workshops/Informational Series:

These workshops will teach the fundamentals of ZKPs and Midnight, their benefits, and practical implementation in DApp development on Cardano.

Educational Resources:

Comprehensive guides, tutorials, and code samples will be developed to support developers in adopting these technologies.

Community Building:

We will establish an environment where developers can exchange ideas, share knowledge, and collaborate on integrating Midnight and ZKPs into DApps.

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

Answer:

Enhanced Privacy: Developers will learn how to implement Midnight and ZKPs, significantly improving the privacy features of DApps on Cardano, protecting sensitive user data.

Improved Security: By integrating ZKPs, DApps will become more secure, reducing the risk of unauthorized access and data breaches, boosting user confidence.

Increased Scalability: ZKP integration will lead to more efficient processing of transactions and data, allowing DApps to handle larger user bases as Cardano grows.

Innovation and New Use Cases: Developers will be empowered to explore new applications for ZKPs, fostering innovation in privacy-focused and scalable DApps on the platform.

Strengthened Developer Community: By fostering knowledge-sharing and collaboration, the project will build a strong community of developers proficient in using ZKPs, contributing to Cardano’s ecosystem growth.

Measurement of Impact:

Quantitative: Track the number of developers trained, DApps developed with ZKPs, and adoption rates based on usage metrics.

Qualitative: Gather feedback through surveys, community discussions, and developer testimonials.

Output Sharing:

Open-source resources, including guides, tutorials, and code samples, will be shared on public platforms like GitHub.

We will leverage Cardano forums, social media, and developer communities to promote our findings and encourage widespread adoption.

[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, Scope Definition, and Community Engagement (20,000 ADA)

A: Milestone Output:

Finalized project scope, timeline, and objectives.

Initial engagement with the developer community to identify key challenges in ZKP and privacy for DApps.

Detailed architecture and technical documentation for the toolkit, including how Midnight’s platform and ZKP will be leveraged.

B: Acceptance Criteria:

Approval of project scope and objectives by key stakeholders.

Active participation from developers, with feedback collected to guide the project.

Comprehensive technical documentation covering key architectural choices for integrating ZKPs into DApps.

C: Evidence of Milestone Completion:

Approved project scope and architecture documents.

Community engagement reports (e.g., survey responses, feedback sessions).

Minutes from meetings and technical discussions.

Zero-Knowledge Proof (ZKP) Training Materials and Development Environment Setup (30,000 ADA)

A: Milestone Output:

Creation of educational resources (documentation or video tutorials/workshops) to train developers on the use of ZKPs within DApps.

Setup of a development environment and toolkits to enable developers to experiment with ZKPs on Cardano’s Midnight platform.

B: Acceptance Criteria:

Training materials comprehensively cover ZKP concepts and their integration into decentralized applications (DApps) using Midnight.

Development environment fully operational and accessible by developers, with support for ZKP experiments.

C: Evidence of Milestone Completion:

Published training materials (tutorials or videos/documents).

Verification of development environment availability and functionality through logs and developer feedback.

Prototype Development and Testing of ZKP-Enhanced DApps (30,000 ADA)

A: Milestone Output:

Development of a prototype DApp demonstrating the use of ZKPs to enhance privacy and security on Cardano’s Midnight platform.

Testing of the prototype to showcase the security benefits and privacy features enabled by ZKP integration.

B: Acceptance Criteria:

The prototype successfully demonstrates ZKP-based privacy mechanisms and security enhancements for DApps.

Functionality of the prototype is validated through testing and feedback from initial developer users.

C: Evidence of Milestone Completion:

Working prototype with demonstration videos/screenshots.

Test results and developer feedback, including performance data and privacy validation.

Final Toolkit Release, Documentation, and Community Feedback (20,000 ADA)

A: Milestone Output:

Release of a finalized toolkit that empowers developers to integrate ZKPs into their DApps using Cardano’s Midnight platform.

Comprehensive documentation for the toolkit, including API guides, use cases, and examples.

Final feedback session with the developer community to assess the toolkit's effectiveness and gather suggestions for future improvements.

B: Acceptance Criteria:

Toolkit is fully functional and well-documented, enabling developers to incorporate ZKPs into their DApps.

Positive feedback from the developer community on the toolkit’s usability, functionality, and documentation.

C: Evidence of Milestone Completion:

Published toolkit and documentation, including user guides and example implementations.

Community feedback report, deployment logs, and user testimonials.

[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 that supports blockchain development, AI research, and startups by providing resources, collaboration opportunities, and mentorship. For our project "Empowering Developers with Midnight and Zero-Knowledge Proofs (ZKPs) for Enhanced Privacy and Security in DApps," Remostart offers technical support in Setup of a development environment for developers to explore ZKP technology, integrate it into decentralized applications (DApps), and leverage the Midnight protocol for building privacy-focused, secure solutions within the blockchain space.

Ese Gift Williams (https://www.linkedin.com/in/ese-williams-758ba8198?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=android_app)

As a seasoned professional in the Web3 marketing domain, I specialize in branding strategy and UI/UX design. My expertise extends to successfully establishing and nurturing the Unified Cardano Student Club across six universities, effectively integrating them into a cohesive community network. Additionally, I have orchestrated a notable AI and Blockchain event featuring hands-on workshops attended by AI and Blockchain developers, showcasing my ability to facilitate engaging and informative industry gatherings. With a track record of driving community engagement and fostering collaboration, I bring a unique blend of marketing acumen and design prowess to every project I undertake.

Isaac Daniel (https://ng.linkedin.com/in/udoma-obu-3a598017b)

Issac is a multifaceted creative professional with a passion for storytelling through film, photography, poetry, and creative direction. With a diverse skill set and a commitment to artistic expression, Isaac has made significant contributions to the world of visual and literary arts.

As a filmmaker, Isaac brings stories to life through the lens of a camera, captivating audiences with his unique perspective and narrative style. His work spans a range of genres, from documentaries to narrative films, each imbued with his distinct voice and vision.

In addition to his prowess behind the camera, Isaac is also an accomplished photographer, capturing moments of beauty and emotion with his keen eye for detail. Whether photographing landscapes, portraits, or events, he has a knack for creating images that resonate with viewers on a deep and personal level.

He performed twice at the Independence Day Celebration at the Presidential Villa 2019 & 2021 respectively. In 2022, Isaac was selected as a fellow for the British Council-led exchange program between Wales and Nigeria, further solidifying his status as a rising star in the global creative community.

In summary, Udoma Obu is a versatile and visionary creative professional whose work spans multiple disciplines and mediums. From his award-winning poetry to his captivating films and photography, he is a true artist whose passion and talent shine through in everything he creates.

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

Workshop Series: ₳30,000

Resource Development: ₳30,000

Community Feedback and Iteration: ₳15,000

Dissemination and Adoption: ₳14,000

Project Close-out Report and Video: ₳11,000

Total Requested Budget: ₳100,000

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

This project offers great value by increasing developer knowledge on ZKPs and Midnight, fostering innovative use cases, improving DApp security and privacy, and promoting wider adoption of these advanced technologies, all leading to long-term ecosystem benefits.