[Proposal setup] Proposal title

Please provide your proposal title

The Halo2-Plutus verifier ZK course

[Proposal Summary] Budget Information

Enter the amount of funding you are requesting in ADA

21750

[Proposal Summary] Time

Please specify how many months you expect your project to last

3

[Proposal Summary] Translation Information

Please indicate if your proposal has been auto-translated

No

Original Language

en

[Proposal Summary] Problem Statement

What is the problem you want to solve?

There are no accessible courses teaching zero-knowledge proofs (ZK) on Cardano, making it hard for developers to learn and use this new technology.

[Proposal Summary] Supporting Documentation

Supporting links

• https://github.com/input-output-hk/plutus-halo2-verifier-gen

[Proposal Summary] Project Dependencies

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

Yes

Describe any dependencies or write 'No dependencies'

Yes. The project relies on the core repository from Input Output HK: https://github.com/input-output-hk/plutus-halo2-verifier-gen

[Proposal Summary] Project Open Source

Will your project's outputs be fully open source?

Yes

Please provide details on the intellectual property (IP) status of your project outputs, including whether they will be released as open source or retained under another licence.

All source code will be published under an Apache 2.0 license on GitHub.

[Theme Selection] Theme

Please choose the most relevant theme and tag related to the outcomes of your proposal

Education

[Campaign Category] Category Questions

Who you’re targeting, how you’ll reach them, and why this matters for Cardano?

We are targeting developers, students, blockchain enthusiasts, and builders who want to understand Zero-Knowledge Proofs (ZK) and apply them within the Cardano ecosystem. Currently, there is no structured or beginner-friendly ZK course for Cardano, making it difficult for new learners to access this emerging technology.

We will reach learners through YouTube, GitHub, social channels (X, Telegram, Discord), and Cardano developer communities. The course will be designed to be accessible for any skill level, with practical labs, examples, and clear step-by-step guidance.

This matters for Cardano because ZK is becoming essential for privacy, scalability, and advanced smart contract capabilities. By building a stronger developer base trained in ZK and Halo2/Plutus workflows, Cardano gains more contributors, more innovative dApps, and more technical maturity in an area that is strategically important for its future growth.

Provide a list of key activities of your project:

1. Designing a full course curriculum covering ZK fundamentals, Halo2 concepts, and the Plutus verifier.
2. Creating high-quality video lessons and hands-on workshops recorded and published on YouTube.
3. Developing practical lab exercises based on Cardano’s official Halo2 Plutus verifier generator.
4. Writing clear documentation, guides, and example circuits stored in a public GitHub repository.
5. Building a small final project that teaches learners how to generate a circuit, produce a proof, and verify it on-chain.
6. Engaging the community through updates, open-source contributions, and learner support.

What are your success metrics?

1. Release of a complete 3-module ZK course publicly available on YouTube.
2. At least 150+ learners following or completing the course within the first 3 months.
3. At least 30 GitHub stars and community forks of the course materials.
4. At least 3 community projects built using the Halo2-Plutus verifier example code.
5. Positive feedback collected from developers through surveys and comments.
6. Increased participation in ZK-related discussions, contributions, and prototypes within the Cardano community.

[Your Project and Solution] Solution

Please describe your proposed solution and how it addresses the problem

We propose an online course that teaches ZK on Cardano through practical and theoretical lessons. The course is structured into modules and lessons, each with clearly defined sections to ensure participants gradually build both conceptual understanding and hands-on skills.

Course Structure and Lesson Breakdown

Module 1: Introduction & Background

Lesson Parts:

• Theory: Basics of Zero-Knowledge Proofs, Prover/Verifier model, overview of SNARK, STARK, and Halo2.
• Context: Why Cardano needs ZK — privacy, scalability, and real-world use cases.
• Overview of Tools: Introduction to the plutus-halo2-verifier-gen repository.

Reason for Structure: Starting with theory ensures that learners understand why ZK matters and how it fits into Cardano before jumping into technical implementation.

Module 2: Development Environment Setup

Lesson Parts:

• Tool Installation: Rust, Nix, Cabal, Haskell/Plutus toolchain.
• Repository Setup: Cloning, building, and exploring plutus-halo2-verifier-gen.
• Environment Testing: Ensuring off-chain proof generation and on-chain verification work correctly.

Reason for Structure: A stable development environment is crucial; dividing into installation, repository, and testing prevents setup issues from blocking learning.

Module 3: Halo2 Proof Creation

Lesson Parts:

• Circuit Design: Writing simple arithmetic circuits using Halo2.
• Witness & Public Inputs: Understanding inputs required for proof generation.
• Proof Generation: Running Rust programs to generate proofs.

Reason for Structure: Separating design, input preparation, and proof generation mirrors the actual workflow developers use, making the learning process step-by-step and digestible.

Module 4: Generating Plutus Verifiers

Lesson Parts:

• Verifier Generation: Using plutus-halo2-verifier-gen to convert proof JSON into Haskell code.
• Exploring Generated Code: Understanding the structure and API of verifier scripts.

Reason for Structure: Learners first understand the automatic code generation, then analyze it, building confidence in both usage and understanding of the verifier.

Module 5: Writing and Deploying Plutus Smart Contracts

Lesson Parts:

• Validator Script: Writing Plutus contracts that call the verifier.
• Deployment: Sending contracts to Cardano testnet/devnet.
• Execution & Verification: Submitting proof transactions and verifying on-chain.

Reason for Structure: This module mirrors real-life development — first coding, then deployment, then testing — so learners practice the full cycle of on-chain verification.

Module 6: Use-Cases and Practical Projects

Lesson Parts:

• zk-Voting: Implement private voting smart contract.
• zk-KYC / zk-Credentials: Implement proof-of-attribute contracts without revealing sensitive data.

Reason for Structure: Applying concepts in realistic use-cases reinforces learning and demonstrates the power of ZK in practical scenarios.

Module 7: Advanced Topics, Optimization & Security

Lesson Parts

• Proof & Verifier Optimization: Reducing proof size, managing on-chain costs.
• Security Best Practices: Preventing invalid proofs, replay attacks, and auditing smart contracts.
• Future Directions: Recursive proofs, ZK rollups, and advanced Cardano integration.

Reason for Structure: Advanced topics build on prior modules and prepare learners to write production-ready ZK applications with awareness of performance and security considerations.

Module 8: Conclusion & Next Steps

Lesson Parts:

• Project Presentation: Students demonstrate mini-projects.
• Contributing to Open Source: Guide on contributing to plutus-halo2-verifier-gen.
• Further Learning: Recommended papers, blogs, and community resources.

Reason for Structure: Closing the course with practical demonstration and community engagement encourages continued learning and participation in the ecosystem.

Why This Approach Works

• Stepwise Learning: Gradually moves from theory → setup → proof generation → verifier → smart contract → use-cases.
• Hands-on Practice: Labs after each lesson ensure learners can apply knowledge immediately.
• Real-world Examples: Use-cases like zk-voting and zk-KYC show how ZK can be applied in actual blockchain applications.
• Advanced Preparation: Security, optimization, and recursive proofs prepare learners for professional development in blockchain ZK.

[Your Project and Solution] Impact

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

Positive Impact:

This educational course brings the emerging field of zero-knowledge proofs (ZK) on Cardano into an accessible, structured learning format. Developers, students, and blockchain enthusiasts no longer need to struggle with scattered resources, complex research papers, or fragmented tutorials, the course provides clear lessons, hands-on labs, and real-world examples using Halo2 and Plutus verifiers. It saves learners time, reduces confusion, and allows them to focus on building privacy-preserving and innovative Cardano applications.

Value to the Cardano Community:

By providing a structured pathway to learn ZK on Cardano, the course empowers individuals and teams to contribute to privacy-focused and scalable dApps. It lowers the barrier to entry for cutting-edge blockchain technology, strengthens the talent pool, and encourages innovation. Students can apply the skills in research, development, and open-source contributions, making the Cardano ecosystem more knowledgeable, capable, and vibrant. This educational infrastructure ultimately benefits the whole community by nurturing skilled developers who can build the next generation of privacy-aware applications.

[Your Project and Solution] Capabilities & 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?

The project is led by a single core developer with over 5 years of software engineering experience, including more than 2 years working with Cardano blockchain infrastructure and over 4 years in full-stack development involving microservices, clean architecture, database optimization, caching, and message-broker–based architectures.

I am proficient in Haskell/Plutus, Rust, Aiken, and modern frontend/backend technologies, and have previously delivered multiple production-grade blockchain and web systems with high reliability.

Feasibility Validation

My approach is centered on building for real community needs. The roadmap begins with an MVP that focuses on solving critical user jobs. After the initial release, I will iterate rapidly through public demos, open testing cycles, and continuous feedback gathering.

Clear success metrics—such as active users, processed transactions, latency, and error rates—will be monitored and used to refine the solution.

Transparency and Accountability

I follow an open and transparent development process from the beginning, including:

• Open-source development for core components
• Regular progress updates (bi-weekly or monthly) with changelogs
• Milestone-based delivery where each stage includes verifiable outputs
• Transparent financial tracking tied to each milestone

With a community-driven design approach, disciplined engineering practices, and transparent operations, I am fully prepared to deliver the project with high levels of trust, accountability, and long-term reliability.

[Milestones] Project Milestones

Milestone Title

ZK Fundamentals & Cardano Basics

Milestone Outputs

• 12 lecture videos covering ZK fundamentals: Prover/Verifier, SNARKs, STARKs, Halo2
• 6 lecture videos on Cardano architecture and why ZK matters (privacy, scalability, real use cases)
• 1 repository walkthrough video explaining the structure of plutus-halo2-verifier-gen
• All lecture slides and notes published for students

Acceptance Criteria

• At least 90% of Module 1 lecture videos produced and published
• All slides and explanations uploaded to GitHub
• Documentation updated to include ZK fundamentals and repository structure
• Weekly instructor progress updates

Evidence of Completion

• Links to all Module 1 video lectures
• GitHub repository with slides and written explanations
• Repository walkthrough video
• Weekly progress report

Delivery Month

1

Cost

5500

Progress

30 %

Milestone Title

Practical ZK & Smart Contract Labs

Milestone Outputs

• 8 lab instruction videos: Halo2 circuit design, witnesses, proof generation
• 4 videos on generating Plutus verifier code using plutus-halo2-verifier-gen
• 4 videos on writing and deploying Plutus smart contracts on testnet/devnet
• 3 guided mini-project videos (zk-voting, zk-KYC, zk-identity)

Acceptance Criteria

• All lab instruction videos produced and published
• At least one demo smart contract deployed on testnet
• Lab documentation and sample code uploaded to GitHub
• Students provided with complete lab instructions and project templates

Evidence of Completion

• Video files for labs, deployments, and mini-projects
• GitHub repository containing lab code, templates, and examples
• Demonstration link or hashes of smart contracts deployed on testnet
• Teaching activity report

Delivery Month

2

Cost

9000

Progress

70 %

Milestone Title

Final Project

Milestone Outputs

• 1 final project final
• Students complete a full ZK project: proof generation + Plutus verifier + on-chain deployment
• 1 summary video reviewing best submissions, lessons learned, and advanced insights
• Complete course package: slides, videos, labs, final project templates

Acceptance Criteria

• 100% of final videos delivered and published
• All student final projects submitted
• Course materials fully compiled and organized
• Final wrap-up session completed and recorded

Evidence of Completion

• Final project submissions
• Evaluation results
• Links to wrap-up and project guide videos
• Final structured repository of all course materials

Delivery Month

3

Cost

7250

Progress

100 %

[Final Pitch] Budget & Costs

Please provide a cost breakdown of the proposed work and resources

Milestone 1: Module 1 – ZK Fundamentals & Cardano Basics (4 weeks)

Tasks:

• Introduce Zero-Knowledge Proof concepts: Prover / Verifier, SNARK, STARK, Halo2
• Explain why Cardano needs ZK (privacy, scalability, real-world use cases)
• Explore plutus-halo2-verifier-gen repository and structure
• Provide exercises and quizzes for foundational knowledge

Resources:

• 1 Instructor: $20/hr x 80 hrs = $1,600
• 1 Teaching Assistant: $15/hr x 40 hrs = $600

Subtotal: $2,200 ~ 5,500 ADA

Milestone 2: Module 2 – Practical ZK & Smart Contract Labs (4 weeks)

Tasks:

• Hands-on labs: Halo2 circuit design, witness & proof generation
• Generate Plutus verifier code using plutus-halo2-verifier-gen
• Write and deploy Plutus smart contracts on testnet/devnet
• Lab exercises: mini-projects like zk-voting or zk-KYC
• Review and provide feedback for learners’ code

Resources:

• 1 Instructor: $20/hr x 120 hrs = $2,400
• 1 Teaching Assistant: $15/hr x 80 hrs = $1,200
• Subtotal: $3,600 ~ 9,000 ADA

Milestone 3: Final Project & Assessment (4 weeks)

Tasks:

• Guide students through final project: proof generation + smart contract deployment
• Evaluate submitted projects and provide feedback
• Conduct wrap-up session with Q&A and advanced discussion
• Compile course materials, slides, and lab instructions for future use

Resources:

• 1 Instructor: $20/hr x 100 hrs = $2,000
• 1 Teaching Assistant: $15/hr x 60 hrs = $900

Subtotal: $2,900 ~ 7,250 ADA

Total Budget: $8,700 ~ 21,750 ADA

(Exchange rate: 1 ADA = $0.4)

[Final Pitch] Value for Money

How does the cost of the project represent value for the Cardano ecosystem?

We believe this Zero-Knowledge Proof course provides exceptional value for the Cardano ecosystem. With a total budget of just $8,700 (~21,750 ADA), the project is extremely cost-effective, delivering high-quality, structured, and practical education in a cutting-edge area of blockchain.

Instead of each developer or team struggling to understand scattered resources, research papers, or fragmented tutorials, this course offers a complete learning path from fundamentals to practical deployment using Halo2 and Plutus verifiers. It reduces duplication of effort, accelerates skill acquisition, and enables learners to focus on building privacy-preserving and innovative Cardano applications.

By investing in education, the Cardano community gains a stronger, more capable developer base ready to contribute to ZK-enabled dApps, smart contracts, and research. Every lesson, lab exercise, and project has been carefully designed to maximize learning outcomes while keeping costs modest, ensuring that the ecosystem benefits from both knowledge growth and practical skill development at an efficient and accessible cost.

[Self-Assessment] Self-Assessment Checklist

I confirm that the proposal is a non-technical initiative, with ≤20% of the budget for tech support.

Yes

I confirm that the proposal provides verifiable evidence (portfolio, links, reports) of the team's ability to deliver the project.

Yes

I confirm that the proposer and all team members are in good standing with prior Catalyst projects.

Yes

I confirm that the proposal includes clear objectives with both Output Metrics (what proposal did) and Adoption-Focused Metrics (what effect proposal had).

Yes

I confirm that the proposal clearly explains the user journey and provides a credible plan for how the project will equip and motivate users for future on-chain activity.

Yes

I confirm that the initiative clearly demonstrates how it will grow the Cardano ecosystem or onboard users.

Yes

I confirm that the project plan and timeline (≤ 12 months) are realistic and well-defined.

Yes

I confirm that the proposal commits to public outputs and justifies any exceptions.

Yes

I confirm that the budget adheres to all policies: it is for future work, follows the merchandise rule, and excludes establishing local treasuries, incentives/giveaways, re-grants.

Yes

[Required Acknowledgements] Consent & Confirmation

I Agree

Yes