ZK Bootcamp February 2024 Summary
The latest cohort of students on our ZK Bootcamp completed their studies on Thursday 28th March! Over six intense weeks, our cohort gained key skills and expertise in ZK proof theory and building.
We’d like to thank our sponsors, Mina and Tellor, for their support!
About the Bootcamp
The bootcamp featured a comprehensive curriculum that covered all aspects of ZK proofs, including the basics of cryptography, different types of ZK proofs and their applications in blockchain technology. The participants also received hands-on training in using the Cairo programming language to build smart contracts.
The bootcamp’s instructional format comprised insightful lectures, practical exercises, personalized mentorship and a project-building week, allowing the participants to deeply understand ZK proofs and Cairo. By the end of the Bootcamp, multiple teams built 27 projects in total and presented them all in the final bootcamp lesson.
Overall, the February cohort of the ZK Bootcamp was an outstanding success, thanks to the dedication of Laurence Kirk, the Extropy team, and the enthusiastic participation of the bootcamp participants. Their journey has come to an end, but their newfound skills will undoubtedly serve them well in the exciting and dynamic field of blockchain technology.
If you’d like to be in the next ZK Bootcamp cohort, stay tuned — applications will open soon!
Learning Outcomes
- The Bedrock of Blockchain: Participants began with Mathematics and Cryptography, creating a foundation for the learning that followed.
- Zero-Knowledge Proofs Demystified: Participants explored ZKP Theory and Zokrates, looking into the mechanisms that safeguard privacy and integrity in blockchain transactions.
- Real-World Applications Unveiled: The cohort also looked into the ZKP Use Cases and their transformative effects on Layer 2 solutions.
- Intro to Cairo and StarkNet: Aspiring developers had the chance to look into Cairo and StarkNet Architecture, both key to decentralised applications.
- Pioneering Privacy with Confidential Tokens: Our participants investigated Confidential Tokens via Aztec, and how this privacy protocol is changing the way we interact with digital assets.
- Exploring Noir and Mina: Later in the course, the curriculum featured Noir and Mina, platforms at the vanguard of privacy and scalability in blockchain.
- The Advent of Aleo and zkEVM Solutions: The group then studied Aleo and zkEVM Solutions, deepening their understanding of their role in improving Ethereum’s functionality.
- Risc Zero and the Evolution of zkEVM: They continued with zkEVM solutions, focusing on Risc Zero, which is a significant advancement in zero-knowledge proof technology.
- Mastering Circom and zkSNARKs: Students were taught Circom, the language engineered for developing zkSNARKs, and how it plays into cryptographic verification.
- Advanced Polynomials and the SNARK Process: Polynomials and the SNARK Process were also discussed, both essential for the operation of cryptographic systems.
- Stark Theory at the Forefront: Participants learnt about Stark Theory, unravelling the cutting-edge principles of computational integrity that are secure against the quantum threat.
- Redefining Voting Systems: The bootcamp then ventured into Cryptographic Alternatives and Voting Systems, uncovering new possibilities for secure and private voting technologies.
- The Future of Identity and Oracles in Blockchain: Finally, the course covered emerging trends such as Identity Solutions, the integration of zkML with machine learning, the role of Oracles, and the Halo2 protocol.
Sponsor Workshops
Tellor
Brenda Loya from Tellor took our participants through best practices for implementing oracles.
Mina
Matej Šima from ProtoKit led the Mina workshop, which introduced our bootcampers to ProtoKit with an emphasis on Mina implementation.
Express your interest in future bootcamps!
Interested in attending future programmes? Fill out the form below to stay informed.
About Encode Club
Encode Club is a global community of top developers, professionals and talented students in Emerging Tech. Through leading educational programmes such as hackathons, bootcamps and accelerators we help you advance your career and work with transformative companies. Read more here.
Questions
If you have any questions, please email bootcamp@encode.club or reach out on Discord.
