ZK Bootcamp October Summary
The ZK Bootcamp (October cohort) finished off this Thursday, after five intense weeks of learning ZK proof theory and building. This virtual bootcamp drew significant interest, attracting hundreds of developers eager to enhance their abilities.
From Monday to Thursday, hackers attended 1.5 hour-long lessons. Post-session, homework was assigned to each student — reinforcing what was taught each day. The entire operation was conducted virtually on platforms like Discord and Zoom, with mentorship provided throughout. Students who demonstrated high levels of attendance were given a certificate to celebrate their achievements.
Learning Outcomes
- The Bedrock of Blockchain: Participants embarked on their educational journey 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 Week
After four weeks of teaching, representatives from our sponsors joined for some fantastic workshops. Big thank you to Tenderly, Marlin, Tellor, Pocket Network, Chainlink, Ledger, Hexens, and Mina Protocol for their involvement in this bootcamp!
Tenderly Workshop
Nenad Vitorovic presented Tenderly’s features, and how it can help developers build full-stack web3 infrastructure.
Marlin Workshop
Prateek Yammanaru from Marlin joined us to talk about Kalypso, and explained its role as a circuit-agnostic confidential ZK proof market.
Tellor Workshop
Nick from Tellor showed students Charon, a project run on the side of Tellor. He explained why and how it was built, as well as what challenges remain in zero-knowledge proofs. He also addressed the best practices of oracle implementation.
Pocket Network Workshop
Dermot from Pocket Network and Dachi from Nodies talked about their respective technologies and highlighted the role of an RPC (a Remote Procedure Call) in accessing blockchain data.
Chainlink Workshop
Andrej from Chainlink Labs hosted an insightful session on the oracle problem, why Chainlink exists in the first place, and tackled Chainlink’s brand-new CCIP.
Hexens Workshop
Students were also given an opportunity to attend an AMA session with Hayk Andriasyan from Hexens, who took the time to elucidate various topics related to Hexens’ technology.
Mina Protocol Workshop
Finally, Teddy Pender from Mina Protocol clarified how the platform works and helpfully answered students’ questions about the technology.
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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.
