# Farcaster's ZK Anons *Meet sealcaster, superanon, anon, 33bits, 66bits, rumours * By [papajams.eth](https://paragraph.com/@papajams.eth) · 2024-12-08 anon, anonymous, privacy, blockchain, social, farcaster, ai, zk, zero-knowledge, zk-sync --- From the masked authors of [_The Federalist Papers_](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Federalist_Papers), who laid the foundation for democratic debate, to whistleblowers (like [WikiLeaks](https://wikileaks.org/)) who expose global injustices. Pseudonymity has allowed individuals to share ideas & truths unburdened by fear of retaliation. Voltaire, Publius, Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens), George Eliot (Mary Ann Evans), **Satoshi Nakamoto.** ![](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/6c349dac8b3919aec1e4ff60a11e7fd8.png) Zero Knowledge (ZK) Proofs -------------------------- ZK cryptography applied to decentralised social networks represents a significant inflection enabling one party to prove they know a piece of information without revealing the actual information itself. Akin to proving you're old enough to enter a venue without showing your ID—the critical fact (age) confirmed without exposing personal details. Traditional platforms demand users surrender personal data, creating vulnerable centralized repositories of sensitive information. ZK proofs flip this paradigm, allowing users to verify credentials or ownership without compromising individual privacy. [![User Avatar](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/9053e33d14f758175c5bf9e9484ceab5.png)](https://twitter.com/Crypto_Texan) [Crypto Texan | Polygon ⚔️](https://twitter.com/Crypto_Texan) [@Crypto\_Texan](https://twitter.com/Crypto_Texan) [![Twitter Logo](https://paragraph.xyz/editor/twitter/logo.png)](https://twitter.com/Crypto_Texan/status/1773341849895268709) to this day, this is my favorite explanation of zero knowledge proofs by zkOG [@zooko](https://twitter.com/zooko) it’s simple really ![](https://pbs.twimg.com/amplify_video_thumb/1773341606843756544/img/3-JLmOP0rshZLHdB.jpg) [![Like Icon](https://paragraph.xyz/editor/twitter/heart.png) 3,568](https://twitter.com/Crypto_Texan/status/1773341849895268709)[ 20:30 • 28 Mar 2024 ](https://twitter.com/Crypto_Texan/status/1773341849895268709) Genesis ------- [Sealcaster](https://sealcaster.xyz/) was the first ZK app built on the Farcaster protocol, developed by Big Whale Labs. Created by Nikita Kolmogorov ([borodutch](https://warpcast.com/warpcastadmin.eth)), [Jason Kim](https://warpcast.com/jasonkim.eth) and team. They utilized [Circom, a domain-specific language for creating zero-knowledge circuits, to generate proofs](https://blog.borodutch.com/zero-knowledge-is-easy-or-the-ultimate-how-to-article/) that allow users to authenticate themselves without revealing personal details. Compact circuits create proofs without exposing underlying private information. By utilizing Circom's constraints and signals, the application can verify user credentials while protecting individual privacy. [![User Avatar](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/d2b154f0fe73c65609d382ea20404c69.jpg)](https://twitter.com/jasonkimvc) [jasonkim.eth (🥊, 🥊)](https://twitter.com/jasonkimvc) [@jasonkimvc](https://twitter.com/jasonkimvc) [![Twitter Logo](https://paragraph.xyz/editor/twitter/logo.png)](https://twitter.com/jasonkimvc/status/1574852031612952576) Just launched our latest [@sealcred](https://twitter.com/sealcred) experiment on [@farcaster\_xyz](https://twitter.com/farcaster_xyz) [sealcaster.xyz](https://t.co/QxJxMDGfB0): anonymous casts from farcaster users you can: \- prove you're a part of farcaster \- generate a zk badge \- create a burner wallet (locallly) \- cast an anon message: [blog.bigwhalelabs.com/introducing-se…](https://t.co/RPB1ntnA8P)[ ![](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/dfea9a5bb1440ea69ef5abdbdfbd22f9.jpg) sealcaster.xyz Sealcaster ---------- Cast on Warpcaster anonymously! ](https://t.co/QxJxMDGfB0) [![Like Icon](https://paragraph.xyz/editor/twitter/heart.png) 29](https://twitter.com/jasonkimvc/status/1574852031612952576)[ 3:02 • 28 Sept 2022 ](https://twitter.com/jasonkimvc/status/1574852031612952576) In the broader context of Big Whale Labs' ZK products, Sealcaster was part of a suite of apps: * **SealCred:** A platform for minting zk-NFTs based on NFT and email ownership * **SealCred Echo:** An application for posting anonymously on Twitter with verified credentials * **Ketl:** A tool for pseudonymous communication between venture capitalists and founders As one of the first practical applications of ZK on farcaster, Sealcaster demonstrated the potential of proofs to enable private, verifiable communication on decentralized platforms. [![User Avatar](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/57aed7774acd86ccfd9c41dbb0763177.jpg)](https://twitter.com/jasonkimvc) [jasonkim.eth (🥊, 🥊)](https://twitter.com/jasonkimvc) [@jasonkimvc](https://twitter.com/jasonkimvc) [![Twitter Logo](https://paragraph.xyz/editor/twitter/logo.png)](https://twitter.com/jasonkimvc/status/1859338576418439318) me and borodutch shipped sealcaster to farcaster in '22 as the first zk app / fully open source / no server required it was built on polygon but someone should take our codebase and deploy another version on [@base](https://twitter.com/base) [![User Avatar](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/01df108aab5aaf11de172c4978656d4d.png)](https://twitter.com/dwr) [Dan Romero](https://twitter.com/dwr) [@dwr](https://twitter.com/dwr) [![Twitter Logo](https://paragraph.xyz/editor/twitter/logo.png)](https://twitter.com/dwr/status/1859322742862119357) Less than 24 hours later, a rival ZK anonymous group account called 33bits is allowing anyone with a low FID to bypass the token balance restriction. ![](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/a7103c2a35c2d0ae0390d998861b5509.jpg) [![Like Icon](https://paragraph.xyz/editor/twitter/heart.png) 6](https://twitter.com/jasonkimvc/status/1859338576418439318)[ 3:50 • 21 Nov 2024 ](https://twitter.com/jasonkimvc/status/1859338576418439318) Superanon --------- Fast forward one bear market, more traction on farcaster, & a community built around a power-user client called [supercast](https://supercast.xyz ) (rebranded to [super](https://warpcast.com/super) by its founder [woj](https://warpcast.com/woj.eth)), [superanon](https://warpcast.com/superanon) was born. [![User Avatar](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/786edda3bb76b600734605fb64c67539.jpg)](https://twitter.com/superwoj) [woj](https://twitter.com/superwoj) [@superwoj](https://twitter.com/superwoj) [![Twitter Logo](https://paragraph.xyz/editor/twitter/logo.png)](https://twitter.com/superwoj/status/1849075627732643950) my most successful launch recently: anonymous posting on farcaster, available only from supercast in less than 2 weeks: \- 2k followers \- multiple viral posts \- ~100 new customers doubling down and iterating on the feedback ![](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/0627863c77b3b1b7b92358353e4ecc8f.jpg) [![Like Icon](https://paragraph.xyz/editor/twitter/heart.png) 61](https://twitter.com/superwoj/status/1849075627732643950)[ 20:09 • 23 Oct 2024 ](https://twitter.com/superwoj/status/1849075627732643950) Supercast is (currently) a paid-for client for accessing the farcaster protocol that is geared towards power users e.g. it enables casting from multiple accounts, & usage of **superanon.** [![User Avatar](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/3df0f88fb13414ec62eb0d277d5eb580.jpg)](https://twitter.com/superwoj) [woj](https://twitter.com/superwoj) [@superwoj](https://twitter.com/superwoj) [![Twitter Logo](https://paragraph.xyz/editor/twitter/logo.png)](https://twitter.com/superwoj/status/1855724440144765223) superanon became the primary source of gossip on farcaster — now at 6.7k followers it also earned 70 usdc from warpcast rewards, for being one of the most engaging accounts on the platform only possible on a permissionless programmable social network ![](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/1e4666b238ecfdeb2d74a9b8d76cb942.jpg) [![User Avatar](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/cb776fdff3d57880e6268291f3ae28ed.jpg)](https://twitter.com/superwoj) [woj](https://twitter.com/superwoj) [@superwoj](https://twitter.com/superwoj) [![Twitter Logo](https://paragraph.xyz/editor/twitter/logo.png)](https://twitter.com/superwoj/status/1852390200434884926) superanon (account that you can post from anonymously on farcaster) is at 4.3k followers now started 3 weeks ago [x.com/wojtekwtf/stat…](https://t.co/sAxL0TFV9R) ![](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/55ec52bdda7b706ac438b092c9803f2c.jpg) [![Like Icon](https://paragraph.xyz/editor/twitter/heart.png) 39](https://twitter.com/superwoj/status/1855724440144765223)[ 4:29 • 11 Nov 2024 ](https://twitter.com/superwoj/status/1855724440144765223) ANON ---- The [farcaster's AI bot token launchers](https://paragraph.xyz/@papajams.eth/farcasters-ai-bot-token-launchers) coverage showcased custom tuned LLM's like CLANKER facilitating over 10,000 token creations to date in around a month of operations, handling $1bn in volume, paying out millions to creators. A superanon user anonymously created $ANON with CLANKER whilst woj was sleeping - talk about permissionless. [![User Avatar](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/12d041ee3ee3831924bb1007d50f4674.jpg)](https://twitter.com/toady_hawk) [Toady Hawk](https://twitter.com/toady_hawk) [@toady\_hawk](https://twitter.com/toady_hawk) [![Twitter Logo](https://paragraph.xyz/editor/twitter/logo.png)](https://twitter.com/toady_hawk/status/1857100545850298534) a [@farcaster\_xyz](https://twitter.com/farcaster_xyz) story in 4 Acts: 1) There is a sweet fc client called Supercast, and users of that app have access to a bot that lets them post anonymously using an account @ SuperAnon. There is also a bot by [@\_proxystudio](https://twitter.com/_proxystudio) called Clanker that can deploy tokens on [@base](https://twitter.com/base) just by… ![](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/87b8c53d846a6d963aec980c62dea8d0.png) [![Like Icon](https://paragraph.xyz/editor/twitter/heart.png) 158](https://twitter.com/toady_hawk/status/1857100545850298534)[ 23:37 • 14 Nov 2024 ](https://twitter.com/toady_hawk/status/1857100545850298534) Once woj had awoken he launched the $anon token (no capitalisation) that would underpin the superanon account, but also airdropped donated $ANON to all supercast users. ![](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/2dfc2846e6aca1d38e54396e3e454797.png) With this differentiation in place, [slokh](https://warpcast.com/slokh) (previously built the incredible [nook](https://warpcast.com/nook) client) built a platform for users to [cast anonymously given some ownership of $ANON.](https://anoncast.org/) ![](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/001f9a00625ae79209214db187fd5373.png) (anoncast.org) > "Anoncast is the most popular zk consumer app that's existed so far. We use [Noir](https://x.com/NoirLang/status/1864774000741880020) for our circuits, users generate proofs for the content they want to post in their browser, and only that proof is sent to our servers. There's no identifiable information for who sent the proof and no logs collected, thereby making it fully private. All [the code is open source](https://github.com/Slokh/anoncast) so anyone can verify these claims." [slokh](https://warpcast.com/slokh) This has spawned a number of iterations, applications and experiments. ![](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/16e6439437bc4159cfaa15dae448fc6f.png) [![User Avatar](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/ecf5499a323eea7744eb4d80e3d7a94f.jpg)](https://twitter.com/anoncast_) [anon](https://twitter.com/anoncast_) [@anoncast\_](https://twitter.com/anoncast_) [![Twitter Logo](https://paragraph.xyz/editor/twitter/logo.png)](https://twitter.com/anoncast_/status/1864802975090377145) the sloth entirely rebuilt the backend and dropped the zk proof generation time by 7.5x. now we can all anoncast from mobile. have at it, nerds. ![](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/799829f1151cde89200d33b96c11d615.png) [![Like Icon](https://paragraph.xyz/editor/twitter/heart.png) 79](https://twitter.com/anoncast_/status/1864802975090377145)[ 5:44 • 6 Dec 2024 ](https://twitter.com/anoncast_/status/1864802975090377145) As well as constant updates and improvements such as revealing yourself as the author (of a banger) at a later date. Messr's [Vitalik](https://warpcast.com/vitalik.eth) & [Jesse Pollack](https://warpcast.com/jessepollak) are holders/users. ![](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/e31ff33fbab0c1403d89c194e13b233e.png) 0xLuo created the one on the right 33Bits ------ One of those experiments is [33bits.xyz](https://33bits.xyz/) which limits those able to use it to those with FID numbers 20k and below (early farcaster users). Built by [Kugusha](https://warpcast.com/kugusha.eth) and [Sergey](https://warpcast.com/fastfourier.eth) who have then gone on to launch [66bits.xyz](https://66bits.xyz/) to enable more open access to the utility, with extra capabilities for holders of the token. ![](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/7f6572f10b9ea2410e36e271848847f8.png) ([33bits.xyz](https://33bits.xyz/)) Rumours ------- Built by [Disky](https://warpcast.com/disky.eth) & [Leovido](https://warpcast.com/leovido.eth), [rumourcast.xyz](http://rumourcast.xyz) is a farcaster client "that builds on the foundations of the popular Anon Cast but with a unique twist". [ RumourCast: What's next? ------------------------ Phase 01: Launching RumourCast In the initial phase of our journey, we introduced the Clanker token and launched RumourCast-a new Farcaster client designed entirely around the art of spreading rumours. Every rumour begins with the phrase, "I heard a rumour..." This client builds on the foundations of the popular Anon Cast but with a unique twist. https://paragraph.xyz ![](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/f11ce40a99356ad92e00381cb70f3897.jpg) ](https://paragraph.xyz/@disky.eth/rumourcast-roadmap) So long as you have enough of the token that underpins it, a user can cast as the anon account. The roadmap looking forward includes: * Frames V2 Integration: Creating a unique frame feature to enhance user interaction * NFT: mint collectible NFTs of rumours, with potential prediction market integration * Rumour AI Agent: elaborately expand & enhance rumours, adding depth/creativity to each cast ![](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/b202d8ecd2e6cd3d6bdb82385120057a.png) The iterations keep coming. ![](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/914745744a0115b8460d80141fdc0992.png) Pseudonymous Economy -------------------- Transitioning wholesale to fully financialized pseudonymous frameworks risks [oversimplifying the complexities of human interaction](https://x.com/VitalikButerin/status/1826326848298426399). Much promise lies not in complete anonymity, but in a variety of sophisticated identity models. [![User Avatar](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/6f06fbd9f463beb5f276bf11373c095c.jpg)](https://twitter.com/balajis) [Balaji](https://twitter.com/balajis) [@balajis](https://twitter.com/balajis) [![Twitter Logo](https://paragraph.xyz/editor/twitter/logo.png)](https://twitter.com/balajis/status/1578653505703006208) A third idea is the pseudonymous economy. Use zero knowledge, homomorphic encryption, secure multiparty computation, cryptocredentials, AI avatars, and the like to bring your minimum necessary self to work. Thereby make both cancellation and discrimination impossible. [![User Avatar](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/d7ca124fef428474525e27e0e3751079.jpg)](https://twitter.com/ATabarrok) [Alex Tabarrok](https://twitter.com/ATabarrok) [@ATabarrok](https://twitter.com/ATabarrok) [![Twitter Logo](https://paragraph.xyz/editor/twitter/logo.png)](https://twitter.com/ATabarrok/status/1400890663386767363) Excellent talk by [@balajis](https://twitter.com/balajis) on The Pseudonymous Economy. High ratio of ideas per minute. [youtu.be/urtXRg9Nl3k](https://t.co/tJueqLxNFV) [![Like Icon](https://paragraph.xyz/editor/twitter/heart.png) 242](https://twitter.com/balajis/status/1578653505703006208)[ 14:48 • 8 Oct 2022 ](https://twitter.com/balajis/status/1578653505703006208) These online/onchain social experiments are key spaces where individuals can build reputation, share insights, and collaborate without the crushing weight of personal exposure. ![](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/784973223f662aef70d83da976a1ca19.png) Pure anonymity cannot sustain entire social or governance structures. But these nuanced digital personas—verifiable identities that can be trusted, and portable across platforms, without sacrificing individual privacy—pave the way for spaces where participation is voluntary, identity is fluid, and the power dynamics of online communication are fundamentally reimagined. More tools in the armoury for finding a delicate balance between transparency and protection, between collective trust and individual freedom. > “Behind this mask there is more than just flesh. Beneath this mask there is an idea... and ideas are bulletproof.” > ― **Alan Moore,** [**V for Vendetta**](https://www.goodreads.com/work/quotes/392838) ![](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/03ca877b5e23764d934afe1bd4eae9a0.webp) * * * thanks for reading, consider minting this article & encouraging more like it, catch you on the next [Collect](https://paragraph.xyz/@papajams.eth/1QnflySRg3z6XWIBEEso) Connect ------- * [Farcaster](https://warpcast.com/@papa) @papa — [https://warpcast.com/@papa](https://warpcast.com/@papa) * [Lens](https://www.discove.xyz/@papa%EF%BF%BCLens) @papajams — [https://lenster.xyz/u/papajams](https://lenster.xyz/u/papajams) * [Twitter](https://lenster.xyz/u/papajams%EF%BF%BCTwitter) @papajimjams — [https://twitter.com/papajimjams](https://twitter.com/papajimjams) **Read/Watch** -------------- * [Zero-knowledge is easy or the ultimate how-to article](https://blog.borodutch.com/zero-knowledge-is-easy-or-the-ultimate-how-to-article/) by [Nikita Kolmogorov](https://warpcast.com/warpcastadmin.eth) * [Web3 Social Landscape](https://Web3 Social Landscape) by [Paul Veradittakit](https://warpcast.com/paulv), Pantera Capital * [Introducing Sealcaster](https://blog.bigwhalelabs.com/introducing-sealcaster/), by Big Whale Labs * [Applied ZK how we made anonymous casts on Farcaster possible](https://Applied ZK part 3 or how we made anonymous casts on Farcaster possible), by [Nikita Kolmogorov](https://warpcast.com/warpcastadmin.eth) * [Sunouns](https://sunouns.wtf/manifesto) * [33bitsAnon](https://www.bonfire.xyz/33bitsAnon) * [From Control to Community, Farcaster & The Future Of Social Media](https://www.forbes.com/sites/digital-assets/2024/11/04/from-control-to-community-farcaster-and-the-future-of-social-media/), by Forbes * [The Pseudonymous Economy](https://youtu.be/urtXRg9Nl3k?feature=shared), by Balaji Srinivasan ![](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/02aa45100487a752cc023735735f9eb8.webp) --- *Originally published on [papajams.eth](https://paragraph.com/@papajams.eth/farcasters-zk-anons)*