3.5 billion years ago, life on Earth was still primitive single-celled organisms. Then, after a period known as the Cambrian Explosion of Life, almost all the species we know today appeared.

We are currently experiencing a "Cambrian Explosion" in the field of cryptographic integrity proofs (CI), a subset of which includes Zero-Knowledge Proofs. A few years ago, there were about 1-3 new Zero-Knowledge Proof systems each year, but now we witness several new systems emerging every month or even every week. As of 2019, we have seen many Zero-Knowledge Proof schemes, such as Libra, Sonic, SuperSonic, PLONK, SLONK, Halo, Marlin, Fractal, Spartan, concise Aurora, and implementations like OpenZKP, Hodor, and GenSTARK.

---Quote from "A Cambrian Explosion of Crypto Proofs" by ELI BEN-SASSON

With the explosion of Zero-Knowledge Proof systems, related projects will emerge one after another, becoming the main narrative of blockchain development in the next three years. In this process, we will surely see the enormous driving force of Zero-Knowledge systems for large-scale blockchain applications. Therefore, learning Zero-Knowledge Proofs has become an indispensable part of blockchain practitioners and is the entry point for blockchain innovation and development.

The popularization of Zero-Knowledge Proofs will undoubtedly promote the development of the entire industry

We will see ChatGPT-level applications that will truly change people's production and living relationships!

02🤔 What are Zero-Knowledge Proofs

In cryptography, Zero-Knowledge Proofs are a method of proving the validity of a statement without exposing the statement itself. Zero-Knowledge Proofs allow one party (the prover) to prove to another party (the verifier) that a statement is true, without revealing any information beyond the validity of the statement itself.

The concept of "Zero-Knowledge" was first proposed by researchers Shafi Goldwasser, Silvio Micali, and Charles Rackoff from MIT in the 1980s. They published the paper "The Knowledge Complexity of Interactive Proof Systems" (i.e., GMR85), which explained how much knowledge needs to be exchanged in an interactive system, through K rounds of interaction, to prove that the testimony is correct. If the knowledge to be exchanged is zero, it is called Zero-Knowledge Proof.

Cryptography is the cornerstone of blockchain technology, and Zero-Knowledge Proofs in cryptography have attracted much attention due to their deep compatibility with the technical characteristics and requirements of blockchain development. Computational integrity-proof systems help solve two fundamental problems plaguing decentralized blockchains: privacy and scalability. Zero-Knowledge Proofs (ZKP) provide privacy by shielding certain inputs without compromising integrity. Concise verifiable CI systems provide scalability by exponentially compressing the computational resources required to verify the integrity of large numbers of transactions.

To develop ZK applications independently, developers need the following research and development capabilities:

• Arithmetic skills for algorithms and low-level optimizations

  Developers need these skills to solve problems in finite field arithmetic, polynomial commitments, and elliptic curves.

• Cryptography knowledge about ZK proof systems,

  such as ZK-SNARKs, Plonkish, and trust setup processes. Developers need to choose the appropriate ZK-Proof system and may need to customize it.

• Circuit programming skills

  Developers need to formulate constraints for some cryptographic primitives (such as Merkle trees and hashes).

• Application and cryptographic protocol development

Some engineering or software development experience will also be beneficial, as we’ll be discussing the practical use of modern cryptographic primitives for real applications.

03 🪐 Workshop Introduction

Welcome to the developer Workshop jointly organized by Kepler42B - ZK Planet and Sutulabs, where we will hold a series of workshops on building and using Zero-Knowledge Proofs.

Kepler42B ZK Planet will gather international researchers and enthusiasts of Zero-Knowledge Proofs. Our goal is to create a communication hub for ZKP theorists and developers through the study and interaction of Zero-Knowledge Proofs and cryptographic technologies. We hope to see various ZKP applications emerge from this healthy community of knowledgeable and skillful developers.

For this purpose, we will create a three-month ZKP co-learning plan.

In the following three months, we will conduct a comprehensive study and practice Zero-Knowledge Proofs. We have carefully crafted courses on Zero-Knowledge Proof applications and cryptography based on [MIT-IAP-2023],

• Office Hour will be available every week to answer students' questions.

• Industry experts and influencers will be invited periodically to provide guidance.

• After the three-month course, a ZK Shanghai Hackathon will be held, and the winners will receive Grants provided by the sponsors. (🌿Sponsor collaboration is ongoing, please add WeChat: Mr_Samaritan for consultation).

04 ✨ The problems we solve

• What are the latest developments in zero-knowledge cryptography over the past decade?

• What are their practical applications for users?

• What can we do to simplify the learning process of ZK?

• How can we support new developers in building viable and meaningful products?

05 ✒️ Course Content

This course is based on and will be conducted according to the [MIT-IAP-2023] Modern Zero Knowledge Cryptography course schedule:

Topics covered range from the mathematical foundations of modern zero-knowledge protocols (interactive protocols, elliptic curve cryptography, pairing-based cryptography, polynomial commitment schemes, zkSNARKs, and more) to practical constructions of digital systems enabled by ZK primitives (privacy-preserving identity and reputation systems, anonymous digital transaction systems, verifiable computation, and more).

Towards the end of the course, students will implement their own “zero-knowledge circuits” that can be integrated into practical applications.

The focus of this course is to cultivate a conceptual understanding of modern zero-knowledge. Since this course aims to investigate the "full stack" landscape from theory to application, less emphasis is placed on exact mathematical rigor, and more emphasis is placed on conveying the general big-picture ideas and methods that appear in modern ZK applications.

❗ Note: This Course is taught in full Chinese (Mandarin). Students who do not have a basic knowledge of Chinese dictation are not recommended to apply for this course. But we highly recommend that you study the original course content and participate in our community for co-learning!

📖 Prerequisites

• Elementary number theory and group theory. You should be comfortable working through the material in this handout from MIT’s 6.875 (Foundations of Cryptography) course.

• Basic cryptographic primitives. You should be comfortable with the idea of hash functions, encryption and signature schemes, and cryptographic accumulators (i.e. Merkle Trees); ideally, you’ve had some experience using and manipulating these primitives in practical settings (for example, perhaps you’ve implemented or used a signature verification API in an application).

• Basic algebraic concepts. You should be comfortable with basic manipulation of polynomials, perhaps with a bit of reading: polynomial multiplication and division, Lagrange interpolation, probabilistic polynomial identity testing, fast Fourier transform, and working in field extensions.

👨‍🏫 Instructors:

Icer: Icer (Shuang Liang), is a Ph.D. candidate in computer science at Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU), with research interests in zero-knowledge proof-based database management systems. Icer is the architect of Pawket, a well-known wallet on the Chia chain, and co-founder of several blockchain projects.

👨‍🎓 Teaching Assistants:

Jet: Bachelor of Computer Science, Tongji University

William: Master of Computer Science, Northeastern University, USA

✨ Course Benefits

• Outstanding student fellowships

• Hackathon winners will receive cash prizes!

• Mentor QA & TA guidance

• Completion certificate

• Industry networking opportunities

🧸 Offline Workshops

• Instructor lectures

• Group discussions

  Offline groups, 4-5 people per group, up to 30 people in total

• Coursework

💻 Online Co-learning

• Live video streaming

• Group discussions

  online groups, 6-8 people per group

• Industry expert lectures

• Office Hour Q&A sessions

👥 Group output content

• After-class assignment

• Learning notes, coding exercises

• Practical projects based on ZKP Dapps

06 💰 Course Duration & Price

Kepler42B - ZK Planet will partner with Sutulabs to host a 3-month ZK Planet Workshop. The course is intended as a public service lecture series, but to ensure the quality of teaching and the learning experience of genuinely interested students, we have implemented a deposit refund plan. Upon completion of the assignments, the full deposit will be refunded.

Join our ZK workshop and gain the essential knowledge to develop using this framework!

✅ Duration: April 8, 2023 - July 2023

✅ Schedule: Offline Workshop (lectures + on-site Q&A), online synchronized live streaming (online Q&A). Four times a month, 12 times in total (Q&A sessions open to all students, instructor Q&A). Offline classes every Saturday, online synchronized live streaming

✅ Deposit: 130 U for offline (including 12 courses), 100 U for online paid DC live streaming (full refund upon submission of all assignments)

❗ Note:**For college students, please contact customer service with your student ID to receive a 50% discount;**Offline workshop applicants will be screened based on their GitHub profiles.

🎯 Offline Venue: Multifunctional Hall, 22nd Floor, Shanghai International Design Center, 100 Guokang Road, Yangpu District, Shanghai

07 🙋 Click the link below to sign up

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScZctFoBg4-5gMx0rSVCjo3dDeTo7P5tJElyqwfJSug6TCrMw/viewform

This event is brought to you by Kepler42B-ZK Planet and our partner Sutulabs. For more information, please contact us directly:

👾: https://discord.gg/CTrBVjDW4E

🐦: https://twitter.com/kepler42bDAO

📜About Kepler42B ZK Planet

The goal of Kepler42B - ZK Planet is to provide necessary collaboration, mentor support, and academic discussions for ZKP builders and developers. This is a place where you can find teammates, learn, and get feedback from researchers in the field!

We are a group of Web3 enthusiasts passionate about ZKP, cryptography, cyberpunk culture, and philosophy.

We are committed to building a planet that brings together developers, practitioners, and enthusiasts from around the world; establishing a decentralized community to exchange and share everything about ZKP and cryptography, and creating a unique Web3 culture.

Our efforts include raising awareness and understanding of Zero Knowledge Proofs (ZKP) and cryptography among a wider audience through various means, such as content creation, community-based learning, hackathons, and other similar methods.

We strive to discover innovative applications of blockchain technology to effectively address the challenges of our era and help generate value in the web3 era. At the same time, we are equally dedicated to fostering the growth of our community into a self-sustaining lean model.

We strongly prioritize the exchange of cultural knowledge and ideas, and we work to ensure that everyone can communicate without restrictions and pursue their personal interests.

Join Kepler42B - ZK Planet and let's explore the fascinating world of Zero Knowledge Proofs and cryptography together!

📜About Sutulabs

Shanghai Sutu Technology Co., Ltd. (SutuLabs) is a high-tech enterprise in Shanghai, a blockchain company recognized by the Yangpu District Science and Technology Commission, and one of the most active development teams on the Chia blockchain. The company has released three products: Pawket (wallet), Mixch (developer tools), and ChiaNameService (domain name service). The company also focuses on R&D and exploration in the field of Zero Knowledge Proofs and will continue to promote the ecological construction of blockchain networks in the future.

🪧 Statement

All articles in this account can not be used as investment advice or recommendations, all articles are for the industry to discuss, exchange and share, and do not represent the views of this account. Investment has risks, investment should consider personal risk tolerance, it is recommended to conduct an in-depth examination of the project, careful to make their own investment decisions.