🇪🇨 ZKET Core Program – Ecuador 2025 🔒🚀

An initiative by the ZK Education Team of the Ethereum Foundation

The revolution of privacy and secure computation arrives in Quito! Apply and become part of the next generation of experts in Programmable Cryptography (ProgCrypto).

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Program Overview

• Focus: Programmable Cryptography (ProgCrypto), with a special emphasis on Zero-Knowledge Proofs (ZKPs), privacy, and secure computation.
• Objective: To train and empower the next generation of ZK experts in Ecuador.
• Duration: 6 intensive weeks.
• Cost: Free, thanks to the ZK Education Team of the Ethereum Foundation.

Learning Content (6-Week Weekly Syllabus)

Week 1: Fundamentals and Open Source Culture

• Prerequisites: Necessary prior knowledge for the course.
• Open Source Culture: Introduction and reinforcement of the importance and practices of open-source code.

Week 2: Classical and Modern Cryptography & Introduction to ZKPs

• Cryptography: Classical and modern (From symmetric to asymmetric ciphers: RSA, Diffie-Hellman).
• Introduction to Zero-Knowledge Proofs (ZKPs): What they are and why they are necessary (Scalability and Privacy). Types of ZK-Proofs: zk-SNARKs vs zk-STARKs.
• Technologies: Introduction to Circom.

Week 3: More Crypto, SNARKs, and STARKs

• Study: KZG Polynomial Commitments, Trusted Setup.
• STARKs and SNARKs: Definition, characteristics, and uses.
• Practical Application: Algorithm implementation and basic ZKP demonstrations.
• Technologies: Advanced Circom & Introduction to Cairo

Week 4: PLONK

• Study:
  • PLONK Introduction: Vitalik's blog post, Plonkish circuit arithmetization.
  • Implementation: Explore Plonkathon reference implementation.
  • Core Concepts: Brief understanding of underlying mathematical tools (e.g., polynomial commitments)
• Technologies: Introduction to Noir

Week 5: ZK-ET Workshop

• Workshops: Complementary practical workshops.
• Contribution Week 1: First week dedicated to open source contributions in virtual mode.

Week 6: Final Contributions, Demo, and ZK Future

• Contribution Week 2: Second week of open source contributions in virtual mode.
• Workshops: Complementary practical workshops.
• Demo Day: Presentation of practical application results and contributions.
• The Frontier: Discussion on advancements and future trends in Zero-Knowledge.

Ideal Candidate Profile

• Strong foundation in programming or mathematics.
• Passion for cryptography, mathematics, security, or blockchain.
• English proficiency to understand technical content (Most content in this language).
• Students or professionals in Computer Science, Engineering, Mathematics, or related fields (from 4th semester onwards or graduates/egress).

Contribution

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