Privacy & Verifiability Student Hackathon Recap

Hackathon Synopsis

The Privacy and Verifiability Hackathon, organized by the Blockchain Student Association of the Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) in Switzerland, was successfully held on March 8-9, 2023. The 26-hour challenge attracted 36 developers to sign up and submitted 23 approved projects focusing on blockchain privacy and verifiability technology solutions, sponsored by Mina, Hedera Hashgraph Association, Hylé and others, with a total prize pool of $15, 000.

Notable achievements include innovations in privacy-enhancing approaches and verifiable blockchain solutions. Projects were evaluated on criteria such as innovation, technical execution, and effectiveness in addressing privacy and verifiability issues. The diverse solutions on display highlight the originality and practical applications in the field of blockchain.

Hackathon fosters collaboration and creativity among students, professionals, and enthusiasts, advancing discussions about privacy and verifiable blockchain technology. The event highlighted the potential of decentralized solutions to address privacy challenges, further affirming the community’s commitment to driving blockchain innovation.

Hackathon winners

The Privacy and Verifiability Hackathon ended with more than 25 projects competing for a $15, 000 prize pool. It showcases innovative solutions that have made breakthroughs in privacy and authentication technologies and is divided into three categories.

Mina Award winner

• Mina Cash: Leverage Mina Protocol’s zero-knowledge proofs for anonymous payment transactions, ensuring on-chain proof and off-chain privacy.
• zkPetitions: A decentralized application that uses zero-knowledge proofs to protect privacy and data integrity, as well as handle petitions.
• ZKribble.io: A game that utilizes zero-knowledge proofs to protect secret words in the context of drawing and guessing.
• Aether ticket: Integrates with Mina Protocol’s ticket verification platform to achieve secure and private verification through zero-knowledge proofs.
• Hush tag: Uses Mina Protocol’s decentralized ticketing system for secure and private ticket generation and verification.

Hedera Hashgraph Association Award Winner

• AtlasID: Privacy-focused authentication using React, Express, and SD-JWT VC technologies.
• donate.fun: Enhance transparency and security of humanitarian aid through blockchain and identity verification.
• Geotrust: A web application for geocaching with location creation and robust user authentication.
• Hedemon: Convert physical collectibles into NFTs with verifiable authenticity and privacy using the Hedera blockchain.

winner of the Hylé Prize

• Sthylé - image verification: Blockchain-based platform for verifying image authenticity and management.
• zkIA: Focuses on zero-knowledge proofs in AI applications, although no specific technical details are provided.
• CipherSocial: Using cryptography and blockchain through a decentralized platform, users are connected based on interests to protect privacy.
• Plethora: Used to create AI agents that use zero-knowledge proofs to accomplish private, verifiable tasks.

For a full list of projects and more details, visit the Hackathon page on dorahacks.io.

About the organizer Blockchain Student Association

The Blockchain Student Association aims to educate and engage students in the field of blockchain technology. Known for its expertise in blockchain systems and applications, the organization actively conducts workshops and workshops to enhance members’ technical understanding. It has worked with industry leaders on projects focused on innovative blockchain solutions. The organization’s mission is to foster a knowledge community that explores the practical applications of blockchain and promotes technological literacy in a rapidly evolving field.