NCR Course Module 4

Class 10 Lesson Plan

Advanced Topics in Cryptography & Zero-Knowledge Proofs

Register for the class: Here

Facilitator: Chloe Lewis
Co-Facilitators: Nedlar & BGem
Guest Lecturer: None
Date: March 1st, 2024 (week 10)
Time:10am AST | 2pm UTC
Duration: 1 hour
Platform: NCR Thread on Telegram

Learning Objectives

• Understanding the key cryptographic components of blockchains, including hashing, private/public keys, and transaction signing.
• High-level understanding of zero-knowledge proofs, their role in privacy and scalability, and their applications in NEAR Protocol projects.

Pre-Reading Material

• Past Classes for Review:
  • Class 1: Foundations of Blockchain and NEAR Protocol
  • Class 2: Methods for Blockchain Data Retrieval
  • Class 3: Data Transformation and Visualization Techniques
  • Class 4: Advanced Data Analysis Techniques
  • Class 5: Identifying Potential Research Topics
  • Class 6: Governance in Blockchain
  • Class 7: Decentralized Finance (DeFi)
  • Class 8: Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs)
  • Class 9: Blockchain Gaming
• Zero-Knowledge Now on NEAR
• LNC ZKPs for Privacy

Agenda

Week	Time	Topic	Activity & Description	Resource
10	0-5 mins	Introduction	Course and Class Intro	ResearchWG on Telegram
10	5-10 mins	Intro to Cryptography	Basic introduction to cryptography.	Number Theory From 1st Principles
10	10-20 mins	Cryptography in Blockchain	Deep dive into hashing, private/public keys, and signing transactions.	Blockchain Cryptography Overview
10	20-30 mins	Cryptography in NEAR Protocol	Exploration of cryptographic components used in NEAR Protocol.	NEAR Protocol Overview
10	30-40 mins	What are Zero-Knowledge Proofs?	Introduction to zero-knowledge proofs and their significance in blockchain.	Zero-Knowledge Proofs Explained
10	40-55 mins	Zero-Knowledge on NEAR Protocol	Overview of NEAR's projects involving zero-knowledge proofs, focusing on privacy and scalability.	NEAR Protocol's ZK Projects
10	55-60 mins	Questions and Next Steps	Q&A session and introduction to homework assignments.	Class 5 HW

Homework

• MultiXender

• Week 10: Cryptography in Practice

  1. Share the transaction hash on the Blockchain Operating System (BOS) for when you claimed your NCR NFT, or another significant on-chain memory.
  2. Share the link in the Homework Telegram Thread.

• Week 10: Exploring Zero-Knowledge Proofs

  1. Visit Opact Tickets (formerly hideyour.cash) and explore their zero-knowledge proof system.
  2. Create a ticket using their zero-knowledge proof system.
  3. Document your experience in creating and using the ticket and share your experience on the Blockchain Operating System (BOS), and link your post in the Homework Telegram Thread.

Session Link: HackMD Class10