KIP-73: Incentive Program for Zero-Knowledge Integration in Proof of Humanity

Proposal
1

1. Summary

This proposal requests the Kleros DAO to fund and coordinate a zero-knowledge (ZK) integration for Proof of Humanity (PoH), enabling privacy-preserving Sybil resistance. Specifically, the DAO would allocate a budget of 2,000,000 PNK (and/or ETH from the treasury) to sponsor development grants, documentation, and user-education campaigns around ZK attestations in PoH.

2. Motivation

  • Deepfake & Privacy Concerns: PoH’s reliance on public video submissions can deter privacy-minded users and might be vulnerable to increasingly sophisticated video forgeries.
  • Expansion of PoH Adoption: Many integrators—especially those in regulated or privacy-sensitive industries—seek a “prove you’re in PoH without revealing your face or main address.” A ZK approach addresses that demand.
  • Kleros Ecosystem Growth: A robust PoH with optional ZK features encourages more integrations (from DeFi to social media), benefiting both Kleros and PoH communities.

3. Scope & Deliverables

  1. ZK Integration Roadmap
  • A 4–6 week process to define technical specifications for hooking up Sismo Connect, Iden3, or a similar solution.
  • Whitepaper or spec detailing how PoH “claims” can be minted as private credentials, verified by dApps, and challenged in Kleros if misused.
  1. PoH-ZK Development Grant
  • Allocate X PNK/ETH to a bounty or dev team that implements a minimal MVP for:
    • Generating zero-knowledge proofs of PoH membership.
    • Verifying said proofs on-chain or in a sidecar service.
  • Deliver a test suite and deployment instructions for the PoH community.
  1. UI/UX Demos & Documentation
  • Tutorials, user flows, and “ZK mode” within PoH’s existing front end to guide users through generating their “ZK badge.”
  • Educate integrators (DAOs, DeFi apps) on hooking up ZK-based Sybil-resistance checks.

4. Budget & Timeline

  • Budget: 2,000,000 PNK (or an equivalent in DAI/ETH if approved by the DAO)
    • 1,000,000 for dev grants
    • 200,000 for documentation & design bounties
    • 800,000 for marketing/outreach/Layer3 quests
  • Timeline:
    • Phase 1 (1 month): Draft architecture, gather community feedback.
    • Phase 2 (2–3 months): Develop MVP + documentation.
    • Phase 3 (1 month): UI integration, pilot testing, marketing push.

5. Implementation & Oversight

  • Kleros Core Team: Provide general oversight and ensure grants are disbursed according to milestones.
  • PoH Lead, Devs & Community: Collaborate closely on technical choices (Sismo vs. Iden3 vs. custom approach).
  • Regular Check-Ins: Bi-weekly progress updates on the Kleros forum, final deliverables posted for community review.

6. Conclusion

Adopting zero-knowledge proofs in PoH is a strategic next step for attracting the users who are more privacy concerned. Funding a structured roadmap and grants via the Kleros DAO will boost PoH adoption, reinforce Sybil resistance, and expand the overall Kleros ecosystem. We ask the community to vote FOR this proposal to allocate resources and begin the ZK integration process promptly.

Potential Discussion Topics in Comments

  • Which ZK approach is best? (e.g., Sismo, Iden3, custom PLONK-based circuit).
  • How large should the dev bounty be?
  • Should this be a multi-phase proposal? (e.g., “feasibility study” first, then a second vote for the final budget).
1 Like
2

Hi @Praetor, thank you for your interest in Kleros and PoH, and for your proposal. At Kleros Coop, we believe that a Zk integration could be very beneficial for Proof of Humanity. We would be happy to offer a grant from the Kleros Coop Treasury, using Gnosis conditional tokens as an escrow mechanism.

We do believe this is a good way to align incentives. Please feel free to share the specifications you have in mind, either here or on Telegram.

3

Thank you for your prompt feedback and for offering a grant through the Kleros Coop Treasury!

My main goal with this proposal was to spark discussion and prioritize a ZK integration for Proof of Humanity. I’m excited to hear you’re open to funding an initiative, especially via conditional tokens to align incentives.

Regarding specifications: I don’t currently have a fully fleshed-out technical design, since part of the idea is to kick off a feasibility/discovery phase first. This would involve:

  1. Evaluating which zero-knowledge framework(s) (Sismo, iden3/Polygon ID, a custom PLONK circuit, etc.) best fit PoH’s existing architecture.
  2. Drafting a high-level technical design doc (covering how PoH credentials would be minted or proven in zero-knowledge, how on-chain verifications or off-chain verifiers would be integrated, etc.).
  3. Outlining a step-by-step roadmap with specific milestones, budget breakdowns, and deliverables.

My initial budget suggestion was a single lump sum covering everything—2,000,000 PNK or equivalent—but it likely makes sense to split the funding into phases. For instance:

  • Phase 1: Feasibility & Architecture (1 month). A smaller portion of the grant is locked in conditional tokens; funds are released once we deliver a complete design + timeline.
  • Phase 2: MVP Development & Documentation (2–3 months). This would be the main dev push.
  • Phase 3: Integration Testing & Marketing (1 month). Once the MVP is validated, we coordinate marketing campaigns, hackathons, or Layer3 quests to drive adoption.

Let me know what you think. I’m available on Telegram or here on the forum to discuss technical feasibility or shape the timeline. I appreciate your willingness to explore this further

1 Like