Week in Mina News #22
Oct 27, 2024 - Stay Updated with the Latest from Mina: Protocol Updates, Developer News, and Community Highlights
MinaCon #1
Held from 21-23 October in Istanbul, MinaCon brought together developers, zkApp builders, and industry experts for an intensive, collaborative unconference. Participants engaged in hands-on sessions on topics such as code walkthroughs, circuit design, mobile proving, and explored advancements like the Ethereum-Mina bridge (SP1-Helios). Over Days 2 and 3, dozens of sessions allowed participants to address real-world ZK challenges, fostering partnerships and innovation in the Mina community.
You can see some photos from the event here.ZKON - ZKON Introduced SecureShield MiniApp at MinaCo
At the recent MinaCon event in Istanbul, ZKON introduced the SecureShield MiniApp, a Telegram-based tool for ensuring website security. The MiniApp integrates multiple APIs to assess websites on three levels: SSL certification, content analysis (via VirusTotal), and reputation (via Google Safe Browsing). Using ZKON’s provable data SDK, SecureShield verifies that the data from these checks remains untampered, providing users with a comprehensive security score.
You can find all the details here.
Pallad - MinaCon Recap
https://x.com/pallad_/status/1850126383470526853The Pallad team released their summary of MinaCon. The report highlighted a state bridge developed by Deniz from Astromina & Karol for the EVM-Mina protocol, enabling the transfer of zkKYC, zkPassport, and similar elements from other chains to Mina for use with zkApps. It also discussed progress on the Rust-based web node, which will allow users to interact with zkApps without relying on third parties. Q4 plans include the beta release of the MinaJS suite, Pallad Mobile, custom tokens, and E2EE messaging, among other innovations.
Minascan - Minacon Recap
https://x.com/Minascan_io/status/1850068158519890028
Staketab’s recap of the Minacon Unconference highlighted three days of collaboration and innovation within the Mina ecosystem. Key participants, including O(1) Labs, ZkNoid, and Pallad, shared projects and ideas to drive the ecosystem forward. Day 1 featured introductions and networking, Day 2 focused on technical sessions about zkApp development, and Day 3 saw the launch of new initiatives and collaborations. The event fostered strong partnerships and set a clear direction for future projects within Mina, leaving participants inspired and energized.
Florian - o1Labs
https://x.com/zktrivo/status/1850460842887659842,
At MinaCon, Florian (@zktrivo) shared key takeaways highlighting the strong enthusiasm for Mina and o1js, with positive energy throughout the event. The community provided valuable feedback on protocol improvements, emphasizing the need for more transparency and visibility into the team’s work. In response, Florian committed to working more openly and focusing on enabling the innovative ideas shared. The next steps include expanding community support, identifying quick improvements, and streamlining delivery processes to enhance efficiency. Despite the complexities of zkApp and o1js development, the team is excited to turn these insights into actionable progress.
AstroMina
AstroMina team has involved 2 presentations about bounty aggregator & Ethereum ←→ Mina state bridge.
💻 Bounty Aggregator Achivements
Thanks to the Bounty Aggregator, 72 builders have onboarded to the Mina ecosystem, with nearly half of the developers making their first Mina-related commit while solving bounties. Pallad team was one of the best team truly utilizes of the aggregator, and their latest release incorporated contributions from builders using the platform. Additionally, projects at MinaCon discussed needs for onboarding tools similar to the Bounty Aggregator & asked feature requests for Discord & Twitter integrations for Bounty Aggregator.
🌉 Ethereum → Mina Bridge!
Deniz & Karol also presented their trustless zk bridge PoC, which transfers SP1 proofs to Mina as Kimchi proofs, opening up exciting opportunities for the ecosystem.
ZKOK
At MinaCon, comMINAty expressed excitement about the event bringing Mina developers, the ecosystem, Mina Foundation, and O(1) Labs closer together. With numerous projects underway, the next few months are filled with potential, but the real work is just beginning!
https://x.com/minacryptocom/status/1849333341968797923
Teodora - O1Labs
https://x.com/CoinGirlHere/status/1848784026322235843
Extropy
https://x.com/Extropy/status/1850104824462745883
Becky - Mina Foundation
https://x.com/RebeccaLHopwood/status/1848593022679711927
Alamaluu
https://x.com/alamaluu/status/1848814776320987484
⚙️ Core Protocol
New Rust-Based Mina Node on Devnet
Mina Protocol is currently testing a new Rust-based node on Devnet. This alternative implementation aims to provide more flexibility for node operators, fostering increased decentralization and security across the network. With this new option, Mina is opening doors for broader participation in its ecosystem.
Website: https://openmina.com
Mina Mainnet 3.0.2 Stable Update
o1Labs announced the release of Mina Mainnet 3.0.2 Stable. This update supports macOS, Linux (Debian 11 and Ubuntu 20.04 LTS), and Docker environments. The release notes and installation instructions are available on GitHub.
For those using Debian, specific commands for repository setup and installation are provided. This stable release brings enhanced performance and compatibility for the Mina ecosystem.
🖼️ Ecosystem News
LuminaDEX Enters Beta Testing on Mina Devnet
LuminaDEX, a zero-knowledge decentralized exchange with KYC options, is now open for beta testing on Mina Devnet. By combining privacy-preserving ZK proofs with optional regulatory compliance, Lumina aims to create a bridge between traditional finance and decentralized protocols on Mina. With its design targeting institutional use, this DEX could become a key platform for compliant DeFi solutions on Mina.
You can find all the details here.
Timeline: Ongoing until November 15, 2024.
ZKON Decentralized Oracle Network in Beta for Mina zkApps
ZKON introduces a trustless Oracle Network that leverages Multiparty Computation (MPC) and zkTLS technology to securely validate data for Mina’s smart contracts. This decentralized oracle aims to enhance data reliability and integrity without centralized control, fostering a private data economy. The beta phase offers 0.5% of the ZKON token supply as a reward for contributions, providing an incentive for developers to participate in testing.
You can find all the details here.
Timeline: Runs until December 15, 2024.
ZKON Calls Builders
ZKON has launched a unique opportunity for developers to integrate its technology into their applications and earn up to 0.5% of the total ZKON token supply.
https://x.com/zkon_network/status/1850128746801451333
o1js-blobstream Integrates Celestia for Mina’s Data Availability
o1js-blobstream is pushing the boundaries on Mina by integrating Celestia’s data availability layer, enabling developers to verify SP1, RiscZero, and Groth16 proofs on Mina. This toolkit will allow for more extensive zkApps that require large circuits, advancing the ecosystem’s potential for complex applications in data availability and bridging solutions.
You can find all the details here.
zkNoid Shares Updates on zkLottery Testnet Progress
zkNoid has provided updates on its zkLottery testnet, highlighting strong engagement from the zk community. With over 200 participants and nearly 950 tickets claimed, the testnet has seen a total of over 9000+ $MINA in activity. The zkLottery aims to offer a provably fair gaming experience on Mina Protocol, with a 1000 $MINA prize pool currently available.
You can find all the details here.
Other / Miscellaneous
Exploring PLONK Security with Marek Sefrane
In a recent reading group, Marek Sefranek, a PhD student at TU Wien, joined o1Labs engineers to discuss advances in PLONK’s zero-knowledge proof system. Marek shared insights into a vulnerability discovered in the original PLONK specification, which prompted a 2022 update to achieve statistical zero knowledge. He further explained how his team addressed the flaw and introduced a simulator to enhance PLONK's security properties, highlighting improvements in the proof system’s robustness.
You can find the full video here.
o1Labs Reading Group: Flip-and-Prove R1CS with Anca Nitulescu
In the latest session of o1Labs' reading group, Anca Nitulescu, PhD from ENS Paris, presented a new protocol for SNARK proof generation, specifically designed for users with limited computational resources. This protocol, called Flip-and-Prove R1CS, aims to reduce proving time and communication complexity without recursive proof composition. Co-authored with Carla Rafols and Nikitas Psallus, the protocol introduces innovations like the FLIP scheme and a Groth16 variation, enhancing efficiency in SNARK proof systems.
o1Labs Welcomes Sai to the Engineering Team
o1Labs has announced a new addition to their engineering team: Sai, a protocol engineer with a rich background in security and OCaml development. With prior experience at Trail of Bits, Zoom, and as a founding OCaml engineer at Skolem, Sai brings expertise in binary analysis, mathematics, and OCaml, strengthening o1Labs’ technical capabilities.
📌 Mina Community Bulletin Board
This section features posts from the community and projects. You can submit yours here.
X Posts
Blog Posts
Mina Accounts & Storage
https://blockofchain.medium.com/mina-accounts-storage-8386f25782bc
X: https://x.com/BlockofChain/status/1849514920674566159
ZKTLS Use Cases
Minacon Unconference Recap by Staketab
🎟️ Events
Upcoming Events
Brandon Kase to Speak at ZK Hub 2024 in Bangkok
Brandon Kase, CEO of o1Labs, will be a featured speaker at ZK Hub 2024 in Bangkok on November 10-11. The event will also host leading voices in the zero-knowledge space, including Jordi Baylina from Polygon, Viv Ford from Aleo, and Adam Gagol from Aleph Zero. This lineup promises insights into the latest advancements in ZK technology and its impact on the future of Web3.
Details here.
Last Week’s Events
zkVot Halloween Demo at Moda Palas
Modapalas hosted a Halloween-themed gathering featuring a demo of zkVot, a privacy-focused voting application built on Mina Protocol. zkVot provides anonymous and censorship-resistant voting by generating zero-knowledge proofs (zk proofs) for each vote, ensuring fairness and privacy. Attendees tested the app by voting for the best costume of the night, with the Joker winning the title. This demo highlighted zkVot’s ability to maintain vote secrecy while ensuring accurate, tamper-proof results.
ZK Hack Meetup in Istanbul
The 7th ZK Hack Meetup took place on October 20 in collaboration with Mina Protocol, bringing together ZK technology enthusiasts. The event hosted sessions focused on the latest advancements in zero-knowledge, with contributions from the Mina community. Participants engaged in discussions and exchanged ideas, offering fresh perspectives to the Mina ecosystem.
Brandon Kase at Hacker House Meetup
On October 19, a packed session was held at the Aligned Layer hacker house, where Brandon Kase led an in-depth discussion on zk and Mina Protocol. The meetup brought together a vibrant crowd of enthusiasts and developers, all eager to delve into the latest in zero-knowledge technology and Mina’s unique approach.
David Park at Chiangmai
David Park, Mina Foundation's Head of APAC, joined Web3 leaders at #Shanhaiwoo in Chiangmai, discussing Asia’s strengths in localizing platforms and its readiness for dApp adoption. Park emphasized that as Web3 infrastructure matures, Asia’s cultural alignment with decentralized principles will be key to driving adoption.
💼 Open Jobs
No new job listings from the community this week. If you have any job updates or offers, please share them here.
👓 Statistics and Metrics
Key Metrics from Last Week:
Total Amount Transferred (daily average): 60,13M MINA
Unique Snark Workers (daily average): 9
Snarks Included (daily average): 8,265
Transactions (daily average): 7,578
CryptoMiso Commit Stats: Mina secured 2nd place over the past 12 months with 3,949 commits and +100 contributors. More details here.
This newsletter helps the Mina community stay updated on the latest protocol changes, developer news, ecosystem developments, community activities, and key metrics. If you have news to share in this newsletter, please reach out to us here.
Better together! - Astromina Team