ZK-AfterLife

ZK-AfterLife: Private Crypto Inheritance System with PDF Integration

ZK-AfterLife is a comprehensive zero-knowledge proof-based digital inheritance platform that enables private and automated distribution of crypto assets upon user inactivity. Built on Aztec Network using Noir programming language, the system leverages PLONK-based zk-SNARKs to maintain complete privacy while ensuring verifiable execution of digital wills.

Core Features

Zero-Knowledge Privacy

• Uses Poseidon hashing for commitment schemes
• Will details remain completely private until execution
• ZK proofs verify validity without revealing beneficiary information or asset amounts
• Merkle tree structures hide beneficiary lists
• Noir circuits for efficient zero-knowledge proof generation

Automated Execution

• Heartbeat monitoring system with configurable check-in intervals (default: 12 months)
• 30-day grace period with multisig veto capabilities
• Automatic asset distribution upon confirmed inactivity
• No middleman required - fully decentralized execution

Advanced Verification Systems

• Self Protocol Integration: Human verification through government ID verification (passport, driver's license, Aadhaar) for identity confirmation
• Age Verification: ZK-based age checks for beneficiaries (ensuring children are over 18)
• ZK-PDF Integration: Upload signed PDF wills with zero-knowledge verification of document authenticity and beneficiary extraction
• Multi-signature Veto: Trusted parties can pause execution during grace periods

Technical Architecture

• Frontend: Next.js with TypeScript, wallet integration (MetaMask, WalletConnect)
• Smart Contracts: Solidity contracts for will registration, execution, and verification
• ZK Circuits: Noir-based circuits for proof generation and verification
• Backend: Rust-based PDF processing service with SP1 circuits
• Cross-chain: Ethereum L1 for heartbeat monitoring, Aztec L2 for private execution

Asset Management

• Supports ETH, USDC, NFTs, and traditional financial assets
• Private UTXO-based asset storage on Aztec Network
• Configurable beneficiary allocations with validation
• PDF-based will creation with automatic beneficiary extraction
• Error handling for invalid addresses (assets go to executor)

Strategic Partnerships

• Self Protocol: Identity verification and age validation without exposing personal data
• Ethereum Foundation (ZK-PDF): Zero-knowledge proof verification of PDF documents and signature validation
• Aztec Network: Private execution layer for confidential asset distribution

The system represents a significant advancement in crypto estate planning, combining privacy-preserving technology with practical inheritance management while maintaining the security and transparency benefits of blockchain technology.

Architecture Overview ZK-AfterLife is a multi-layered, cross-chain system that combines zero-knowledge cryptography with practical estate planning. The architecture follows a modular design pattern with clear separation of concerns.

Core Technology Stack

Smart Contracts (Solidity)

• Foundry for development, testing, and deployment
• OpenZeppelin contracts for security patterns
• BN254 elliptic curve for ZK proof verification
• Custom UltraHonk proof structure for efficient verification

Zero-Knowledge Layer (Noir)

• Noir programming language for ZK circuit development
• Poseidon hashing for commitment schemes and Merkle trees
• Aztec Network integration for private execution
• UltraHonk backend for proof generation and verification

Frontend (Next.js + TypeScript)

• Next.js 14 with App Router for modern React development
• Viem for Ethereum interaction
• Tailwind CSS for styling
• Framer Motion for animations
• Zod for runtime type validation

Backend (Rust + SP1)

• Rust-based PDF processing service using Axum web framework
• SP1 circuits for zero-knowledge PDF verification
• PDF text extraction and beneficiary parsing
• Mock ZK proof generation for demonstration purposes

Key Technical Innovations

Zero-Knowledge Proof System The heart of the system is a sophisticated ZK circuit that uses Poseidon hashing instead of SHA-256 for better performance. The circuit validates will commitments, builds Merkle trees for beneficiaries, and ensures allocation sums match declared totals - all while keeping beneficiary details completely private.

PDF Integration with ZK Verification The system integrates ZK-PDF technology to allow users to upload signed PDF wills. The Rust backend extracts beneficiary information from PDFs and generates zero-knowledge proofs that verify the document's authenticity without revealing its contents. This enables traditional legal documents to work seamlessly with the crypto inheritance system.

Smart Contract Architecture The system uses interconnected contracts with specific responsibilities:

• WillVerifier handles ZK proof verification
• WillExecutor manages asset distribution
• L1Heartbeat tracks user inactivity
• AztecExecutor coordinates private execution
• L1AztecBridge enables cross-chain communication
• NoirIntegration manages proof coordination

Frontend Service Architecture The frontend uses a service-oriented architecture with clear separation:

• NoirService manages ZK proof generation and verification
• ZKPDFService handles PDF upload and verification
• BlockchainService manages wallet connections and contract calls
• WalletContext provides global state management

Partner Technology Integration

Ethereum Foundation (ZK-PDF) The system integrates ZK-PDF technology for PDF document verification, enabling users to upload traditional legal wills and have them verified through zero-knowledge proofs. The Rust backend processes PDFs, extracts beneficiary information, and generates proofs that verify document authenticity without revealing sensitive content.

Self Protocol Integration The system integrates Self Protocol for human verification during will setup, identity confirmation for beneficiaries, age verification using ZK proofs, and biometric authentication for sensitive operations.

Aztec Network Integration Leverages Aztec's private execution environment for confidential asset distribution, ensuring beneficiary details and asset amounts remain private during execution.

Notable Technical Innovations

Dynamic Circuit Loading The system gracefully degrades from full ZK mode to mock mode if dependencies aren't available, making development and testing much easier.

Flexible String-to-BigInt Conversion Handles any input format (hex addresses, decimal numbers, text) and converts them to the field elements needed for ZK circuits.

PDF-to-Blockchain Bridge The system automatically extracts beneficiary information from uploaded PDF wills and converts them into blockchain-compatible format, bridging traditional legal documents with crypto inheritance.

Poseidon-Based Merkle Trees Using Poseidon instead of SHA-256 makes the ZK circuit much more efficient, reducing proof generation time and gas costs.

Cross-Chain PDF Verification The Rust backend processes PDFs off-chain and generates proofs that can be verified on-chain, enabling efficient PDF verification without storing large documents on-chain.

How Everything Pieces Together

User creates will (manual or PDF upload) → Frontend generates ZK proof using Noir circuit PDF processing → Rust backend extracts beneficiaries and verifies document authenticity Will registered → Commitment stored on Ethereum L1 Heartbeat monitoring → L1Heartbeat tracks user activity Inactivity detected → Grace period begins with veto options Execution triggered → AztecExecutor distributes assets privately ZK verification → WillVerifier ensures valid execution Asset distribution → Beneficiaries receive private UTXOs

The system elegantly combines privacy (ZK proofs), security (multi-sig veto), automation (heartbeat monitoring), flexibility (configurable parameters), and traditional document integration (PDF wills) into a cohesive digital inheritance solution.