ZKLove

Project Summary zkLove is a privacy-preserving dating platform built during a hackathon, utilizing zero-knowledge proof technology and blockchain integration to solve real-world privacy problems in the dating industry.

🎯 Hackathon Goals Primary Objective Create a privacy-preserving dating platform that allows users to verify their identity and preferences without revealing sensitive personal information, addressing growing concerns about data privacy in dating apps. Technical Challenge Demonstrate practical application of zero-knowledge proofs to solve real-world privacy problems, specifically in online dating contexts where users typically share personal information.

⏱️ Development Timeline Hackathon Schedule

Duration: 48-72 hour development cycle Approach: MVP-first with core functionality focus Strategy: Partner integrations for accelerated development Deployment: Cross-platform for maximum impact

Daily Milestones

Day 1: Core architecture and ZK proof integration Day 2: Identity verification and profile creation Day 3: Matching algorithm and UI polish Final Day: Demo preparation and deployment

🤝 Partner Technologies Self Protocol Integration

Purpose: Enterprise-grade identity verification Hackathon Benefit: Saved 3-4 months of development time Result: Working identity verification in hours

Mopro (Ethereum Foundation)

Purpose: Mobile-optimized ZK proofs for demo Hackathon Benefit: Production-ready ZK proof system Result: Complex cryptographic functionality on mobile devices

🛠️ Technical Implementation Rapid Development Strategies

Pre-compiled circuits instead of dynamic loading Simplified state management using custom hooks Partner SDKs instead of building from scratch Cross-platform deployment for demo impact

Demo-Focused Features

Visual privacy indicators throughout the app Real-time verification status updates Interactive profile creation with live preview Instant matching demonstration

🎪 Hackathon Presentation Live Demo Flow

Identity Verification: Real document scanning and verification Profile Creation: Privacy-preserving profile setup ZK Proof Generation: Visual proof creation and verification Matching Algorithm: Privacy-preserving compatibility checking Privacy Features: Data protection and encryption highlights

Technical Showcase

Zero-knowledge proofs working on mobile devices Blockchain integration with real smart contracts Identity verification using government documents Cross-platform compatibility (iOS, Android, Web)

🚧 Challenges & Solutions Time Constraints

Challenge: Limited development time Solution: Partner integrations and pre-built components Result: Complex functionality delivered in days

Resource Limitations

Challenge: Minimal resources available Solution: Open-source libraries and community tools Result: Professional-grade app with minimal resources

Demo Requirements

Challenge: Need for compelling demonstration Solution: Visual indicators and real-time feedback Result: Compelling privacy technology demonstration

🏆 Impact & Results Technical Innovation

First mobile ZK dating app with real identity verification Practical application of zero-knowledge proofs Cross-platform privacy solution

Problem Solving

Addresses real privacy concerns in dating apps Demonstrates practical ZK applications Shows blockchain utility beyond cryptocurrency

Learning Outcomes

ZK proof integration in mobile applications Identity verification system design Privacy-by-design architecture Cross-platform development with complex dependencies

📚 Lessons Learned What Worked ✅

Partner integrations accelerated development significantly Visual privacy indicators made complex concepts understandable Cross-platform deployment maximized demo impact Real-world problem focus resonated with judges and audience

What Was Challenging ⚠️

ZK proof complexity required deep technical understanding Mobile performance constraints with cryptographic operations Build system configuration for blockchain libraries Time pressure on complex integrations

Key Takeaways 💡

Partner technologies are essential for hackathon success Visual demonstrations are crucial for complex technical concepts Real-world applications have more impact than theoretical solutions Cross-platform deployment maximizes project reach

🌟 Success Factors Technical Excellence

Working ZK proofs on mobile devices Real identity verification integration Cross-platform compatibility Production-ready code quality

Innovation

Novel application of zero-knowledge proofs Privacy-first design philosophy Blockchain integration for verification User experience focus on privacy

Presentation

Live demonstration of core features Clear problem statement and solution Technical depth with accessible explanation Real-world impact demonstration

🚀 Post-Hackathon Development Production Readiness

Code cleanup and optimization Security audit and testing Performance optimization for production User experience improvements

Future Roadmap

Advanced matching algorithms Enhanced privacy features Community features and social aspects Monetization and sustainability

🎉 Conclusion zkLove represents a successful hackathon project demonstrating how cutting-edge cryptographic technology can solve real-world privacy problems. The combination of partner technologies, rapid development strategies, and focus on practical applications resulted in a compelling demonstration of zero-knowledge proofs in action. The project showcases the potential for privacy-preserving applications in the dating industry while providing a foundation for future development and potential commercialization.

zkLove: How It's Made Architecture Overview zkLove combines zero-knowledge cryptography, blockchain verification, and mobile-first design into a cohesive privacy-preserving dating platform. Here's the technical breakdown of how we built it during our 72-hour hackathon sprint. Core Technology Stack Frontend:

React Native + Expo for cross-platform mobile development TypeScript for type safety with complex cryptographic operations React Navigation for native-feeling navigation between screens Custom Hooks for simplified state management of ZK operations

Backend & Blockchain:

Node.js + Express RESTful API server Ethereum/Polygon smart contract deployment for verification IPFS decentralized storage for encrypted profile data MongoDB traditional database for non-sensitive metadata

Cryptography & Privacy:

Mopro (Ethereum Foundation) for mobile-optimized zero-knowledge proofs Circom for circuit design and ZK proof generation snarkjs for client-side proof generation and verification Self Protocol for enterprise identity verification

Key Technical Integrations Mopro Integration - The ZK Proof Engine Mopro provided pre-compiled ZK circuits that work natively on mobile devices - something that would have taken months to build from scratch. Instead of dynamically loading circuits (which is slow on mobile), we pre-compiled all possible compatibility circuits and bundled them with the app. This meant a larger app size but instant proof generation. Our integration generated compatibility proofs by loading circuits, calculating witness data from user preferences, and generating proofs for age ranges, interests, and location radius without revealing the actual data. Self Protocol - Identity Verification Magic Building government document verification from scratch would have been impossible in a hackathon timeframe. Self Protocol saved us an estimated 3-4 months of development time and gave us enterprise-grade document verification that works with real government IDs. We integrated their API to verify driver's licenses and extract data like age, name, and address, then generated ZK proofs of age without revealing the actual age. Particularly Hacky Solutions The "Circuit Sandwich" Pattern ZK circuits are heavy and take time to load on mobile devices. We created a "sandwich" loading pattern where we show a beautiful loading animation while pre-warming the circuits in the background. We pre-loaded age verification, compatibility check, and location proximity circuits during the splash screen. Fake-It-Till-You-Make-It Blockchain Smart contract deployment takes time and gas fees during demos. We created a "demo mode" that simulates blockchain interactions with local storage but switches to real blockchain calls in production. The demo mode simulates blockchain delay and returns success, while production mode uses real blockchain verification. The Privacy Visualization Hack ZK proofs are invisible - users can't see privacy happening. We built visual "privacy indicators" that show encryption happening in real-time with animated dots and progress bars that update as different stages of encryption complete. Performance Optimizations Circuit Pre-compilation Strategy Instead of compiling circuits on-demand, we pre-compiled all circuits during build time and bundled them as static assets. This resulted in 2-3 second proof generation versus 30+ seconds. Selective ZK Proof Generation Not everything needs a ZK proof. We strategically chose what to prove: age verification uses ZK proofs for high privacy value, basic preferences use traditional encryption for performance, and profile pictures use IPFS with access controls for storage efficiency. Caching Strategy We implemented proof caching using a Map that stores generated proofs by proof type and hashed data, avoiding regeneration of identical proofs. Privacy-by-Design Implementation Zero-Knowledge Age Verification Users prove they're over 18 without revealing their actual age using Circom circuits that compare the user's age to the minimum age requirement and output only a boolean validity result. Encrypted Profile Storage Profile data is encrypted before being stored on IPFS. We encrypt the JSON profile data with the user's key and store the encrypted result on IPFS, returning only the hash. Demo-Specific Hacks Instant Matching Simulation For demo purposes, we pre-generated compatibility proofs with demo users that had precomputed proof hashes and match scores. In demo mode, we filter these matches based on compatibility proofs, while production uses real matching logic. Visual Proof Generation We made the invisible visible with animated proof generation that cycles through stages like "Generating witness," "Computing constraints," "Creating proof," and "Verifying proof" while the real computation happens in the background. Cross-Platform Deployment Strategy Build Configuration Hack We used environment-specific configurations in expo.json to handle different deployment targets for iOS, Android, and web platforms, with platform-specific settings for each. Universal Component Pattern We created platform-specific components that render different elements based on the platform - web buttons for web platforms and TouchableOpacity components for mobile platforms. What Made It Work Partner Technology Integration:

Self Protocol saved months on identity verification Mopro gave us mobile ZK proofs without deep cryptography knowledge Expo enabled rapid cross-platform deployment

Strategic Shortcuts:

Pre-compiled circuits for speed Demo mode for seamless presentations Visual indicators to make complex concepts understandable Caching to avoid redundant computations

Hackathon-Specific Decisions:

Bundled everything for offline capability Pre-generated demo data for reliable presentations Visual feedback for every privacy operation Cross-platform deployment to maximize reach

The combination of cutting-edge cryptography with practical hackathon shortcuts resulted in a working privacy-preserving dating app that demonstrates real zero-knowledge proofs on mobile devices while maintaining the user experience expectations of modern dating applications.