Get started with programmable cryptography
PSE offers free educational programs to help you dive deep into Zero Knowledge Proofs, Fully Homomorphic Encryption, Multi-Party Computation and the latest in programmable cryptography. Whether you’re looking to learn the basics or start making open-source contributions, we have resources for your learning journey!
Core Program
PSE's Core Program is an eight-week introductory course for university students looking to explore the world of programmable cryptography. The program will be run hybrid style with online and in-person sessions in Argentina (Buenos Aires), Costa Rica (San José), Ecuador (Cuenca), Japan (Tokyo), South Korea (Seoul), and Taiwan (Taipei).By the end of the program, you will gain comprehensive knowledge about Zero Knowledge Proofs (ZKP), Fully Homomorphic Encryption (FHE), and Multiparty Computation (MPC). You will also bolster your GitHub portfolio, and potentially receive grants for further research and contributions!
Curriculum
Week 0
PRE-REQUISITES
PRE-REQUISITES
- Course overview and resources
- Git, GitHub, and PR workflow basics
- Introduction to ZKPs and Number Theory
Week 1
Cryptographic Basics
Cryptographic Basics
- Getting started with Circom
- Basics of encryption and hash functions
- Digital signatures and elliptic curve cryptography
Week 2
More Crypto + ZKPs
More Crypto + ZKPs
- Circom crash course + practice
- KZG Commitments and zkSNARKs
- Overview of Trusted Setups and Groth16
Week 3
Hackathon
Hackathon
- A break from studying
- One week to build something with your new skills!
Week 4
PLONK Week
PLONK Week
- Learn Rust and complete Rustlings
- Deep dive into PLONK
- Make a presentation and blog post on PLONK
Week 5
Technologies + Applications
Technologies + Applications
- Halo2 introduction and practical
- Study of FHE and MPC
- Explore Semaphore, Bandada, TLSNotary, ZKEmail
FAQ
Accelerator Program
The Accelerator Program supports alumni of our entry level programs (e.g. Core Program, ZK Summer, ZK Playground) to deepen explorations of ZKP, FHE, MPC, and related technologies through grants and mentorship. This program operates on a round-based application system, focusing on specific open tasks for each round.
How to apply
To apply for an open task:
- Explore the Open Task RFP List
- Apply using this template
To submit your own idea:
We encourage people to apply as each round opens because we review applications on a first-come first-serve basis! If there are multiple proposals about the same issue, we may consider granting multiple applications on a case-by-case basis.FAQ