ZeroState

ZeroState is an anonymous feedback forum for network states, powered by zero-knowledge proofs to verify members without revealing their identities.

Challenge: ZeroState needed to ensure only verified Network School members could participate in the anonymous feedback forum, while maintaining privacy—users shouldn’t have to publicly prove membership. Our Solution: We implemented a whitelist-based verification system combined with zero-knowledge identity generation: Email collection & whitelisting: During registration, emails are collected and added to a whitelist that serves as the source of truth for Network School membership. Zero-knowledge identity creation: Once an email is verified on the whitelist, users generate a Semaphore-based zero-knowledge identity. This enables: Proving membership without revealing identity Posting anonymous feedback cryptographically verified as coming from a real member Maintaining privacy while preventing spam and fake accounts Cryptographic verification: Every feedback submission includes a zero-knowledge proof demonstrating: The user is a member of the Network School group (via Merkle tree membership) The submission is unique (via nullifier) The user’s identity remains completely private Technical Challenges: Balancing privacy and verification: Verify membership without compromising anonymity Merkle tree management: Synchronizing the tree across server restarts Identity secret security: Ensuring secrets never leave the user’s device Why This Matters: This demonstrates verified anonymity—users can prove they’re legitimate members without revealing who they are, creating a safe space for honest feedback.