Welcome to the first House of ZK Virtual Conference, a space created for the brightest minds and most passionate ZK contributors to come together in one place, albeit virtually. As we approach the one year anniversary of House of ZK, it feels like the perfect opportunity to reflect on what has brought us to this point and to share our vision for where we are headed next. This event is a representation of our values: a passionate community with a shared mission, promoting everything that’s good about our industry.

We believe that ZK can be a pathway to a more secure, equitable, and efficient digital future, and so our purpose is simple: we want to uplift the projects that prioritize integrity, transparency, and the long-term health of the space. Our aim is to provide environments where these values are shared and nurtured, shining a light on the projects that are not just innovating, but that are innovating for the right reasons.

We should recognize the interconnectedness of all projects in the space, with each of us standing on the shoulders of others, building on each other's innovations. And so our progress is truly a collective effort, made possible by shared advancements across the ecosystem, and it’s no coincidence that some of the most impactful projects have come from a willingness to work together, to share knowledge, and to contribute to something greater than themselves.

A Unique Focus

House of ZK was born from the recognition of an industry gap, with other prominent media outlets being very technically-dense, and the complex nature of ZK often being a barrier to entry to understanding the theory, the tech and, above all, the vision. We aim to bridge the gap between the expert and the layman, so that the world can recognize the immense benefits of ZK and, by contingency, help to propel mass-adoption of its associated technologies.

This value proposition is built upon three core pillars: Podcast, Journal, and Events, with each pillar serving to amplify the space in its own unique way. Our Podcast, House of ZK Radio, brings expert conversations directly to your ears, breaking down the latest in ZK in a way that’s engaging and approachable. Our Journal offers in-depth insights, educational articles, and a curated look at the critical trends shaping the industry, whilst our Events aim to bring the community all together, both virtually and globally, offering spaces like this very conference for meaningful and impactful conversations.

A Personal Note

Learning about the evolution of the ZK space has been a fascinating journey for me. A field that was largely confined to academic research with specific protocols, but has recently seen breakthroughs that have made ZK more accessible and practical for real-world applications. We are seeing a large convergence of infrastructure towards zkVMs, allowing developers to work with ready-made generalized virtual machines rather than arduously needing to write specialized circuits, which has significantly lowered the barrier to entry. As this technology continues to improve and awareness of its capabilities continues to spread, I expect to see a mass flood of interest in ZK, leading into a long period of widespread adoption.

I’m not a technical person - ask me about proof system design or folding schemes and you’ll quickly discover the limitations of my knowledge - but what I do possess is a genuine passion for ZK and a clear vision for the future. It’s important that we all play our part in steering these nascent technologies in the right direction, for the good of our children’s generation and all that follow. But the truly special individuals that most inspire me are those that possess not only the vision, but also the technical brilliance, integrity, and solid determination to keep innovating and leading us forward - individuals like Eli Ben-Sasson of StarkWare, Vanishree Rao of Fermah, Ming Guo of ZKM, Justin Drake of the Ethereum Foundation, and others - many of whom I’ve had the great fortune to collaborate with, and who will contribute to making this conference such an extraordinary gathering.

Thank you for being a part of this event - let’s collectively show the world what ZK has to offer.

Ben Wynn - Chief Media Officer at House of ZK

Contact Ben at ben@hozk.io, Telegram: @ox1164 or Twitter: @0x1164