Core Concepts
This section introduces the fundamental concepts used throughout ZKFund. These terms form the mental model for how private governance and private fund execution work.
zkID (Zero-Knowledge Identity)
A zkID is a cryptographic identity that allows a participant to prove authorization without revealing a wallet address or real-world identity.
zkIDs are used to represent membership and roles
They are not transferable by default
They do not expose persistent identifiers on-chain
A zkID enables statements such as:
“I am an authorized member of this fund” without revealing who that member is.
Proof-of-Role / ZK Membership
Proof-of-role is a zero-knowledge proof that a zkID holds a specific role within a fund or DAO.
Examples:
Founder
Board
Signer
LP
Auditor
Executor
These proofs allow the system to:
Restrict proposal creation
Weight votes by role
Enforce execution permissions
All without revealing role holders publicly.
Anonymous Voting Session Keys
Voting is performed using ephemeral session keys.
A session key is valid only within a specific voting period
It prevents double voting
It cannot be linked to past or future actions
This ensures that:
Votes cannot be correlated across proposals
Voter privacy is preserved even from internal observers
Proposal
A proposal is a structured request to perform an action.
Each proposal defines:
Action type (swap, withdraw, allocate, parameter change)
Required roles and thresholds
Voting and execution rules
Expiration and finalization conditions
Proposal metadata and execution parameters may be:
Fully public
Partially hidden
Fully private (proven via ZK circuits)
ZK Voting Circuit
A ZK voting circuit verifies that:
The voter is eligible
The vote is cast exactly once
Voting weight is applied correctly
Supported voting models include:
Token-weighted voting
Role-weighted voting
Stake-weighted voting
Hybrid models
The circuit outputs only what is necessary:
Aggregated result
Finalization proof
Individual votes are never revealed.
ZK Multisig Proof
ZK multisig replaces visible signatures with cryptographic proofs.
Each signer submits a proof that:
They belong to the authorized signer set
They approved a specific proposal
Smart contracts verify:
Proof validity
Threshold satisfaction (e.g., 3-of-5)
Signer identities, order, and timing remain private.
Stealth Treasury
A stealth treasury is a fund treasury that:
Does not expose a public wallet address
Does not reveal balances or transaction history
Is controlled through ZK-governed execution
Assets are managed through private settlement mechanisms rather than visible transfers.
ZK Pool Settlement
ZK Pool is the settlement layer that:
Executes swaps, transfers, and allocations privately
Produces verifiable proof receipts
Prevents tracing of fund flows
Only minimal execution confirmations are published on-chain.
Proof Receipts (Proof-Only Logging)
Instead of detailed events, ZKFund emits proof receipts.
These receipts confirm:
A proposal was finalized
An action was executed
Governance rules were followed
They do not disclose:
Addresses
Amounts
Counterparties
Strategy details
Selective Disclosure
Selective disclosure allows a fund or DAO to:
Reveal specific data to auditors or regulators
Keep the rest of the system private
Disclosure is controlled by governance and enforced cryptographically.
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