Years ago, while traveling in Thailand, I encountered a fascinating example of trust-based systems. At a travel agency, I purchased a service and was handed a simple handwritten note - a "ticket" allowing me to board a boat to an island. That note, without any technology or verification systems, worked seamlessly. It was a remarkable experience of trust in its purest form.
Fast forward to about a year ago, when we participated in the ETHDAM competition. Inspired by systems like that Thai note, we developed a coupon service based on Zero-Knowledge Proofs (ZKP). Later, we refined the solution using the Semaphore protocol as the framework for implementation.
Our solution enables users to purchase services or identities using crypto or fiat - whichever is more convenient. They receive a ZKP-based coupon that proves their payment. This coupon can then be redeemed with the service provider, who is assured via ZKP commit/proof that the payment is legitimate and that they will be compensated.
Why is this revolutionary?
This approach eliminates the direct connection between the buying and redeeming processes. Instead, trust is established through ZKP, offering an off-chain proof of eligibility and validity, much like that handwritten Thai note but powered by modern cryptography.
This is a simple yet powerful method to activate services while ensuring privacy, security, and efficiency for customers and providers alike.
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