# Proposal: Scroll zkEVM Hackathon – Accelerating DeFi Innovation on Scroll
**URL:** https://forum.scroll.io/t/proposal-scroll-zkevm-hackathon-accelerating-defi-innovation-on-scroll/521
**Category:** Ecosystem Growth
**Tags:** proposal
**Created:** [March 3, 2025, 3:04pm UTC](https://forum.scroll.io/t/proposal-scroll-zkevm-hackathon-accelerating-defi-innovation-on-scroll/521 "2025-03-03T15:04:26Z")
**Posts on this page:** 8
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@DappsoverApps](https://forum.scroll.io/u/DappsoverApps)
#### Post date: [March 3, 2025, 3:04pm UTC](https://forum.scroll.io/t/proposal-scroll-zkevm-hackathon-accelerating-defi-innovation-on-scroll/521/1 "2025-03-03T15:04:27Z")
## **Summary**
This proposal requests funding from Scroll DAO for the Scroll ZK-Hackathon, an initiative aimed at empowering blockchain and traditional developers to build DeFi and other applications leveraging Scroll zkEVM’s scalable ZK-Rollups. By providing targeted training, hands-on development experience, and post-event mentorship, this initiative will increase developer adoption, drive real-world DeFi implementations, and enhance the Scroll ecosystem.
This program is structured into three core components:
1. **Virtual ZK-Rollup Training Labs** – Hands-on Scroll zkEVM and ZK-DeFi workshops.
2. **In-Person zkEVM Developer Bootcamps** – Training sessions in key developer hubs.
3. **Scroll ZK-DeFi Hackathon** – A hackathon focused on DeFi applications optimized for Scroll zkEVM which will be accessible to developers globally both web2 and web3 based.
### **Funding Request & Support**
- **Total Request from Scroll DAO:** **$25,000**
- **Ethereum Support Program (ESP) Sponsorship:** **$5,000** (Confirmed for Hackathon Segment)
- **Duration:** **3 months**
### **Expected Outcomes**
- **50-100+ developers trained in Scroll zkEVM & DeFi.**
- **10-20 DeFi and other dapp MVPs leveraging Scroll zkEVM developed.**
- **Winning projects transition into the DAO DeFi Grant Program for further scaling.**
* * *
## **Motivation**
Ethereum’s shift towards scalable Layer 2 solutions has made zk-Rollups an important part of the DeFi ecosystem. However, many developers lack practical experience integrating Scroll zkEVM especially in DeFi applications. This initiative **addresses this gap by onboarding developers through structured training and hands-on implementation** while ensuring that winning projects move forward through **Scroll’s existing grant system**.
### **Why This Proposal Matters for Scroll DAO**
- **Expands Scroll’s developer base** by training new builders in zk-Rollup-based DeFi solutions.
- **Increases Scroll adoption** by funding projects that **directly integrate with Scroll zkEVM**.
- **Strengthens Scroll’s DeFi ecosystem** by ensuring that **winning projects move into the DAO DeFi Grant Program** for sustained growth.
## **Execution**
### **1. Operational Plan**
This initiative consists of three key phases:
#### **Phase 1: Developer Training & Ecosystem Expansion (Months 1)**
- **Train 50-100 developers** in Scroll zkEVM, ZK-Rollup scalability, and DeFi integration.
- Conduct **three in-person bootcamps** (in Lagos, Nigeria) focused on **real-world DeFi applications on Scroll**.
- Foster engagement with **potential DeFi and other use cases** , including NFT, payments and stablecoins.
#### **Phase 2: Scroll ZK-DeFi Hackathon (Early-Stage MVP Development) (Months 2-3)**
**Hybrid hackathon (online & in-person) focused on Scroll zkEVM DeFi solutions**: which may include the following:
- zk-Rollup Optimized Stablecoins & Payments on Scroll\*\*.
- zk-Proof-Based Randomness\*\*.
- Layer 2 Lending & Borrowing Models Optimized for Scroll zkEVM\*\*.
- Ethereum Support Program (ESP) has committed $5,000\*\* toward the hackathon.
#### **Phase 3: Transitioning Winning Projects to the DAO DeFi Grant Program (Months 3-4)**
- Provide post-hackathon mentorship to winning teams, ensuring that their MVPs are funding ready.
- Assist teams in preparing **[DAO DeFi Grant applications](https://forum.scroll.io/t/proposal-dao-defi-grant-program/499)** to secure funding for further development.
- Establish a long-term Scroll zkEVM developer community through ongoing technical support and ecosystem engagement.
## **Personnel & Resources**
## **Past Work:**
**Research and Education:**
We conducted thorough research on Layer 2 solutions and Arbitrum, culminating in the publication of a comprehensive guide to mastering Arbitrum. This includes:
- Technical documentation on building with Stylus
- Instructions on running a BoLD validator node
- Detailed insights into Roll-ups and other essential topics for developers, users, and validators to scale in the web3 space.
- [Link to the curriculum:](https://drive.google.com/file/d/10r05K_2-hL22AJTCIirr4rixgxneYinW/view?usp=sharing)
- **Developer Onboarding:** We onboarded the[first cohort of developers to explore Arbitrum Stylus](https://www.linkedin.com/posts/abdulkareem-oyeneye-82a6aa277_openwebtour-stylus-evm-activity-7241828577497804800-uvXV?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop), a developer framework that enables building on Ethereum using languages like Rust, C++, and more.
- **Hackathons & Workshops:**
**Event Management** :
- Organized [one of the largest Web3 conferences in Africa](https://youtu.be/j5m8PW4V9g0?si=jU9VfHDw6I7eoYza), which drove significant developer engagement and project creation
- [Organized the first-ever blockchain event in Saskatchewan](https://www.linkedin.com/posts/abdulkareem-oyeneye-82a6aa277_openwebtour-canada-blockchain-activity-7222717285226934272-bg_g?utm_source=combined_share_message&utm_medium=member_desktop).
- Participated in [Canada’s largest blockchain event,](https://www.linkedin.com/posts/abdulkareem-oyeneye-82a6aa277_blockchainfuturist-canada-web3-activity-7231659025505898496-BS03?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop) where we managed event logistics, attendee welfare, and general supervision.
- Promoted blockchain integration into businesses[through pitch competitions](https://x.com/dappsoverapps/status/1692185380718538917?s=46)that foster innovation and collaboration:
**Primary Team Members:**
- Project Lead - [Abdulkareem Oyeneye](https://www.linkedin.com/in/abdulkareem-oyeneye-82a6aa277), experienced developer marketer and project manager with a strong background in the web3 space and expertise in identifying technical needs of protocols.
- Blockchain Engineer - [Musa Abdulkareem](https://www.linkedin.com/in/wisemrmusa/), a core developer at Nethermind where he focuses on build robust ZK blockchain toolkits for the Starknet ecosystem.
- Blockchain Engineer - [Emmanuel Charles](https://www.linkedin.com/in/emmanuel-charles-0b0023250/), experienced in Rust, TypeScript, C++, with a focus on blockchain development and quality assurance.
### **4. Financial Breakdown**
| **Expense Item** | **Cost (USD)** | **Details** |
| --- | --- | --- |
| **Virtual zkEVM Training Labs** | $5,000 | Online workshops covering Scroll zkEVM, DeFi, and ZK scalability |
| **In-Person Developer Bootcamps** | $12,000 | 3-5-day bootcamps in prominent tech cities in Lagos, Nigeria |
| **Hybrid Scroll ZK-DeFi Hackathon** | $10,000 | $5K ESP grant, $5K additional funding from Scroll DAO. |
| **Marketing & Community Growth** | $3,000 | Ads, event branding, outreach campaigns |
| **Total Request from Scroll DAO** | **$25,000** | Total program cost minus ESP grant contribution |
Kindly check [here](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1NfU9Fv7w3rEEOf7v2NwhK5_i1FpHowClkd14GzNS0tk/edit?usp=sharing) for further budget breakdown
**Expected Outcomes:**
- 50-100 developers onboarded into Scroll zkEVM & DeFi development\*\*.
- 10-20 Scroll-integrated DeFi MVPs created during the training, bootcamp and hackathon program.
- Winning projects transition into the DAO DeFi Grant Program for continued growth.
- Active developer community supporting Scroll zkEVM post-event.
**Measuring Success:**
- Hackathon engagement metrics.
- Developer retention rate post-training including active contributors to Scroll projects.
- GitHub repo activity for Scroll zkEVM-based projects.
## **Conclusion**
The Scroll zkEVM Hackathon is a sustainable initiative designed to onboard new developers, expand Scroll’s ecosystem, and produce fundable DeFi MVPs. With ESP co-sponsoring the hackathon segment and Scroll DAO funding developer training and post-hackathon mentorship, this initiative ensures that Scroll’s ecosystem receives high-quality DeFi projects that integrate directly with its infrastructure.
Also, with the DAO DeFi Grant Program, this initiative serves as a pre-selection mechanism for high-potential projects, ensuring that Scroll DAO receives funding-ready applications from top developers.
---
### Author:  [@eugene](https://forum.scroll.io/u/eugene)
#### Post date: [March 3, 2025, 3:28pm UTC](https://forum.scroll.io/t/proposal-scroll-zkevm-hackathon-accelerating-defi-innovation-on-scroll/521/2 "2025-03-03T15:28:14Z")
Hi @DappsoverApps. Thanks for sharing your proposal idea. I have a few clarifying questions:
- Would this hackathon be exclusive to Scroll or as part of a series of hackathons where other protocols are involved?
> [@DappsoverApps](#):
>
> With ESP co-sponsoring the hackathon segment
- Is the grant from ESP confirmed? Was it positioned as an ETH hackathon, zk one, or a Scroll specific one?
> [@DappsoverApps](#):
>
> Train 50-100 developers
- Are these 50-100 developers already in your community or you would recruit new members to join?
- Do you already have experience working with Scroll or would you need support in terms of developing and delivering the content? Have you collaborated with or partaken in any existing Scroll related activities?
Looking forward to hearing your answers and what the community thinks.
---
### Author:  [@DappsoverApps](https://forum.scroll.io/u/DappsoverApps)
#### Post date: [March 3, 2025, 5:49pm UTC](https://forum.scroll.io/t/proposal-scroll-zkevm-hackathon-accelerating-defi-innovation-on-scroll/521/3 "2025-03-03T17:49:22Z")
Hi @eugene. Thank you so much for your questions. Below are the answers to them:
> [@eugene](#):
>
> Would this hackathon be exclusive to Scroll or as part of a series of hackathons where other protocols are involved?
Yes, the hackathon will be exclusive to Scroll. However, we may allow participant to leverage cross-chain integration from other EVM protocols, giving room for freedom and creativity in their project while primarily building on Scroll.
> [@eugene](#):
>
> Is the grant from ESP confirmed? Was it positioned as an ETH hackathon, zk one, or a Scroll specific one?
The initial focus was on onboarding new zk-SNARK projects and training developers on ZK technology leveraging the EVM. The ESP confirmed to support the initiative with the expectation that a ZK protocol in the Ethereum ecosystem (Scroll) takes the lead.
> [@eugene](#):
>
> - Are these 50-100 developers already in your community or you would recruit new members to join?
> - Do you already have experience working with Scroll or would you need support in terms of developing and delivering the content? Have you collaborated with or partaken in any existing Scroll related activities?
- While we have onboarded over 100 developers from previous projects with NEAR and Arbitrum, we won’t want to limit the participants to our current community members. We will make participation open to everyone globally (especially the hackathon) and maximize our reach through strategic offline and online campaigns.
- We have a strong team of experienced EVM and ZK engineers, whose expertise is highly transferable to Scroll zkEVM. While we haven’t led a Scroll-specific initiative yet, we have actively engaged in both online and in-person Scroll events, gaining familiarity with its ecosystem.
We hope we have been able to clarify. Kindly let us know if you have more questions.
Thank you.
---
### Author:  [@eugene](https://forum.scroll.io/u/eugene)
#### Post date: [March 4, 2025, 3:39pm UTC](https://forum.scroll.io/t/proposal-scroll-zkevm-hackathon-accelerating-defi-innovation-on-scroll/521/4 "2025-03-04T15:39:02Z")
Thanks for the added information. I would recommend joining one of our upcoming [governance calls](https://calendar.google.com/calendar/embed?src=c_5c62db9ba29ec8b39ab7be1bbc750b333c554bb144f5bab28cefa55bfa4a84b3%40group.calendar.google.com&ctz=America%2FNew_York), especially those focused on grants, and we’d be happy to give you some time to present your idea there.
Otherwise, we’ll wait to see what folks think via forum responses.
---
### Author:  [@DappsoverApps](https://forum.scroll.io/u/DappsoverApps)
#### Post date: [March 4, 2025, 4:08pm UTC](https://forum.scroll.io/t/proposal-scroll-zkevm-hackathon-accelerating-defi-innovation-on-scroll/521/5 "2025-03-04T16:08:09Z")
Thank you for your response @eugene . We will be available for the governance call tomorrow. Looking forward to presenting our proposal. Thank you.
---
### Author:  [@bitblondy](https://forum.scroll.io/u/bitblondy)
#### Post date: [March 9, 2025, 9:06am UTC](https://forum.scroll.io/t/proposal-scroll-zkevm-hackathon-accelerating-defi-innovation-on-scroll/521/6 "2025-03-09T09:06:01Z")
Thanks @DappsoverApps for the proposal. Seems like a great initiative to me, especially with the DAO’s focus on regional hubs. Budget is very fair as well. I would encourage to work with the foundation for non-financial support as well, speaker, marketing, etc., especially if the focus is on deploying on Scroll.
---
### Author:  [@DappsoverApps](https://forum.scroll.io/u/DappsoverApps)
#### Post date: [March 13, 2025, 6:01pm UTC](https://forum.scroll.io/t/proposal-scroll-zkevm-hackathon-accelerating-defi-innovation-on-scroll/521/7 "2025-03-13T18:01:06Z")
Thank you so much for your input @bitblondy ! We would definitely work closely with the foundation as you have mentioned. Currently, we are having a closer look on where and when to kickstart the program with a local node activation afterward.
Thank you once again for going through the proposal. Your feedback is greatly appreciated.
---
### Author:  [@danielo](https://forum.scroll.io/u/danielo)
#### Post date: [March 13, 2025, 6:36pm UTC](https://forum.scroll.io/t/proposal-scroll-zkevm-hackathon-accelerating-defi-innovation-on-scroll/521/8 "2025-03-13T18:36:40Z")
Generally speaking, this feels good.
> [@DappsoverApps](#):
>
> build DeFi and other applications leveraging Scroll zkEVM’s scalable ZK-Rollups.
The vertical focus is great. Generalist programs provide underwhelming results. I don’t think Scroll should be focusing on DeFi though. PayFi is a more interesting target for Scroll (and currently prioritised by the grant program being proposed) that requires less having big liquidity (where Base, Arbitrum, etc will outcompete Scroll).
> [@DappsoverApps](#):
>
> drive real-world DeFi implementations
Hackathons are notoriously bad at providing real use cases. Participants tend to come up with ideas last minute, no market research, and no solid team formation. That leads to most hackathon projects being abandoned. Web2 stats show that a whopping 75% of winner abandon their projects!
As such, we have developed in RnDAO a research phase pre-hackathon, to identify promising use cases so that the work is not wasted. And also (now a live program with Arbitrum) a post-hackathon program to do proper customer research and validation.
It would be great if we don’t repeat the mistake in Scroll of organising hackathons where no value is generated (see last comment for suggestions)
> [@DappsoverApps](#):
>
> $5K ESP grant, $5K additional funding from Scroll DAO.
who’s ESP? what’s their agenda?
> [@DappsoverApps](#):
>
> **In-Person Developer Bootcamps** $12,000 3-5-day bootcamps in prominent tech cities in Lagos, Nigeria **Hybrid Scroll ZK-DeFi Hackathon**
So is the hackathon primarily IRL? Hybrid in which sense? This really needs to be clarifed throughout the proposal and the audience/positioning refined accordingly.
> [@DappsoverApps](#):
>
> **Expected Outcomes:**
>
> - 50-100 developers onboarded into Scroll zkEVM & DeFi development\*\*.
> - 10-20 Scroll-integrated DeFi MVPs created during the training, bootcamp and hackathon program.
> - Winning projects transition into the DAO DeFi Grant Program for continued growth.
> - Active developer community supporting Scroll zkEVM post-event.
>
> **Measuring Success:**
>
> - Hackathon engagement metrics.
> - Developer retention rate post-training including active contributors to Scroll projects.
> - GitHub repo activity for Scroll zkEVM-based projects.
Given the low cost of the project, this is fine-ish. However, without connecting this to subsequent programs, 99% of the value is lost in our experience researching venture pipelines and ecosystem development and running our own hackathon.
A key mitigation factor here is for Scroll to get direct access to the list of participants. Without a mailing list, group, or otherwise transferring developers as leads for other programs, this hackathon is currently not worth doing IMO.