@5a2ce45421cec62d2079083cead9157b8530a111d42dcd7ee3f47c8416f78a2c [Posted on DevHub](https://near.social/#/devgovgigs.near/widget/Post?id=1172) ## Solution: Zero-Knowledge Based Privacy and Compliance for DeFi ###### Requested amount: 50000 USDT ###### Requested sponsor: @neardevgov.near Panther is a privacy-preserving solution for the decentralized Web that protects your on-chain data and enables compliant DeFi access - all powered by Zero Knowledge. The goal of Panther is to allow seamless access to DeFi and create a cross-chain-supported architecture that serves different use cases. Panther’s zero-knowledge primitives are highly versatile, applicable not only to financial transactions but also to a wide range of use cases, including KYC processes, selective disclosures between trusted parties, private identification, voting, and data verification services. In addition, Panther Zones takes this a step further, by enabling the deployment of walled garden Shielded Pool environments. This not only addresses liquidity fragmentation by enabling shared privacy sets but also empowers Zone Managers to exert control over and customise their necessary AML programs. Zone Managers can configure custom parameters and rules where users can transact within a gated pool of capital while benefiting from the cross-chain layer’s shared privacy. Panther Shielded Pools offers the following: - Privacy - Use Zero Knowledge Proofs for on-chain privacy - Compliance - Integration with KYC/KYT providers and selective disclosures with Data Safe capability - DeFi Trades - Private OTC trade and integration with major DeFi protocols - VASP - Managed Zones - Dedicated Zones within Shielded Pools to trade with whitelisted assets and known counterparties The Panther team consists of experts from the fields of privacy, security, zero-knowledge proofs, blockchain, DeFi, token economics, software engineering, finance, and ecosystem development. The technical leadership team collectively has spearheaded high-profile initiatives across 55+ blockchain projects. Core Team & Experience: - Oliver Gale, CEO/Co-Founder - serial entrepreneur and Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) pioneer with a decade of experience building blockchain projects, cooperating with policy makers and central bankers, including the IMF, ITU and UN, as well as providing thought leadership at MIT and Columbia University. - Dr. Anish Mohammed, CTO/Co-Founder - 20+ years in security and cryptography, is an early advisor to Ripple, reviewer of the Ethereum orange paper, worked on several projects including Ocean and Boson, and is the co-founder of the UK Digital Currency Association. Anish is an adjunct faculty member at Harbour Space University and taught courses at universities including MIT, CMU, King’s College London,University College London and Imperial College. - Vadim Konstantinov, Chief Architect - DevOps, CIO and Architect in cloud services, fintech, and blockchain projects since 2014. His 30 years experience entails space vehicles engineering, accounting, and managing businesses in C-level executive roles (UFC and Rabobank). - Saif Akhtar, Head of Product - Around 20 years in developing, managing and creating innovative solutions in IT/software products and solutions. Driving the enterprise blockchain Center of Excellence in the mobility, supply chain, and logistics space before moving to DeFi in 2019. - Chris Folta, Head of User Experience - 17+ years experience as a creative director specializing in brand development and strategy, UI/UX, and product design with a deep focus on privacy protocols, DAOs, and the DeFi ecosystem. - Firosh Ummer, Head of Integration Projects - A seasoned entrepreneur with over two decades of experience in senior management, operational and product management roles. Proven track record of scaling up his cybersecurity start-up (Paladion Networks) to a 1000+ team, which eventually led to its acquisition by ATOS. Expertise in large-scale tech operations management which has optimised organisational efficiencies and enhanced profitability. - Roman Melnikov, Cryptography Software Architect - Software Architect with 20+ years and has been in the crypto-space from 2014. Background includes management, fintech, L1 Blockchains, ZKP, C++/Rust - Steve Thakur , Applied Cryptographer - Former mathematician working as a cryptographer for the last 4 years. **Passion for Panther - Oliver Gale, CEO/Co-Founder** When I co-founded Panther, my passion and enthusiasm for the project were unwavering. The concept of it being a privacy solution deeply resonated with me, as it not only amplifies individuals' freedom and rights but also grants them sovereignty in the dynamic web3 economies. As we continued to build the product over the past three years, my excitement only intensified. The convergence of our visionary goals and the pressing market demand for privacy solutions that align with enterprise compliance is truly invigorating in addition to the very tangible potential to establish substantial traction within licensed institutions operating in the web3 sphere. This, for me, stands as the most enthralling aspect of the journey as a co-founder. **Summary of Activities** Panther will build the core Privacy Protocol on Near/Aurora which will enable Users on NEAR to participate in Private & Compliant DeFi powered by Zero Knowledge technology. Panther core solution is built to support: 1. Retail web3 users 2. Institutional VASP’s by utilising the concept of Zones **Panther Product details:** - **Shielded Pools:** Deposit, transact with and swap assets privately. Built-in compliance tools for disclosures and reports. - **Zones:** Dedicated space to trade among trusted counterparties. Zones are logical partitioned environments where Zone Managers can configure custom parameters and rules. Users can transact within a gated pool of capital while benefiting from the cross-chain layer’s shared privacy. Benefits include: 1. Shared Liquidity Environment 2. Managed & Configurable Rules 3. On-Chain Compliance Support 4. Access to all Panther DeFi Products & Rewards - **DeFi Integration:** Panther will build adapters to integrate with DeFi protocols. Aurora users will be able interact with the most popular DeFi dApps and protocols directly from Panther and access existing DeFi liquidity. - **zTrade:** Aurora users will be able to conduct OTC zAsset exchanges within Zones while enjoying unprecedented data privacy. - **Zero-Knowledge Reveals/Data Safe:** Panther will enable, for Aurora users, full or partial disclosure of data sets without sharing their underlying data. Users have control of their data and provide just the proofs when required resulting in increased utility for the protocol and value for leveraging the Aurora network as a bridge to DeFi. Zero-Knowledge Reveals are also generalizable across other segments such as private identity, insurance, credit scoring, Web3 authentication and other services. **Payment & Timeline Milestone** Based on the porting, deployment, testing and support effort estimated for deploying and maintaining Panther Components on Aurora, Panther proposes a total grant amount of $50,000 to be paid based on the following milestones. - Deliverable 1: - Signed contract between NEAR and Panther - Grant Award Request - 30% - Completion Time - T0 - Deliverable 2: - Identity (user address) and Transaction Privacy via Panther Multi Asset Shielded Pool - Integration with Compliance Provider - Panther Decentralised Web Application / wallet integration - Multi Asset Shielded Pools - Panther Privacy ZONE implementation - Deployment, testing and go-live - Grant Award Request - 40% - Completion Timeline - T0 + 6 Weeks - Deliverable 3: - DeFi Adapter: Integration with one or more popular DeFi Apps - Interzone OTC trade capability - ZK reveal capability - Deployment, testing and go-live - Grant Award Request - 20% - Completion Timeline - T0 + 10 Weeks **Documentation:** - [Website](https://www.pantherprotocol.io/) - [Whitepaper](https://www.pantherprotocol.io/static/media/panther-protocol-v-1-0-1.6adb374cefd550cc2d06.pdf)** - [Prototype Demo & Docs](https://docsend.com/view/5ug7hvgxf8rq7nfd) - [Zone Manager & VASPs](https://docsend.com/view/wwqjcq5943vebwej) - [Blog](https://blog.pantherprotocol.io/)