Detroit Blockchainers

Note: Please register on Luma for this event.

​Description
In this hands-on developer session, you'll explore the full lifecycle of a ZK proof through a guided, code-focused workshop. No prior ZK experience needed—just a basic understanding of JavaScript or Solidity and curiosity about what's possible when privacy meets programmable logic.
​This workshop will be structured into five stages:

1. ​Creating a simple circuit using Noir
2. ​Exploring hashing and optimization techniques
3. ​Generating proofs locally
4. ​Verifying proofs in JavaScript
5. ​Deploying a Solidity verifier for on-chain validation

​We’ll walk through how ZK tools are evolving and what they unlock for decentralized apps and infrastructure. By the end, you'll understand the mechanics behind ZK and how to start integrating it into your own projects.

​Who Should Attend

• Web developers curious about blockchain and zero-knowledge proofs
• Blockchain builders eager to experiment with privacy-preserving applications
• Smart contract developers ready to expand their toolkit
• Anyone interested in the practical side of ZK—no math degree required

​
Why You Should Attend

• Understand the core mechanics of ZK systems through code
• Learn to build and verify your own ZK circuits
• Explore how ZKPs can be used for privacy, identity, and on-chain logic
• See how to integrate ZK workflows into Solidity-based applications

​
Pre-Work Checklist
Please bring:

• ​A laptop with Node.js and npm installed
• ​Git and GitHub access
• ​Recommended: install Noirup and a code editor like VS Code
• ​Come ready to code and collaborate!

​Meet Your Workshop Instructor!
Josh Crites
Josh is a seasoned blockchain educator and developer advocate with seven years of experience helping developers master the technical foundations of blockchain. He has taught thousands through his work with ConsenSys and Celo, and is now focused on advancing ZK and privacy-preserving tech at Aztec.
Josh designs learning experiences that empower devs to explore complex technologies through practical experimentation. His workshops bridge the gap between theory and application, making cutting-edge concepts like zero-knowledge proofs tangible and usable for builders at every level. Whether you're new to ZK or looking to deepen your toolkit, Josh creates space to explore, build, and learn by doing.

​Meet your Host!
Elizabeth Hansson
Detroit Blockchain Collective Founder & Executive Director
Stand With Crypto Michigan President
Elizabeth created the Detroit Blockchain Collective with the purpose of fostering blockchain innovation in Michigan through grassroots community and education. She is a digital asset advocate, ecosystem builder, and technology strategist with a background in decentralized systems and software engineering. Since 2017, she has led teams of blockchain developers and worked to bridge emerging technologies with real-world use. She also serves as the Michigan President of Stand With Crypto, where she leads grassroots organizing, community engagement and political advocacy for digital assets for the state of Michigan.

​🍕🍻 Dinner & Drinks provided!

🎉 Thank you to our Sponsor:
Stand With Crypto
Empowering the blockchain community through advocacy, education, and grassroots engagement!

Please register on Luma for this event.

This is a special partner event hosted by the Michigan Bitcoin Trade Council! Please register here.

Join us on the Michigan State Capitol lawn for the Paint Lansing Orange Rally! Celebrate Bitcoin with inspiring speeches, local vendors, and a vibrant community of enthusiasts. Wear orange and embrace the theme of Strength in Numbers at this free event.

Vendor booths are available for any small business that would like to participate in this open-air market where all vendors will be taking payment in bitcoin. We’ll guide you through how to accept it, and we’ll make sure there are options to convert your sales back into cash if that’s your preference. You don’t need any prior experience with Bitcoin — just a willingness to be part of a supportive and open-minded community.

Speakers for the event include notable Michigan-based Bitcoin leaders and pro-crypto Michigan politicians, as well as Stand With Crypto Michigan President Elizabeth Hansson from Detroit.

Details:
Join us for a landmark event at the Michigan State Capitol, where entrepreneurs, small business owners, individual rights advocates, tech enthusiasts, and curious citizens will unite to advance freedom and opportunity. The Michigan Liberty & Bitcoin Rally will host a vibrant open-air market, featuring inspiring liberty-minded speakers, a lively DJ, and a bustling vendor marketplace, all under significant press coverage. The Michigan Bitcoin Trade Council will gift a small amount of Bitcoin to every attendee, offering a glimpse into the future of finance.

Why This Matters to YOU
This rally is a bold step toward a freer, more innovative Michigan, bringing together diverse liberty-minded communities:

• Individual Rights Advocates: Strengthen your fight for personal sovereignty alongside like-minded groups.
• Entrepreneurs & Small Business Owners: Showcase your vision in a dynamic marketplace and connect with new customers.
• Tech Enthusiasts: Explore Bitcoin’s potential and network with innovators shaping decentralized systems.

This event is a powerful call to make Michigan a leader in liberty and progress.

Impact of Uniting Liberty-Minded Groups in Lansing:
By gathering diverse liberty-minded groups on the steps of the Michigan State Capitol, this rally amplifies their collective influence in the heart of state governance. Lansing’s Capitol is where policy is shaped, and this event sends a clear message: Michigan’s citizens demand personal and economic freedom.

Big thank you to our premier sponsor: Stand With Crypto.

For the address & info for vendors, please register on our partner's event page, here.