[1IP-55] 0xCastle Research Retreat Grant Application

Author: Alexander Semenov

Simple Summary

0xCastle is a 5-day blockchain retreat focusing on education and research in privacy, scalability, and interoperability. It solves the need for deep, interdisciplinary blockchain dialogue and innovation, fostering transparency and decentralization principles within the web3 community.

Abstract

0xCastle is a five-day blockchain-focused educational and research retreat within the beautiful setting of a historic castle near Leipzig, Germany. It is scheduled immediately after ETHBerlin, from May 26-31. Our mission is to bring together bright minds from various ecosystems, fostering deep, collaborative research and education in blockchain technology. This initiative will generate new ideas, innovations, and solutions.

Motivation

We believe in the idea of collective intelligence. To achieve this, we want to bring together bright minds from different ecosystems to conduct interdisciplinary research. The retreat is built on a blend of lectures, workshops, and collaborative research sessions. The main goal of 0xCastle is to facilitate understanding and developing concepts to solve Blockchain tech’s most pressing problems. 0xCastle research retreat is not a typical conference or a meetup. It thrives on creating a salon-style atmosphere, fostering an environment where conversation flows freely and innovative ideas are exchanged naturally. This atmosphere is cultivated through a combination of structured sessions and informal interactions within the castle’s surroundings. This distinctive approach makes 0xCastle an unparalleled event for both professional development in blockchain technology and enriching personal experiences.

Specification

This exclusive event gathers 50 researchers, developers, and blockchain enthusiasts from both academia (40%) and the industry (60%) to delve into critical topics of privacy, scalability, and interoperability in blockchain technology. The program is participant-driven, encouraging attendees to propose and lead discussions on topics they are passionate about, fostering an environment of knowledge exchange and collective problem-solving. Content ranges from introductory talks to in-depth discussions on cutting-edge subjects such as cryptography (Zero-Knowledge Proofs, Multi-Party Computation, Fully Homomorphic Encryption), layer 2 solutions & rollups, and mechanism design. Logistics include all-inclusive meals and accommodations, facilitating an immersive and uninterrupted experience. 0xCastle is crafted not only for educational purposes, it’s also aimed at promoting collaboration across different fields and exploring the fundamentals of blockchain technology.

Our decision to create 0xCastle originates from recognizing a clear need within the blockchain community for more meaningful and effective gatherings. Through our extensive participation in numerous hackathons and community events, we’ve consistently observed a gap in how these events connect participants, share knowledge, and foster innovation. Traditional venues often fall short in facilitating genuine interactions and deep dives into complex topics like blockchain technology. By choosing a unique setting like a castle and leveraging our strong technical expertise and vast network, we’re addressing these shortcomings head-on. We aim to create an environment that not only fosters learning and collaboration but also builds a strong community committed to advancing blockchain technology. Our firsthand experiences and observations have confirmed the demand for such a novel approach, where the focus is on quality interactions, in-depth exploration of topics, and collaborative problem-solving, all within a setting that inspires creativity and teamwork. This is not just about changing the venue, it’s about reimagining what a tech event can be, making 0xCastle a necessary innovation in the blockchain space.

See our vision and more information about the event on the website

Have a look at our pitch deck

Rationale

1Inch is an established DeFi platform and has proven to contribute with cutting-edge tech to the ecosystem. 0xCastle is targeting high-profile researchers, developers and blockchain enthusiasts. Our education and research retreat covering pressing topics in Blockchain technology would be significantly enhanced by exploring the 1inch’s tech stack. As one of the driving forces in the DeFi space, 1inch’s advancements would be a good example of recent progress in this field.

1Inch can provide research questions to allow participants to understand the current work in the space. Furthermore, 1inch will receive brand recognition through mentions and branding during the event. The presence of blockchain clubs such as Cambridge Blockchain Society, Cornell Blockchain, Blockchain at Berkeley, TUM Blockchain Club, KRYPTOSPHERE and many more, will offer many opportunities to expand the ecosystem.

One of our goals is to deepen the interest in DeFi among researchers by exploring the innovative solutions. The aggregation and limit order protocols developed by the 1inch team are some of the examples we would like to showcase. We would love to have 1inch significantly contribute to our DeFi education track and provide input on the events agenda. A talk and/or a workshop covering 1inch’s services, their underlying technology and insights into the latest developments would significantly enhance the value of our event. This will ensure that our discussions are directly relevant and contribute meaningfully to the 1inch ecosystem.

Considerations

The event is organized by 0xCollective, TUM Blockchain Club, and Blockchain Acceleration Foundation. Our team has extensive experience in web3, with both academic and professional backgrounds. We’ve graduated from top universities with computer science degrees, specializing in blockchain-related fields. Professionally, we’ve worked at leading blockchain companies like Quantstamp and Staking Facilities, contributing as developers, researchers, and thought leaders. Outside of formal education and careers, we’re actively involved in the web3 community through non-profit organizations, bettering our understanding of both technical and societal aspects of blockchain. Every team member has a solid grasp of web3 technologies, with most excelling in technical development and others knowledgeable in blockchain theory. Have attended countless of hackathons and won many prizes there, web3 conferences and been part of various hands on workshops during those. Many of the team members have also been part of research teams in academia in web3 and blockchain.

Some of the previous events of members:

• 0xvillage
• TUM Blockchain Conference
• Digital Euro and CBDCs
• Consensus Student Program
• Blockchain@Columbia’s LedgerFest

and many more…

Budget breakdown: the cost of the event, including venue, catering, shuttle services, and other logistical requirements, will be 45.000 EUR.

Cost Venue + Food: 40.000 EUR

• Hotel: 13.000 EUR
• Event: 10.000 EUR
• Catering: 17.000 EUR

Additional Costs:

• Cost Shuttle: 2.000 EUR
• Cost Drinks: 3.000 EUR

Total Cost: 45.000 EUR

Estimated timeline:

• Phase 0 - Resources:
  • Milestone 1: Completion of Pitch Deck, Website, Team Structure, and Application Form.
  • Deliverable: Fully developed Pitch Deck, Website launched, Team Structure finalized, Application Form ready for use.
  • Milestone 2: Finalization of venue selection.
  • Deliverable: Confirmed venue for the event.
• Phase 1 - Outreach:
  • Milestone 3: Engagement with potential sponsors, partners, and speakers.
  • Deliverable: Agreements or commitments from sponsors, partners, and speakers to participate in the event.
  • Milestone 4: Launch of the application campaign.
  • Deliverable: Application campaign initiated, with applications starting to come in.
• Phase 2 - Attendees:
  • Milestone 5: Finalization of sponsor contracts.
  • Deliverable: Signed contracts with sponsors.
  • Milestone 6: Processing of applications.
  • Deliverable: Applications reviewed and accepted/rejected accordingly.
  • Milestone 7: Ticket sales commence.
  • Deliverable: Tickets available for purchase.
• Phase 3 - Logistics:
  • Milestone 8: Development of event content.
  • Deliverable: Event agenda and content finalized based on applications and sponsor requirements.
  • Milestone 9: Finalization of event logistics.
  • Deliverable: Event logistics such as venue setup, equipment rental, and catering arrangements confirmed.

We are seeking funding of $14.000 and would love to have 1inch shaping events agenda. In return, we could provide 1inch with a presentation, a workshop slot during the event, and a two “fast track” ticket without an application process. Attendees from 1inch would be accommodated in a private double bedroom in a castle throughout the event. Furthermore, 1inch will receive extensive branding as part of the event. Receiving address for funds distribution: 0xD4c3448067ce248775487c894fec1F3fd314f393