Zilliqa EVM AI-Powered Developer Training Platform [gZIL Collective]

Proposals
1

Zilliqa EVM Developer Hub: AI-Powered Developer Training Platform

:parrot:Team PlunderSwap :parrot:

This project, “Zilliqa EVM Developer Hub,” proposes the creation of a focused, AI-enhanced online training platform specifically engineered to onboard and educate developers building on the Zilliqa blockchain using its Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) capabilities. Recognizing that a thriving developer ecosystem is the lifeblood of any blockchain, especially with the potential of Zilliqa 2.0, this Hub will provide essential training and cutting-edge AI tools for developers of all levels.

Our approach focuses on delivering maximum value through strategic simplicity - concentrating on the core differentiators that will genuinely impact developer adoption and success on Zilliqa. Rather than attempting to build everything at once, we’re creating a solid foundation with industry-leading AI tools and essential training that can evolve based on community feedback and needs.

Our vision is to dramatically lower the barrier to entry, accelerate the development of innovative dApps, and significantly boost on-chain activity, solidifying Zilliqa’s position as a leading EVM-compatible platform.

Problem We Are Solving:

  • The Developer Gap: Despite Zilliqa’s technical excellence and EVM compatibility, there’s a critical need for a larger, highly skilled developer pool to unlock its full potential. Many potential EVM developers remain unaware of Zilliqa’s unique advantages or lack a clear, supportive pathway to begin building. This gap directly limits ecosystem growth and innovation.

  • Smart Contract Security Concerns: The history of Web3 is marked by costly exploits resulting from preventable vulnerabilities. Developers, especially those new to a platform, need accessible tools to write secure code from day one. Professional audits are expensive and time-consuming, creating a barrier for smaller projects and individual developers.

  • Onboarding Friction: Navigating a new blockchain ecosystem can be daunting, with scattered documentation, unclear development paths, and insufficient support resources. A centralized, high-quality resource hub is crucial for efficient learning and productive development.

  • Leveraging Zilliqa 2.0 Potential: The advanced features of Zilliqa 2.0 (enhanced EVM, faster finality, xShards, native account abstraction) represent significant competitive advantages that require dedicated educational resources for developers to fully understand and utilize effectively.

Key Features:

:robot: AI-Powered Smart Contract Auditor Assistant:

  • Proactive Vulnerability Detection: Identifies common and complex vulnerabilities (reentrancy, integer overflow/underflow, access control flaws, unchecked external calls, etc.) based on an extensive, continuously updated dataset of known exploits and attack vectors.
  • Learning & Adaptation through Iterative LLM Prompt Engineering: The AI Auditor Assistant leverages powerful, pre-trained Large Language Models (LLMs), guided by sophisticated prompt engineering techniques to act as a smart contract security expert. Our approach focuses on crafting precise system prompts and instructions that translate static analysis principles and known exploit patterns into actionable LLM guidance.
  • Educational Feedback: Goes beyond simple error flagging to explain why something represents a vulnerability, providing contextual learning opportunities and linking to relevant security best practices and training materials.
  • Accessibility Focus: Positioned as a developer assistant to catch obvious issues early and provide learning opportunities, not as a replacement for comprehensive manual audits by security experts. This addresses the significant cost, time, and accessibility barriers associated with professional smart contract security reviews.
  • Iterative Improvement: Continuous refinement through user feedback, expanded vulnerability coverage, and enhanced prompt engineering techniques to improve detection accuracy and educational value.

:page_facing_up: Essential Training Curriculum:

  • Structured Learning Paths: Comprehensive “Zero to EVM Hero” progression covering blockchain fundamentals, Solidity development, Zilliqa-specific EVM features, dApp architecture, and security best practices.
  • Real-World Focus: Emphasis on practical application with portfolio-worthy project examples utilizing industry-standard tools and frameworks (OpenZeppelin, Remix, ThirdWeb, Hardhat, Foundry).
  • Zilliqa 2.0 Preparation: Dedicated content modules focused on understanding and leveraging unique Zilliqa 2.0 advantages, including enhanced performance, xShards architecture, and native account abstraction capabilities.
  • Interactive Elements: Hands-on coding exercises, practical assignments, and guided project development to reinforce learning through application.

:speech_balloon: AI-Powered FAQ Chatbot:

  • 24/7 Developer Support: Designed to provide instant, accurate answers to developers entering the Zilliqa EVM ecosystem, significantly reducing onboarding friction and support response times.
  • Comprehensive Knowledge Base: Trained on core Zilliqa documentation, developer tutorials, tooling guides, and community knowledge to address common questions and technical hurdles.
  • Learning Integration: Contextually aware responses that can direct users to relevant training modules and resources for deeper understanding.
  • Community Relief: Alleviates pressure on human moderators and support staff by automating responses to repetitive inquiries while maintaining quality assistance.

Alignment with gZIL Collective Priorities:

This project directly supports the gZIL Collective’s Season One mission of “Driving on-chain activity and real-world utility by supporting projects that spark ecosystem usage and deepen user engagement.” By cultivating a skilled developer base equipped with cutting-edge AI tools, we are establishing the fundamental infrastructure for sustainable growth, innovation, and increased utility of the Zilliqa network.

The Zilliqa EVM Developer Hub is strategically aligned with this mission through multiple vectors:

  • Sparking Ecosystem Usage: We directly address the supply side of dApp development. Each trained developer represents potential for multiple dApps, tools, and services built on Zilliqa’s EVM. Our existing portfolio (Plunderswap DEX, Kalijo suite, Zilnames) demonstrates our ability to create usage-driving applications. This platform multiplies such efforts across the entire ecosystem by enabling others to build effectively.

  • Driving On-Chain Activity: Every new dApp deployed by a developer trained through our platform has the potential to generate significant transaction volume, attract liquidity, and increase overall network utilization. The AI Auditor component contributes by fostering more secure, reliable dApps, which in turn encourages user trust and sustained activity.

  • Deepening User Engagement:

    • Developers are sophisticated first users who become active ecosystem participants through education and tooling.
    • The dApps they subsequently build create new user touchpoints, expanding Zilliqa’s reach and utility.
    • Our focus on Zilliqa 2.0 features empowers developers to build more user-friendly applications, further boosting engagement through improved UX.

  • Measurable Impact: Our success metrics are directly tied to concrete indicators of ecosystem activity, including deployed projects, active developers, transaction volume, and the qualitative impact of new applications built by platform graduates.

Overall Goal: To establish Zilliqa EVM Developer Hub as a focused, high-quality training platform with industry-leading AI tools, leading to a measurable and sustained increase in skilled developers and on-chain activity within the Zilliqa ecosystem.

Key Objectives:

  1. Attract & Onboard Developers: Become a recognized, go-to platform for EVM developers looking to build on Zilliqa, leveraging our unique AI tools as differentiators.
  2. Skill-Up Developers: Equip developers with essential knowledge and AI-powered tools to build secure, innovative, and efficient dApps on Zilliqa, with particular emphasis on Zilliqa 2.0 capabilities.
  3. Provide Cutting-Edge Tools: Deliver unique AI assistants that differentiate Zilliqa from other EVM platforms and provide genuine value to the development process.
  4. Stimulate dApp Growth: Directly contribute to a measurable increase in both quantity and quality of dApps deployed on Zilliqa.
  5. Enhance Developer Experience: Create a supportive, efficient learning environment that reduces time-to-productivity for new Zilliqa developers.

Success Metrics (Year 1 Targets):

METRIC TARGET VALUE(Year 1) TRACKING METHOD REPORTING FREQUENCY
Number of Registered Developers 100+ Portal registration database, wallet connections Quarterly
Course Completion Rate 60% Portal progress tracking, module analytics Quarterly
AI Auditor Scans 200+ total scans Internal tool analytics, usage patterns Quarterly
AI Chatbot Interactions 1000+ total interactions Internal tool analytics, query analysis Quarterly
Deployed Contracts by Portal Users 50+ (Testnet/Mainnet) On-chain tracking, user submissions, explorer analysis Quarterly
Portal-Driven dApp Deployments 15-25 dApps User tracking linked to course completions, case studies Annually
Average User Satisfaction Score 4.2/5 Post-training surveys, feedback analysis Bi-annually
Monthly Active Users 50+ by Q4 Login analytics, engagement metrics Monthly

These metrics are designed to capture both quantitative growth and qualitative impact, providing a comprehensive view of the platform’s contribution to Zilliqa ecosystem development.

Link to project roadmap of our proposed timeline: CLICK HERE

Future Vision:

The Zilliqa EVM Developer Hub is designed as a lean, high-impact platform with a clear trajectory to become the definitive resource for developers building on Zilliqa’s Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) ecosystem. Starting with a focused MVP centered on AI-powered tools and essential training, the Hub lays a robust foundation for scalability, community engagement, and sustained ecosystem growth. Our long-term vision is to evolve the Hub into a comprehensive, globally recognized, and self-sustaining developer ecosystem that empowers builders, drives innovation, and amplifies on-chain activity, positioning Zilliqa as a leading EVM-compatible blockchain. Below is a detailed outline of our future vision which expands on the core objectives of this proposal:

  • Expanded Ecosystem:

    • Advanced curriculum on DeFi, NFTs, and Zilliqa 2.0 features (xShards, account abstraction).
    • Multilingual support to attract global developers.
    • Integration with tools like OpenZeppelin, Hardhat, and Zilliqa-specific SDKs.

  • Advanced AI Tools:

    • Enhanced AI Auditor with real-time vulnerability detection and code optimization via RAG.
    • AI coding assistant for Zilliqa-specific snippets and debugging.
    • Upgraded chatbot with predictive responses and learning path integration.

  • Community & Collaboration:

    • Forums for Q&A and project collaboration.
    • Regular virtual meetups, AMAs, and workshops with Zilliqa experts.
    • Scaled hackathons with ecosystem partnerships to showcase dApps.

  • Incubation & Acceleration:

    • Incubation program for Hub graduates with mentorship and funding connections.
    • Project showcases to attract investors and ecosystem integration.
    • Synergy with PlunderSwap, Zilnames, and other Zilliqa projects.

  • Community-Governed Sustainability:

    • Transition to a DAO for community-driven governance.
    • Sustainable funding via premium features and sponsorships, keeping core content free.
    • Open-source training materials and AI tool documentation for community contributions.

  • Global Impact & Adaptability:

    • Attract EVM developers from competing ecosystems with unique AI tools.
    • Partnerships with Web3 and academic institutions to expand reach.
    • Track TVL, transaction volume, and dApp growth driven by Hub graduates.
    • Continuous evolution via feedback, AI advancements, and scalable architecture

  • gZIL Collective Integration:

    • Introduce a Solidity certification exam to standardize technical competency, enabling the gZIL Collective to use the Hub as a benchmark for evaluating developers and teams during grant reviews.

6. We send 20% upfront if your grant is approved by the community. List the key project milestones you will complete to unlock the remaining 80%.

The gZIL collective send 20% of the grant upfront, the remaining 80% of the grant will be unlocked in four equal tranches (20% each) upon successful completion and verification of the following milestones:

  • Milestone :one: (20% of total grant - Target: 8 weeks post-initial funding):

    • Portal MVP Launch: Core platform deployed with user registration, wallet integration (RainbowKit), and initial training modules (Blockchain Basics, EVM Fundamentals, Intro to Solidity, Setting up Zilliqa EVM Environment).
    • AI Auditor Alpha: Initial version with LLM-powered vulnerability detection for 3-4 major categories (reentrancy, access control, integer overflow, unchecked external calls) through carefully engineered system prompts. Basic educational feedback implementation.
    • Basic AI FAQ Chatbot: Initial deployment with core Zilliqa documentation training, covering 50+ common developer queries.
    • Report: Deployment links, feature functionality demonstrations, initial user feedback compilation, and usage analytics.

  • Milestone :two: (20% of total grant - Target: 16 weeks post-initial funding):

    • Complete Core Curriculum: All foundational Zilliqa EVM development modules live, including dApp development on Zilliqa, smart contract security best practices, and practical coding exercises.
    • AI Auditor Beta: Enhanced detection capabilities with expanded vulnerability coverage, improved educational feedback, and refined prompt engineering based on testing and user input.
    • AI Chatbot Enhancement: Expanded knowledge base with improved response accuracy, covering 100+ queries and integration with learning modules.
    • Report: Curriculum completion statistics, AI tool usage metrics, user engagement data, and feedback analysis.

  • Milestone :three: (20% of total grant - Target: 24 weeks post-initial funding):

    • Zilliqa 2.0 Content: Dedicated modules on Zilliqa 2.0 features and advantages, including xShards, performance optimizations, and account abstraction preparation. *that these features are released by Zilliqa by this time.
    • AI Tool Optimization: Performance improvements, user experience enhancements, and advanced prompt engineering techniques based on comprehensive user feedback.
    • Security Best Practices Module: Advanced smart contract security training closely integrated with AI Auditor findings and recommendations.
    • Report: Advanced module uptake rates, AI tool effectiveness metrics, user satisfaction scores, and case studies of successful projects.

  • Milestone :four: (20% of total grant - Target: 32 weeks post-initial funding):

    • Open-Source Release: All training materials and platform documentation released under permissive license, enabling community contributions and transparency.
    • Comprehensive AI Tool Documentation: Detailed documentation of AI Auditor and Chatbot functionality, architecture, and implementation approach, enabling community understanding and potential recreation.
    • Performance Optimization: Platform optimization for scalability, user experience, and long-term sustainability.
    • Final Report: Complete Year 1 metrics analysis, comprehensive user feedback compilation, lessons learned documentation, and detailed sustainability plan.

While the Zilliqa EVM Developer Hub is a new initiative, our team’s capability to deliver high-quality, functional applications within the Zilliqa ecosystem is clearly demonstrated by our portfolio:

These projects showcase our deep understanding of Zilliqa architecture, EVM development, smart contract implementation, frontend/backend development, and our commitment to providing comprehensive documentation and developer resources.

A brief overview of the team:

:parrot: Team PlunderSwap :parrot:

Our team represents a unique combination of deep Zilliqa ecosystem experience, technical excellence, and proven project delivery. We have been building on Zilliqa since the ICO, giving us unparalleled understanding of the platform’s evolution, community needs, and developer challenges.

Collective Strength - Proven Track Record: Our successful deployment and maintenance of multiple production applications (Plunderswap DEX, Kalijo suite, Zilnames) demonstrates our technical capabilities, project management skills, and long-term commitment to Zilliqa’s growth. We understand the nuances of the Zilliqa blockchain, its community dynamics, and the practical needs of developers building real-world applications.

Team Members:

:man_office_worker: ZillaQuest (Jake) - Chief Marketing Officer

  • Expert in digital marketing, branding, and social media growth with extensive Web3 community building experience
  • Extensive experience building and leading high performing teams
  • Specializes in crafting multi-layered marketing strategies and developer outreach programs
  • Brings creative energy and strategic direction to partnerships and ecosystem engagement
  • X: https://twitter.com/ZillaQuest | Telegram: https://t.me/ZillaQuest

:pirate_flag: Patriot76 (Scott) - Chief Strategy Officer

  • 30+ years of senior and executive leadership experience in Fortune 100 and 500 companies
  • Deep expertise in mergers & acquisitions, financial strategy, and enterprise growth initiatives
  • Skilled in supply chain management, Six Sigma methodologies, and technical operations
  • Proven track record in business continuity planning and operational resilience
  • Brings real-world corporate discipline and strategic planning capabilities to Web3 projects
  • Telegram: https://t.me/Piratelife1

:farmer: CJ McG (Callum) - Chief Investment Officer

  • Seasoned fund manager and blockchain strategist with deep DeFi and tokenomics expertise
  • Entrepreneur and AI experimenter focused on next-generation financial applications
  • Pioneer in integrating AI tools into creative and financial development workflows
  • Extensive experience in trading systems, liquidity management, and tokenized economies
  • Visionary leader in shaping blockchain-driven financial innovation
  • X: https://twitter.com/CJ__McG | Telegram: https://t.me/CJ_McG

:snail: Darthgus (Gary) - Chief Technology Officer

  • 25+ year veteran Principal Cloud Software Engineer with extensive leadership experience
  • Expert in Go, Python, Next.js, Solidity, and comprehensive backend database and Infrastructure as Code technologies
  • Deep expertise in secure, scalable backend systems and cloud architecture
  • Proven track record in managing development teams and delivering complex, production-grade applications
  • Holds industry-leading certifications across multiple technology stacks
  • X: https://twitter.com/GusSnail | Telegram: https://t.me/DarthGus

:man_technologist: Melvin - Chief Product Officer

  • Former Apple iOS engineer with comprehensive full-stack development experience
  • Exceptional UI/UX design capabilities with focus on user-centric product development
  • Entrepreneurial builder with demonstrated expertise in performance optimization and usability
  • Drives product innovation across Web3, mobile, and enterprise platforms
  • Extensive experience in frontend frameworks, database design, and system architecture

Our diverse skill set, combining deep technical Zilliqa/EVM knowledge with AI expertise, educational content creation, strategic planning, and proven project delivery, makes us uniquely qualified to execute this ambitious and vital project successfully.

Is your project open source?

Yes, with a strategic approach to openness that maximizes community benefit while protecting core intellectual property. All training materials, curriculum content, and platform documentation will be released under a permissive license to enable community contributions and ensure long-term accessibility.

The AI tool functionality and architecture will be comprehensively documented to enable community understanding and potential recreation. We will provide detailed documentation of the LLM architecture used, principles of prompt design, and the methodological approach for developing such systems, enabling others to recreate similar assistants using available LLM services and their own prompt engineering efforts.

However, the iteratively developed LLM prompt libraries and configurations for the AI Auditor will remain team-owned intellectual property to protect their unique competitive value and the significant investment in their development. This approach balances community benefit with sustainability and innovation incentives.

Total ZIL requested:

We are requesting a grant of $50,000 USD, equivalent in ZIL at the time of disbursement.

Here is a brief explanation how the grant funding will be used:

The $50,000 grant will be strategically allocated as follows:

  • 80% Development ($40,000):

    • Platform Development: Core web portal design, development, and testing including user authentication, progress tracking, and content delivery systems
    • AI Smart Contract Auditor: LLM integration, sophisticated prompt engineering, iterative testing, and seamless platform integration
    • AI FAQ Chatbot: Development, training data preparation and curation, prompt design, and deployment
    • Training Content Integration: Module development, interactive elements, and educational resource creation
    • Testing and Optimization: Comprehensive testing, performance optimization, and user experience refinement

  • 10% Infrastructure ($5,000):

    • Hosting and Servers: Robust hosting solution for 2+ years of operation
    • Domain and SSL Certificates: Professional domain registration and security certificates
    • LLM API Costs: Subscription costs for Large Language Model APIs and related AI services
    • Software Subscriptions: Development tools, analytics platforms, and collaboration software

  • 10% Marketing ($5,000):

    • Digital Marketing: Targeted advertising campaigns and SEO-driven content marketing to attract EVM developers
    • Developer Outreach: Conference participation, developer community engagement, and partnership development
    • Promotional Materials: High-quality videos, graphics, presentations, and documentation
    • Basic Community Incentives: Small rewards and recognition programs for early adopters and active participants

Approximately ~80% of the ZIL grant will be converted to stablecoins or fiat currency in small, scheduled amounts to cover development salaries, operational expenses, and infrastructure costs. This approach ensures budget stability against market volatility while minimizing potential negative impact on ZIL market dynamics.

A smaller portion (~20%) may be held as ZIL for community incentives, developer rewards, and direct ecosystem reinvestment, thereby supporting the Zilliqa token economy while achieving project objectives.

Will the project be releasing a Zilliqa token?

No, this project will not be releasing its own Zilliqa token. Our focus is purely on providing educational value and developer tools as a public good for the Zilliqa ecosystem.

Have you (or your team) previously applied for grant funding?

No. Team PlunderSwap has not previously applied for or received grant funding from any source. We completed one contracted work project for Zilliqa, at their request, through a direct service agreement, which we delivered on-time and within budget.

All our existing projects (Plunderswap DEX, Kalijo suite including SEED and KUSD, Zilnames) have been entirely self-funded, demonstrating our genuine commitment to the Zilliqa ecosystem and our ability to deliver substantial value without external dependency.

Risk assessment and mitigation:

  • Risk 1: Low Platform Adoption

    • Mitigation: Leverage our existing community reach from successful projects (Plunderswap, Kalijo, etc.), implement targeted marketing campaigns focused on EVM developers, ensure high-quality content that provides genuine value, and utilize our unique AI tools as key differentiators. Continuous iteration based on user feedback and partnerships with other Zilliqa projects and educational platforms.

  • Risk 2: AI Tool Accuracy and Reliability Issues

    • Mitigation: Implement extensive testing protocols against diverse smart contract datasets including known vulnerabilities and secure contracts. Employ iterative prompt engineering with expert human review from experienced smart contract developers. Maintain clear disclaimers positioning tools as developer assistants rather than replacements for professional audits. Incorporate user feedback mechanisms and adapt to LLM provider model updates. Phased rollout approach with clearly communicated scope and limitations.

  • Risk 3: Technical Development Challenges

    • Mitigation: Our team’s proven track record developing complex dApps and infrastructure on Zilliqa demonstrates technical proficiency. Employ agile development methodologies, utilize battle-tested technologies (RainbowKit, established LLM APIs), and leverage existing codebase experience. Maintain development buffers and alternative technical approaches.

  • Risk 4: Content Currency and Platform Evolution

    • Mitigation: Focus on fundamental concepts that remain stable across updates, design modular content architecture for easy updates, maintain close relationships with Zilliqa core team for early insights, and build community contribution mechanisms for ongoing content maintenance.

  • Risk 5: Long-term Sustainability

    • Mitigation: Build a high-value platform that demonstrates clear ROI and attracts organic usage. Design for potential future revenue models (premium features, sponsorships) while keeping core content freely accessible. The substantial infrastructure budget provides an operational runway for growth and iteration.

Additional information we consider relevant:

Our team’s deep roots in the Zilliqa ecosystem, evidenced by years of successful dApp development, infrastructure deployment, and community contributions, uniquely position us for success. We are not merely proposing a platform; we are proposing an expansion and acceleration of our ongoing commitment to Zilliqa’s growth.

Strategic Advantages:

  • Ecosystem Integration: Our existing applications serve as practical examples and case studies for the training platform
  • Community Trust: Established reputation and relationships within the Zilliqa ecosystem
  • Technical Expertise: Proven ability to navigate Zilliqa’s unique characteristics and development environment
  • AI Innovation: The AI-powered tools represent a significant competitive advantage for Zilliqa, offering developers capabilities not readily available on other EVM platforms

Competitive Differentiation:

The AI Smart Contract Auditor and FAQ Chatbot position Zilliqa as the most developer-friendly EVM platform, potentially attracting significant external talent from the broader Ethereum ecosystem. This technological differentiation, combined with comprehensive educational content, creates a compelling value proposition for developers choosing where to build.

Long-term Impact:

This focused platform establishes the foundation for sustained ecosystem growth, enabling Zilliqa to compete effectively for developer mindshare in an increasingly competitive environment. By concentrating on core differentiators and proven value delivery, we maximize the probability of meaningful impact while building sustainable momentum for future expansion.

We are confident this strategic approach will deliver exceptional value efficiently, directly contributing to the gZIL Collective’s mission of driving ecosystem usage and engagement while establishing Zilliqa as the premier destination for innovative dApp development.

Thankyou for reading our proposal!

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