# ZK Gaming on Stellar This hackathon is about exploring Zero-Knowledge (ZK) as a real gameplay primitive — not just a buzzword. Your mission is to build a game prototype that uses ZK for something that actually matters to players: hidden information, fair resolution, provable outcomes, private actions, verifiable computation, or any mechanic where “trust me” isn’t good enough. And don’t overthink the *scope* of the game. It doesn’t need to be an MMO or a full commercial title — a clean, minimal prototype like tic-tac-toe, Sudoku, Battleship, or a simple card/strategy game is totally valid **as long as ZK is essential to how it works** (not just mentioned in a README). We’re doing this now because Stellar has taken a big step forward for ZK developers with **[Protocol 25 (X-Ray)](https://stellar.org/blog/developers/announcing-stellar-x-ray-protocol-25)**, which adds protocol-level cryptographic building blocks like BN254 elliptic-curve operations and Poseidon/Poseidon2 hash functions — the kind of primitives modern ZK systems rely on. That means it’s now realistic to build games that can verify ZK proofs on-chain (using toolchains like Noir and zkVM approaches like RISC Zero) and bring new “fair by design” mechanics to Stellar. # **2 Minute Hackathon Primer** Watch this short 2 minute video from [James Bachini](https://x.com/james_bachini) to quickly get up to speed on the hackathon.  # Stellar Game Studio - Your Dev Shortcut Stellar Game Studio simplifies building onchain games and streamlines the Stellar game lifecycle. It’s designed to be a fast starting point for shipping playable web games with onchain components — providing convention over configuration so you can focus on gameplay. Stellar Game Studio reduces boilerplate by pairing smart contracts with a modern frontend workflow, and includes scripts that help you move from idea → deployed prototype quickly. Your integration with Stellar Game Studio is required for the hackathon and simplifies many things for you, including two-player game simulation. **Stellar Game Studio:** [https://jamesbachini.github.io/Stellar-Game-Studio/](https://jamesbachini.github.io/Stellar-Game-Studio/) **GitHub Repository:** [https://github.com/jamesbachini/Stellar-Game-Studio](https://github.com/jamesbachini/Stellar-Game-Studio) # Resources We have a lot of resources to help you during this hackathon. [Visit the Resources tab.](https://dorahacks.io/hackathon/stellar-hacks-zk-gaming/resources) **[VIEW THE QUICKSTART GUIDE TAB FOR DETAILED SETUP INSTRUCTIONS](https://dorahacks.io/hackathon/stellar-hacks-zk-gaming/quickstart-guide)** # Submission Requirements ## 1) A ZK-Powered Mechanic Your project must use ZK in a meaningful way. The ZK proof should power a core mechanic, not just appear in a demo slide. ## 2) A Deployed Onchain Component Submissions require an onchain component deployed on Stellar Testnet (contracts and any onchain state that your game relies on). Your game contracts must call start_game() and end_game() in the game hub contract: CB4VZAT2U3UC6XFK3N23SKRF2NDCMP3QHJYMCHHFMZO7MRQO6DQ2EMYG The game studio is an optional starting point to get you building as quickly as possible, *it is not a requirement to use it for the hackathon*. However interaction with the game hub mock contract to call *start_game()* and *end_game()* is a requirement and there are examples in the studio and an interface here: [https://stellar.expert/explorer/testnet/contract/CB4VZAT2U3UC6XFK3N23SKRF2NDCMP3QHJYMCHHFMZO7MRQO6DQ2EMYG?filter=interface](https://stellar.expert/explorer/testnet/contract/CB4VZAT2U3UC6XFK3N23SKRF2NDCMP3QHJYMCHHFMZO7MRQO6DQ2EMYG?filter=interface) ## 3) A Front End A functional user interface is required. Judges should be able to see gameplay and understand how the ZK mechanic and onchain component connect to the player experience. ## 4) Open-source Repo A public GitHub/GitLab repository link containing the full source code and a clear README.md. ## 5) Video Demo A 2-3 minute video demonstration showing the gameplay and explaining the ZK implementation to assist judges in understanding your submission. # Inspiration & Ideas Need a spark? Here are a few ZK-native directions that make games more fair, more private, or more interesting: - **Hidden-information games:** Players commit privately (moves, cards, loadouts) and prove validity without revealing everything. - **Provable outcomes:** Resolve a match with verifiable computation so players can audit results. - **Private actions / fog-of-war:** Keep state hidden while still proving that each step is valid. - **Provable randomness:** Prove fairness without leaking seeds or relying on a trusted server. - **Puzzle / strategy proofs:** Prove a solution is valid without revealing the solution itself. # $10,000 Prize Pool This hackathon features a **single open innovation track** with awards for the top projects: - **First Place:** $5,000 in XLM - **Second Place:** $2,000 in XLM - **Third Place:** $1,250 in XLM - **Fourth Place:** $1,000 in XLM - **Fifth Place:** $750 in XLM # Key Dates - **Submissions Open:** Feb 9, 2026 - **Submission deadline:** Feb 23, 2026 # Hackathon Support The team is here to help you every step of the way. Feel free to drop in any of the following channels for assistance: - [Stellar Dev Discord #zk-chat](https://discord.gg/MRZCHcMWDE) - [Stellar Hacks Telegram Group](https://t.me/+FEA6-X1dfelkMzE5) *Note: Please beware of scams via DM on both platforms.*