- Blockchain and zero-knowledge proofs enable users to disclose only necessary information for secure digital transactions with reliable safety.
- This protocol highlights Costa Rica’s growing engagement with blockchain technology, offering a practical solution for digital identity challenges.
A group of students from the Tecnológico de Costa Rica has created the BeTrusty Protocol, a system that verifies digital identities using blockchain and zero-knowledge methods. The project addresses the problems of fragmented digital identities and gives users the ability to control their digital presence in a secure and verifiable way.
BeTrusty Protocol uses zero-knowledge proofs to confirm a user’s identity without disclosing sensitive details. This method allows a person to validate their identity for a transaction or access request while limiting the information shared. The system is built on blockchain, which records transactions in a way that prevents unauthorized changes.
Developed during a hackathon in Buenos Aires under the Aleph Summer Contest, the project received support from international experts and startups. Students Sebastián Ceciliano Piedra and Saymon Porras Briones led the project. They designed the protocol to build a portable and decentralized digital identity that each user manages privately.
🤝 ZKSYNC x ALEPH HACKATHON
Because Aleph, Ciudad de Crecimiento wasn’t enough;
Because Aleph de Verano tampoco.@zksync is back as an official sponsor of Aleph March Hackathon! 🦊ZKsync is building the Elastic Network, an ever-expanding, verifiable network of blockchains. pic.twitter.com/yTxcvwzZdI
— Aleph Hackathon (@alephhackathon) March 18, 2025
The protocol arrives at a time when other systems, such as those testing human identity through technology like World (formerly Worldcoin), are under trial. With BeTrusty, users gain an option that emphasizes privacy and reliability, and which reflects a thoughtful use of blockchain technology in identity management.
The use of blockchain and zero-knowledge proofs in digital identity verification offers a clear way to reduce fraud and improve online trust. Users can selectively share the data required for a transaction, increasing the safety of digital exchanges. In Costa Rica, where more than 500 merchants already accept Bitcoin, this method adds to a growing list of digital finance tools.
During this period, the project has drawn interest among those who view blockchain as a means to simplify digital verification. The BeTrusty Protocol stands as a response to the need for secure methods of identity validation while offering a model that can be managed without central control.
