Join us at Howest Bruges’ newest campus for an evening focused on next-generation privacy for enterprise DLT.
Through three to-the-point, insightful talks, we’ll explore practical applications of decentralized identity, zero-knowledge proofs, and privacy on the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM). The program features speakers from open-source projects, academia, and applied research.
There will be time to connect with other professionals and enthusiasts over finger food and drinks. Whether you’re working in the field or simply curious about the latest developments, you’re very welcome.
18:30 – 19:00 Welcome, Registration & Networking
19:00 – 19:30 Decentralized Identity: A Simple Way to Keep Your Privacy
Renata Toktar – Lead Software Engineer and Product manager, DSR Corporation
This talk explores how distributed identity systems enable individuals to own and control their personal data, creating a safer and more transparent online experience.
By leveraging blockchain and LF Decentralized Trust technology, these systems eliminate the need for a single, centralized — and often vulnerable — data repository. The presentation will include technical insights such as:
- Practical implementation of decentralized identity systems
- Regulatory context, including eIDAS 2.0 (EUDI) and GDPR
- A technical overview of credential types and supporting protocols
Note: This talk will be delivered remotely 🌐
Renata is a specialist in Self-Sovereign Identity (SSI) and decentralized systems. She has been an active maintainer of Hyperledger Indy for over seven years and now leads the Indy on Besu project.
Currently, one of her key focus areas is the DSR Developer Toolkit, which streamlines the use of popular protocols and credential types in decentralized systems.
Renata is also a frequent speaker at international events such as Blockchain Week, has presented at the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Porto (FEUP), and regularly facilitates webinars on SSI and Web3 for the open-source community.
19:30 – 20:00 Real-world Applications of Zero-knowledge Proofs (ZKPs)
Ruben De Smet – Postdoctoral researcher, Vrije Universiteit Brussel
Zero-knowledge proofs (ZKPs) are transforming privacy in decentralized systems. This talk explores real-world applications of ZKPs, from private transactions and digital identity to blockchain scalability (zk-rollups) and privacy-preserving road pricing. We’ll discuss how these techniques enable trust without revealing sensitive information, making them a key tool for privacy in decentralized ecosystems.
Ruben De Smet obtained his PhD in 2024 and holds an MSc degree in Engineering from the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (2018). His current research focuses on privacy-enhancing technologies, with an emphasis on online social networks leveraging zero-knowledge proofs, elliptic curves, and cryptography.
20:00 – 20:30 Advancing EVM Privacy: An Introduction to LFDT Lab Paladin
Shane Deconinck – Web3 Lead, Howest Cyber3Lab
In this presentation, we at Howest share our experience exploring Paladin — a new LF Decentralized Trust Lab project aimed at enhancing privacy within Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) environments. Paladin offers an open-source, modular, and pluggable platform for developing programmable, privacy-preserving tokens on EVM. It supports a variety of privacy frameworks, including Zero-Knowledge Proof (ZKP) tokens, issuer-backed tokens, and private smart contracts.
This talk shares hands-on insights into how Paladin works, its potential for enterprise and public sector use cases, and how others can get started experimenting with it. Whether you’re a developer, architect, or simply privacy-curious, you’ll come away with a practical understanding of what Paladin brings to the Web3 privacy landscape.
Shane is Web3 Lead and project researcher at Howest Cyber3Lab, specializing in trust through decentralized technologies. Since 2017, he’s been conducting applied research on how these emerging technologies can empower citizens and businesses in the digital age.
20:30 – 21:30 Networking
Next to the interesting talks, one of the most valuable parts of a Meetup is your presence! Connect with attendees while enjoying tasty fingerfoods and drinks served by Howest.
