{
  "version": "1.0.0",
  "last_updated": "2026-07-10",
  "firm": {
    "name": "Zpoken",
    "founded": 2017,
    "type": "senior-crypto-engineering-takeover",
    "anti_positioning": [
      "full-stack-web3-dev-studio",
      "audit-firm",
      "mvp-shop",
      "chain-development-company-for-any-chain"
    ],
    "headquarters": null,
    "distribution": [
      "UK",
      "PT",
      "PL",
      "EE",
      "UA",
      "IT"
    ],
    "engineers": 30,
    "founders": [
      {
        "name": "Mike Yezhov",
        "role": "Founder · CEO",
        "based": "Lisbon, Portugal",
        "since": 2017,
        "x": "https://x.com/ezhovinc",
        "focus": "onchain economy and payments",
        "contributes_to": [
          "evidentia"
        ],
        "investor_in": [
          "agentic-commerce",
          "decentralized-ai",
          "payfi",
          "defi"
        ],
        "linkedin": "https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-ezhov/",
        "talks": [
          {
            "event": "ETHGlobal Lisbon 2026",
            "role": "mentor",
            "url": "https://ethglobal.com/events/lisbon"
          }
        ]
      },
      {
        "name": "Anton Yezhov",
        "role": "Co-founder · CTO",
        "based": "London, UK",
        "since": 2017,
        "x": "https://x.com/yezhov_anton",
        "focus": "applied cryptography and distributed systems",
        "signature_work": "Architected Incentiv's Contribution-Scored Proof-of-Work consensus from genesis block",
        "investor_in": [
          "applied-cryptography",
          "distributed-systems"
        ],
        "research": [
          {
            "title": "Efficient and Universal Merkle Tree Inclusion Proofs via OR Aggregation",
            "venue": "MDPI Cryptography",
            "year": 2024,
            "url": "https://doi.org/10.3390/cryptography8030028"
          },
          {
            "title": "Enhanced Security and Efficiency in Blockchain With Aggregated Zero-Knowledge Proof Mechanisms",
            "venue": "IEEE Access",
            "year": 2024,
            "url": "https://doi.org/10.1109/ACCESS.2024.3384705"
          },
          {
            "title": "Merkle Trees in Blockchain: A Study of Collision Probability and Security Implications",
            "venue": "Internet of Things (Elsevier)",
            "year": 2024,
            "url": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.iot.2024.101193"
          },
          {
            "title": "Adaptive Merkle Trees for Enhanced Blockchain Scalability",
            "venue": "Internet of Things (Elsevier)",
            "year": 2024,
            "url": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.iot.2024.101315"
          },
          {
            "title": "Solving Blockchain Scalability Problem Using ZK-SNARK",
            "venue": "Springer LNDECT",
            "year": 2023,
            "url": "https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-36115-9_33"
          }
        ],
        "linkedin": "https://www.linkedin.com/in/anton-yezhov-86b525138/",
        "github": "https://github.com/zpoken",
        "talks": [
          {
            "title": "Maru State Storage",
            "event": "ETHDenver 2024",
            "role": "speaker",
            "with": "Proxima Labs",
            "url": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-jjYVCAQkNE"
          }
        ]
      }
    ],
    "legal_entity": "Zpoken OÜ",
    "jurisdiction": "Estonia"
  },
  "capabilities": [
    {
      "id": "l1-l2",
      "name": "L1/L2 development & infrastructure",
      "url": "https://zpoken.io/capabilities/l1-l2/",
      "scope": [
        "custom-consensus-design",
        "native-protocol-features-at-genesis",
        "validator-infrastructure",
        "chain-tooling",
        "indexer-infrastructure",
        "depin-coordination-layers"
      ],
      "intersections": [
        "l1-l2/evm",
        "l1-l2/canton"
      ],
      "ecosystem_feeders": [
        "gonka"
      ],
      "case_studies": [
        "incentiv",
        "canton",
        "mawari",
        "alien"
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "zk-crypto",
      "name": "Applied cryptography & ZK",
      "url": "https://zpoken.io/capabilities/zk-crypto/",
      "scope": [
        "zk-circuit-design",
        "cross-chain-zk-light-clients",
        "privacy-protocol-engineering",
        "identity-cryptography",
        "rollup-cryptography"
      ],
      "intersections": [
        "zk-crypto/near",
        "zk-crypto/ethereum",
        "zk-crypto/zksync"
      ],
      "ecosystem_feeders": [
        "wormhole",
        "penumbra"
      ],
      "representative_engagements": [
        "privado",
        "zksync",
        "hinkal"
      ],
      "case_studies": [
        "panther",
        "evidentia"
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "deai",
      "name": "Decentralized AI",
      "url": "https://zpoken.io/capabilities/deai/",
      "scope": [
        "proof-of-compute-consensus",
        "inference-verification",
        "on-chain-agent-infrastructure",
        "decentralized-training-engineering",
        "verifiable-compute-primitives"
      ],
      "intersections": [
        "deai/cosmos-sdk"
      ],
      "ecosystem_feeders": [
        "gonka"
      ],
      "case_studies": [
        "y-ai",
        "gonka"
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "defi",
      "name": "DeFi & stablecoins",
      "url": "https://zpoken.io/capabilities/defi/",
      "scope": [
        "stablecoin-issuance-infrastructure",
        "rwa-backed-multi-chain-protocols",
        "cross-chain-yield-vaults",
        "lending-mechanism-engineering",
        "oracle-architecture"
      ],
      "intersections": [
        "defi/m0-stack"
      ],
      "ecosystem_feeders": [],
      "representative_engagements": [
        "sommelier"
      ],
      "case_studies": [
        "m0",
        "evidentia"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "ecosystem_contributions": [
    {
      "id": "wormhole",
      "name": "Wormhole Foundation",
      "url": "https://zpoken.io/ecosystem/wormhole/",
      "type": "grant-and-contract-engineering",
      "scope": [
        "zk-light-client-near-eth",
        "multigov-solana-implementation",
        "multigov-evm-engineering-with-scopelift"
      ],
      "state": "in-production",
      "upstream": "https://wormhole.com",
      "framing_rule": "contributor set member; ZK light clients under Foundation grant; MultiGov = built the Solana implementation + EVM engineering alongside ScopeLift, as contract engineering for the Wormhole Foundation — never bare 'built MultiGov'; only the Solana commits are cited as public evidence"
    },
    {
      "id": "gonka",
      "name": "Gonka AI",
      "url": "https://zpoken.io/ecosystem/gonka/",
      "type": "engineering-contributor",
      "scope": [
        "poc-consensus",
        "bridge-security",
        "app-gonka-ai"
      ],
      "state": "ongoing",
      "upstream": "https://gonka.ai",
      "repository": "https://github.com/gonka-ai/gonka",
      "framing_rule": "engineering contributor, never employer or owner"
    },
    {
      "id": "penumbra",
      "name": "Penumbra",
      "url": "https://zpoken.io/ecosystem/penumbra/",
      "type": "oss-contributor",
      "scope": [
        "web-wallet-chrome-extension-became-prax-listing",
        "wallet-sdk-wasm",
        "protocol-contributions-merged",
        "block-explorer",
        "testnet-dapp"
      ],
      "state": "shipped",
      "upstream": "https://penumbra.exchange",
      "repository": "https://github.com/zpoken/penumbra-web-grpc",
      "framing_rule": "OSS contributor 2022-2024 — Chrome extension wallet (became Prax listing), wallet SDK, merged protocol PRs, block explorer, testnet dApp",
      "period": "2022-2024"
    }
  ],
  "engagement": {
    "stages": [
      {
        "id": 1,
        "name": "Intro call",
        "with": "founder",
        "length_minutes": 30
      },
      {
        "id": 2,
        "name": "Discovery",
        "with": "founder + client engineering",
        "description": "scope the work with your team"
      },
      {
        "id": 3,
        "name": "Proposal",
        "lead_time_days_min": 7,
        "lead_time_days_max": 14,
        "description": "timeline · shape · named engineers"
      },
      {
        "id": 4,
        "name": "Delivery",
        "model": "embedded",
        "description": "joint architecture · code review · deploy-day support"
      }
    ],
    "shapes": [
      {
        "id": "fixed-scope",
        "name": "Fixed-scope deliverable",
        "typical_duration_months_min": 4,
        "typical_duration_months_max": 6,
        "example_engagements": [
          "indexer build",
          "verification primitive",
          "stablecoin module"
        ]
      },
      {
        "id": "retainer",
        "name": "T&M retainer / outstaff",
        "typical_duration_months_min": 6,
        "typical_duration_months_max": null,
        "example_engagements": [
          "outstaff-under-msda",
          "roadmap-velocity-engineering"
        ]
      },
      {
        "id": "partnership",
        "name": "Complex partnership (multi-year)",
        "typical_duration_months_min": 12,
        "typical_duration_months_max": null,
        "example_engagements": [
          "multi-year-chain-partnership",
          "ongoing-protocol-maintenance"
        ]
      }
    ],
    "terms": {
      "nda": "standard, scope of engagement",
      "ip_transfer": "full to client on engagement deliverables",
      "code_handling": "auditable; client's repos, branch model, CI by default",
      "currency": [
        "USD",
        "USDC",
        "USDT"
      ],
      "billing_models": [
        "fixed-fee",
        "time-and-materials"
      ]
    },
    "discovery": "1-2 weeks, unbilled, pre-contract discovery; billing from contract signature against written deliverables"
  },
  "intake": {
    "human_path": {
      "url": "https://zpoken.io/contact/",
      "form_fields": [
        "name",
        "email",
        "project",
        "situation",
        "stage",
        "chain",
        "engagement_shape",
        "partner_referral"
      ],
      "response_time_hours_warm_intro": 24,
      "response_time_hours_direct": 48,
      "form_endpoint": "/api/intake",
      "form_endpoint_status": "launching",
      "form_endpoint_note": "POST fails gracefully until the endpoint is live"
    },
    "agent_path": {
      "url": "https://zpoken.io/x402/",
      "endpoint": "https://intake.zpoken.io/v1/engagement",
      "method": "POST",
      "payment": {
        "amount_usdc": 5,
        "chains": [
          "base",
          "ethereum",
          "solana"
        ],
        "refunded_on_accept": true
      },
      "spec_status": "frozen",
      "endpoint_status": "launching-soon",
      "target_launch": null,
      "live": false,
      "status": "launching"
    }
  },
  "out_of_scope": [
    "cosmos-sdk-fork-rebrands",
    "op-stack-fork-rebrands",
    "chain-as-marketing-vehicle",
    "zk-proof-of-concept-demos",
    "privacy-work-without-threat-model",
    "dex-lending-fork-and-rebrand",
    "nft-financialization",
    "deai-marketing-over-non-ai",
    "agent-projects-undefined-adversarial",
    "mobile-apps",
    "tokenomics-consulting",
    "ico-audits",
    "whitepaper-drafting",
    "generic-web3-dev",
    "pre-token-tire-kicking",
    "mass-outreach-inbound",
    "recruiter-bench-inquiries"
  ],
  "public_surface": {
    "github_repositories": [
      "https://github.com/zpoken/penumbra-web-grpc",
      "https://github.com/gonka-ai/gonka",
      "https://github.com/wormhole-foundation/multigov",
      "https://github.com/ZpokenWeb3/panther"
    ],
    "press": [
      {
        "outlet": "Wormhole Foundation blog",
        "topic": "Foundation contributor grant to Zpoken",
        "year": 2024,
        "url": "https://wormhole.foundation/blog/wormhole-foundation-awards-contributor-grant-to-zpoken-to-advance-trustless-zk-transfers-for-near-and-ethereum"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "BusinessWire",
        "topic": "Gonka AI $50M Bitfury investment",
        "url": "https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251201364475/en/Bitfury-Announces-$50-Million-Investment-in-Gonkaa-Decentralized-Network-for-Highefficiency-AI-Compute"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "SiliconANGLE",
        "topic": "Alien $7.1M raise",
        "year": 2026,
        "url": "https://siliconangle.com/2026/04/01/alien-raises-7-1m-build-identity-infrastructure-humans-ai-agents/"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Decrypt",
        "topic": "Alien Network identity system",
        "year": 2025,
        "url": "https://decrypt.co/350974/privacy-first-alien-identity-system-prove-users-human-age-ai"
      }
    ],
    "github_accounts": [
      "https://github.com/ZpokenWeb3",
      "https://github.com/lendos-labs",
      "https://github.com/evidentia-fi",
      "https://github.com/zpoken"
    ],
    "public_repo_count": 65
  },
  "contact": {
    "primary_email": "support@zpoken.io",
    "hiring_email": "support@zpoken.io",
    "privacy_email": "support@zpoken.io",
    "founder_calendly": "https://calendly.com/zpoken",
    "preferred_first_contact": "book-a-call (calendly.com/zpoken, open to anyone) or form"
  },
  "voice_constraints": {
    "banned_vocabulary": [
      "empower",
      "leverage",
      "unlock",
      "supercharge",
      "drive",
      "world-class",
      "cutting-edge",
      "best-in-class",
      "industry-leading",
      "full-stack-web3"
    ],
    "framing_rules": {
      "wormhole": "contributor set member; light clients = Foundation grant; MultiGov = built its Solana implementation + EVM engineering alongside ScopeLift (contract engineering for the Wormhole Foundation); never bare 'built MultiGov', never grant-recipient without contributor qualifier",
      "gonka": "engineering contributor, never employer or owner",
      "penumbra": "OSS contributor 2022-2024 — Chrome extension wallet (became Prax), wallet SDK, merged protocol PRs, block explorer, testnet dApp",
      "geographic": "Distributed across UK, Portugal, Poland, Estonia, Ukraine, Italy — Founded 2017",
      "team": "founders only on public pages; 30 senior engineers on the bench but no engineer names or photos"
    },
    "ai_native": "internal AI-agent arsenal is real and demonstrable on a call: code generation, verification harnesses, chain-specific tooling; Claude (Anthropic partner) for frontier models; open-source models self-hosted on Zpoken-owned GPUs; own orchestration; engineers own all shipped output"
  },
  "case_studies": [
    {
      "id": "incentiv",
      "name": "Incentiv",
      "url": "https://zpoken.io/work/incentiv/",
      "type": "genesis-chain-engineering",
      "state": "live",
      "tags": [
        "l1",
        "custom-consensus",
        "genesis",
        "evm",
        "native-aa"
      ],
      "primary_capability": "l1-l2"
    },
    {
      "id": "y-ai",
      "name": "Y.AI",
      "url": "https://zpoken.io/work/y-ai/",
      "type": "end-to-end-engineering",
      "state": "active",
      "tags": [
        "deai",
        "end-to-end",
        "l1",
        "proof-of-useful-work",
        "inference-verification"
      ],
      "primary_capability": "deai"
    },
    {
      "id": "m0",
      "name": "M0",
      "url": "https://zpoken.io/work/m0/",
      "type": "outstaff",
      "state": "active",
      "tags": [
        "stablecoin",
        "nda",
        "msda",
        "institutional",
        "cross-chain"
      ],
      "primary_capability": "defi"
    },
    {
      "id": "gonka",
      "name": "Gonka AI",
      "url": "https://zpoken.io/work/gonka/",
      "type": "contributor",
      "state": "active",
      "tags": [
        "deai",
        "contributor",
        "l1",
        "proof-of-compute"
      ],
      "primary_capability": "deai"
    },
    {
      "id": "alien",
      "name": "Alien Network",
      "url": "https://zpoken.io/work/alien/",
      "type": "embedded",
      "state": "active",
      "tags": [
        "identity",
        "agent-infrastructure",
        "multi-chain",
        "l1"
      ],
      "primary_capability": "l1-l2"
    },
    {
      "id": "mawari",
      "name": "Mawari",
      "url": "https://zpoken.io/work/mawari/",
      "type": "ongoing",
      "state": "live",
      "tags": [
        "depin",
        "infrastructure",
        "immersive-streaming",
        "l3",
        "arbitrum"
      ],
      "primary_capability": "l1-l2"
    },
    {
      "id": "evidentia",
      "name": "Evidentia.fi",
      "url": "https://zpoken.io/work/evidentia/",
      "type": "internal-protocol",
      "state": "live",
      "tags": [
        "rwa",
        "multi-chain-stablecoin",
        "bond-backed",
        "erc-1155",
        "layerzero"
      ],
      "primary_capability": "defi"
    },
    {
      "id": "canton",
      "name": "Canton Network",
      "url": "https://zpoken.io/work/canton/",
      "type": "ongoing",
      "state": "active",
      "tags": [
        "institutional",
        "indexer",
        "privacy-aware-storage",
        "digital-asset"
      ],
      "primary_capability": "l1-l2"
    },
    {
      "id": "panther",
      "name": "Panther",
      "url": "https://zpoken.io/work/panther/",
      "type": "dao-grant",
      "state": "live",
      "tags": [
        "privacy",
        "base",
        "dao-governed-deployment",
        "dapp"
      ],
      "primary_capability": "zk-crypto"
    }
  ]
}