# ZkFundMe - Zero-Knowledge Donation Platform

> ZkFundMe is a demo platform by Blockchain Reallabor for transparent and anonymous fundraising campaigns. The platform uses Worldcoin for identity verification (Proof of Personhood) to ensure that donation requests come from real people. Through Zero-Knowledge-Proofs, donations are processed anonymously while remaining verifiable.

**Sector:** Tertiary sector · **Industry:** Non-profit organisations · **Organisation:** Blockchain Reallabor · **Maturity level:** Concept

Canonical URL: https://www.sapientblock.com/en/use-cases/blockchain-reallabor-anonym-sicher-spenden

## Documentation status

- **Project status:** Concept
- **Evidence:** Evidence medium
- **Editorial review:** Ufuk Avci, 15 April 2026

## Description

ZkFundMe is a demonstration project of the Blockchain Reallabor Huerth (Fraunhofer FIT), combining two technologies: crowdfunding mechanisms and zero-knowledge proofs (ZKPs). ZKPs enable proving a statement without revealing the underlying data.

The problem: traditional crowdfunding platforms collect extensive personal data from donors. For politically or socially sensitive projects (e.g. donations for political parties, whistleblower support, medical emergency aid), this data can be risky for donors. ZkFundMe solves this with zero-knowledge proofs: a donor can prove, for example, that they are of legal age, live in a certain country, or have already been verified — without directly revealing this information. The blockchain ensures that donations actually arrive and are not manipulated. zk-SNARKs (Zero-Knowledge Succinct Non-Interactive Arguments of Knowledge) are the cryptographic basis also used by Ethereum Layer-2 networks (Polygon zkEVM, zkSync). The Blockchain Reallabor demonstrates ZkFundMe as a live demonstrator at the euronova CAMPUS — visitors can donate anonymously and experience the cryptographic verification live.

## Benefits

- Non-profit organisations can reduce their administrative costs as fewer resources are needed for manual trust-building.
- The combination of identity verification and zero-knowledge proofs creates a new level of trust in digital fundraising.
- Donation fraud is drastically reduced through technical verification.
- The platform enables global fundraising without geographical or institutional barriers.
- Fundraising teams can focus on creative campaign design instead of technical processing and trust-building.

## Challenges

- Organisations must invest in new technical infrastructure and training to use the platform effectively.
- The integration of Worldcoin and zero-knowledge proof technologies requires highly specialised developer skills.
- The acceptance of new technologies may be slow among traditional donors.
- Employees need to familiarise themselves with complex blockchain concepts to be able to explain the technology to donors.

## Technology foundation

The platform combines Worldcoin technology for identity verification with zero-knowledge proofs for data protection. These technologies enable ensuring the authenticity of fundraising campaigns while protecting donors' privacy.

## Sources

- [ZkFundMe - Blockchain Reallabor Portfolio](https://blockchain-reallabor.de/portfolio-item/zkfundme/)