From Rust Dev to ZK Engineer
the structured path
halo2 course for Rust devs. 8 weeks, live sessions, code that runs.
Founder’s pricing. Limited spots.
The path from your data to working proofs
Sound familiar?
“I’ve been stuck on this halo2 tutorial for three evenings and the code still doesn’t compile. I check: tutorial from 2023, library changed, nobody updated it.”
Internet tutorials are useless
AI-generated garbage, outdated libraries, code that doesn’t work
Math is terrifying
Elliptic curves? Algebra? Finite fields? You don’t know where to start
No clear path
halo2? arkworks? RISC Zero? SP1? Everyone recommends something different
Impostor syndrome
You want to apply for ZK roles, but you have nothing to show
The answer: a clear path, working code, and someone who already went through this.
Why self-learning ZK is so frustrating
Let me guess your experience so far:
The time problem
You have 1-2 hours after work. You’re tired. You open a tutorial: it’s from 2023, library changed, code doesn’t compile.
You fix one error. Another appears. An hour gone and zero progress.
The “magic library” trap
You can USE arkworks. Copy-paste examples. But when something breaks? When you need to optimize? When interviewer asks “how does KZG commitment actually work?”
The AI trap
I tested this myself. I asked AI to generate the circuit. And it did. A complete range check proof, with tests. Code compiles. All tests pass. Looks legit.
But when I looked at the constraint equation: the secret number cancels out. The proof proves nothing. The circuit accepts false proofs as valid.
I pointed the bug to AI. It said “You caught a serious bug!” and generated a fix. The fix had the same flaw.
This is a basic range check, widely described in ZK literature. Not some edge case. And the best AI available in January 2026 got it wrong, twice. These are my findings.
Passing tests ≠ secure circuit. If you don’t understand what the constraints actually do, you won’t catch what AI misses.
This isn’t about intelligence
You’ve learned harder things. Rust ownership model. Async. Lifetimes.
The problem is fragmented resources and no clear path.
That’s what this course provides.
Why ZK makes sense now
Growing demand
- Layer 2 (zkSync, StarkNet, Polygon zkEVM): main direction of Ethereum scaling
- Privacy: growing importance after regulations
- Enterprise: companies looking for private transaction solutions
High barrier = advantage
- Math scares most devs away
- Those who break through have less competition
- No structured Halo2 training with 1:1 mentoring exists (as far as I know)
You already know the language
- Major ZK proving systems are written in Rust (halo2, arkworks, RISC Zero)
- Rust dev → ZK is SHORTER path than Solidity → ZK
- No new language to learn
How do I know this can be learned?
Training experience
- chaindev.pl (blockchain training), 27 participants
- Structured format + homework = works
- Participants went from zero to understanding ECDSA and smart contracts
- ZK SNARKs onboarding: onboarded developers to ZK SNARKs, explaining how zero-knowledge proofs work from scratch so they could write production code
Open source contributions
- Ethereum Yellow Paper, contributor to the formal specification
- Mantis, Scala-based Ethereum Classic client, helped build from scratch
- plutus-halo2-verifier-gen, ZK proof verification on Cardano
Speaking
- UPLC 2025, “ZK snarks on Cardano”
- Guest on podcasts (Developer Wannabe and others)
See how I teach
Highlights from a live session with Rust developers: building a ZK circuit from scratch in halo2, from execution trace to working proof.
What developers say
“The training is perfectly structured, and Adam’s knowledge and teaching skills make it the best source of blockchain technology information I’ve found.”Arek
“Your passion inspired me to delve deeper. I’ve started tinkering with my own projects, particularly involving smart contracts, and I’ve even managed to monetize them. The training cost has already paid for itself several times over.”Piotr
“The training is practical, and the examples make it incredibly engaging. I believe it will be money well spent.”Marek
Reviews from Adam’s blockchain & cryptography training (chaindev.pl, 27 participants). zkSnarks from Zero is a new program, reviews coming soon.
“But will this work for ME?”
I don’t teach you to be a mathematician. I teach you to be a developer who understands as much math as needed. I use analogies: if you understand how hashing works, you’ll understand ZK basics. If you get generics and traits, you’ll get algebraic structures.
Course is built for people working full-time. 1:1 session + homework per week. Fits into 1-2h daily.
Because you learned from tutorials written by AI or not updated for years. My materials are tested with code that runs TODAY.
Yes, and you’ve seen the docs: example that doesn’t show how to build real world use case. Course gives you working examples beyond basics + explanation of WHY.
This course IS for you if:
- You’re a Mid/Senior Rust dev looking for specialization
- You can dedicate ~6-8h weekly for 8 weeks
- You want a working ZK project for your portfolio
- You’ve been reading ZK papers but can’t bridge the gap to code
- You want to move beyond generic backend work into a specialized niche
- You’ve tried halo2 docs and got stuck
This course is NOT for you if:
- You’re looking for “quick path to cash”
- You don’t know Rust basics
- You expect to be an expert after 8 weeks
- You want to learn Solidity (this is about proof systems, not smart contracts)
- You need hand-holding for basic Rust concepts (ownership, traits, generics)
8 weeks of halo2 for Rust devs. From practitioner.
What you get: zkSnarks from Zero
Finite Fields + Polynomials
Introduction to how equations work in halo2 and which properties are used for proving.
After this: you read ZK papers without getting lost in the math.
Roots of Unity + FFT/NTT
How it works, where it is used in halo2, and which parts of the API depend on it.
After this: you understand why proving takes time and how to control it.
Execution Trace + Constraints
Translate program logic into execution trace, halo2 trace API, first complete halo2 circuit.
After this: you debug constraints and understand errors MockProver throws.
Circuit Trait + Chips
Practical examples how to use Circuit trait and how to build reusable chips.
After this: your code looks like production halo2 — reusable chips, not monolithic circuits.
KZG Commitment + Trusted Setup
How polynomial commitments work. KZG vs IPA. How to use existing setups. What is Fiat-Shamir and why it is there.
After this: you run the full production pipeline — setup, prove, verify.
Proof + Verification + What Can Go Wrong
How to use halo2 extension libraries and common mistakes when building circuits.
After this: you catch soundness bugs that AI generated tests miss.
Capstone: Design + Build
Design your ZK circuit. Individual feedback on architecture. Start implementation.
After this: you have a circuit design with individual feedback.
Capstone: Review + Ship
Live code review of participant projects. How to use capstone project.
After this: portfolio project on GitHub you can show and explain.
Hands-on exercises every week. Each week comes with coding assignments at multiple difficulty levels: Easy, Medium, Hard, and Advanced. Pick your challenge. All exercises compile and run with cargo test.
Learning path (first principles):
Working portfolio project, something concrete to show
Understanding of fundamentals: you know how ZK actually works
Solid foundation: you know what you don’t know and how to learn more
Community: Discord access (12 months)
What the course contains
Core product
- 8× 1:1 sessions with me (weekly): schedule within 6 months
- Written code review of your capstone project (including circuit constraints)
- Recordings of all sessions (12 months access)
- Working project on GitHub, proof you can build something
- Priority Q&A in Discord community (12 months)
Bonuses included
Why learn from me?
Who I am: Adam, blockchain developer since 2016
- In blockchain since 2016, Ethereum Yellow Paper contributor, Mantis client
- In zkSnarks since 2022: halo2, KZG, Substrate
- Onboarded developers to ZK SNARKs: explained how ZK works from scratch so they could write production code
- Master’s in Computer Science (Warsaw University of Technology, thesis on cryptography)
- 3D visualizations: I make abstract ZK concepts visual and understandable
What makes me different
I explain cryptography through programming analogies, not formulas
3b1b animations showing how polynomials, commitments, and proofs actually work
I explain until you get it
I catch what AI misses
In January 2026 I tested the latest AI on a basic range check circuit. Code compiled. Tests passed. The constraint was mathematically broken: the secret number cancelled out of the equation, so the proof proved nothing. Even after I showed the AI the exact bug, its fix had the same flaw. That’s the difference between generating code and understanding what the code does.
What I’m NOT:
- Not a “guru” making promises I can’t back up
- Not a marketer selling courses about things I don’t understand
I’m a practitioner who wants to share what I know.
How does it compare?
- 8 weeks of structured learning (vs months wandering through tutorials)
- Working project for portfolio (vs “I know ZK” with no proof)
- Access to practitioner who answers questions (vs Stack Overflow)
- Clear path forward (vs “what now?”)
How does it compare?
| Course | Price | 1:1 Access | Language | Format |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RareSkills Standard | $2,600 (~€2,241) | None | Python/Circom | Cohort, US timezone |
| RareSkills Premium | $3,900 (~€3,362) | 11 sessions + code review | Python/Circom | Cohort, US timezone |
| zkSnarks from Zero | €1,999 | 8 sessions + code review | Rust/Halo2 | 1:1, EU timezone |
RareSkills is the most established ZK program. At €1,999 you get 1:1 sessions and code review — more than their Standard ($2,600) at a lower price. Key differences:
- Rust/halo2, not Python/Circom
- EU timezone (18:00 CET), not US
- halo2 focus — they don’t cover it
Honestly:
I don’t promise you’ll get a ZK job after this course. That depends on you, the market, and how much work you put in after.
I promise you’ll have solid fundamentals and a working project, which is what most people trying to “get into ZK” are missing.
What does the course look like?
Week 1-2: Foundations
Finite fields, polynomials, roots of unity, FFT/NTT. How equations work in halo2.
After this: you read ZK papers without getting lostWeek 3-4: Circuits
Execution trace, constraints, Circuit trait, reusable chips. Your first complete halo2 circuit.
After this: you debug constraints and build reusable chipsWeek 5-6: Proofs
KZG commitments, Fiat-Shamir, proof generation and verification. Common mistakes to avoid.
After this: you run the full production pipeline end to endWeek 7-8: Capstone
Design and build your own ZK circuit. Code review. Ship to GitHub.
After this: portfolio project you can show and explainAfter 8 weeks
You will:
- Have a working ZK circuit on your GitHub (not a toy example)
- Understand what happens between witness and proof
- Be able to read halo2 source code and know what’s going on
- Be able to answer “how does KZG commitment work?” in an interview
You still won’t:
- Be a ZK expert (that takes years of practice)
- Know everything about every ZK system
- Have a guaranteed job offer
Frequently Asked Questions
1:1 session + 4-6h homework. Total ~6-8h/week.
No. I teach “as much as needed” through analogies. If you understand Rust basics, you’ll manage.
14-day full refund, no conditions. If it’s not for you, you get your money back. I can offer this because people who do the work don’t leave.
No. You’ll have solid fundamentals and working project. Expertise comes from years of practice.
Halo2 teaches circuits at low-level, best for understanding.
Yes, 12 months access to all recordings.
Rust toolchain and a code editor.
Yes, full repo access. All examples, homework assignments, and the final project template.
Weekly 1:1 session with me (8 sessions total). Then homework you do at your own pace (4-6h). Priority Q&A on Discord whenever you’re stuck. Schedule within 6 months. Recordings available.
Each week has coding exercises at multiple difficulty levels: Easy, Medium, Hard, and Advanced. Pick the level that matches your time and ambition. All exercises are in a private GitHub repo, compile with cargo test, and come with automated tests that verify your solution. Expect 4-6 hours per week.
Recording available within 24h. Priority Q&A on Discord.
zkSecurity is great documentation. This is structured 1:1 mentoring with live sessions, code review, and accountability. Structured formats with live sessions and homework have significantly higher completion rates than self-paced alternatives.
Yes! €1,999 fits within most EU L&D approval limits. I provide proper invoices with VAT. For team purchases, email me at adam@rustarians.com for a custom quote.
Yes it is, zkVMs are using halo2 as part of their stack, and halo2 itself is a mature project with many security audits.
Yes. ZK proofs are used in identity verification, private voting, supply chain, and compliance. The math and engineering skills transfer. This course focuses on the proving system itself, not on a specific blockchain.
14-Day Full Refund
No conditions. No questions asked.
Attend sessions, do the exercises
If it’s not for you within 14 days: full refund, you keep what you learned
I can offer this because people who actually do the work don’t leave
Pricing
- 8 weeks live sessions (2h/week)
- 8× 1:1 sessions with me (weekly)
- Written code review of your capstone project
- 12 months recording access
- Priority Q&A in Discord (12 months)
RareSkills charges ~€3,362 for mentoring access. Here you get 1:1 sessions and code review at €1,999. Founder’s pricing, limited spots.
Apply NowFill a short form. We’ll follow up within 24 hours.
Your company can pay for this
€1,999 fits within most EU L&D approval limits. I provide proper invoices with VAT.
Copy, customize, send. Takes 2 minutes.
Need a custom quote for your team? Email me
Limited spots
This is 1:1 mentoring with live sessions and personal code review. To keep that quality, I take on a limited number of participants at a time.
Why join now?
- 1:1 format = full attention from me
- Sooner you start = sooner you have fundamentals to build on
Ready to start?
“I want to be the developer who understands how a proving system actually works. Not just ‘use this library’, but ‘here’s how it works, here’s what we can improve’. ZK Engineer, not ZK User.”
8 weeks. Working project. Clear path forward.
Apply Now: €1,999Questions? Write: adam@rustarians.com
P.S.
If you made it to the end, you’re seriously thinking about ZK.
This isn’t a course that makes you an expert in 8 weeks. This is a course that gives you fundamentals, a working project, and a community to grow with.
You’ll know HOW and WHERE to continue. And you’ll have someone to write to when you get stuck.
See you in the course.
Adam