Grassroots marketing initiative to build Zcash awareness and drive adoption through strategic attendance at major cryptocurrency conferences, hosting educational workshops, and creating meaningful touch points with developers, privacy advocates, and potential users across the global crypto community.
Note: This is one event request from a planned series, scaled down to 3 team members and costs updated to reflect current prices. Full marketing proposal (rejected with feedback): Grant Application - Marketing + Workshops at Global Conferences - #11 by ZCG
**Given the event’s timing in 3.5weeks, I request expedited committee decision to avoid this being a retroactive grant application.**
Project Description
This project extends our proven grassroots marketing approach from DevConnect Buenos Aires (34 new Zcash users, 175+ conversations, 145+ new contacts) to a strategic series of major cryptocurrency conferences throughout 2026. Our team will:
- Attend and actively engage in
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ETHBoulder (February 13 – 15, 2026)
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ETHDenver (February 17 – 21, 2026)
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Attend at least 2 side events per day to spread engagement across the ecosystem.
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Build strategic partnerships with privacy-focused organizations like Web3Privacy Now, Women in Web3, and ZK AV Club.
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Create content documenting outreach efforts through social media, recordings, and case studies.
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Develop lasting relationships with developers, influencers, and community leaders.
The initiative focuses on creating multiple touch points with potential users, recognizing that people often need 3+ exposures to new technology before commitment. Each conference provides opportunities for both broad awareness building and deep technical engagement with developers and privacy advocates.
Proposed Problem
Despite Zcash’s technical superiority in privacy-preserving cryptocurrency, awareness remains limited outside core crypto circles. Specific challenges include:
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Limited Brand Awareness: Many crypto enthusiasts, developers, and potential users have never heard of Zcash or misunderstand its capabilities as ‘just another privacy coin.’
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Missed Conference Opportunities: Major crypto conferences represent concentrated opportunities to reach thousands of engaged participants, but Zcash presence has historically been limited.
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Fragmented Touch Points: Users need multiple exposures to new technology before adoption, but current outreach lacks systematic follow-through and sustained engagement.
At a Milady side event in Buenos Aires, one meme t-shirt sporting tech bro stopped me and said, “Zcash? Oh good, I’ve been looking for someone to ask. I know about Monero’s rings but how’s Zcash different?” This exemplifies the awareness gap we aim to address.
Proposed Solution
Deploy a dedicated grassroots marketing team to systematically attend major cryptocurrency conferences throughout 2026, creating structured touch points and educational opportunities:
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Conference Presence: Active participation at 2+ major events with prepared materials, demonstration devices, and engagement strategies.
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Strategic Partnerships: Build ongoing relationships with privacy-focused organizations and influential developers.
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Content Creation: Document activities through social media by welcoming new users and sharing their unified addresses, creating shareable content about Zcash adoption.
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Sustained Engagement: Collect contact information (145+ contacts from Buenos Aires) and maintain relationships beyond initial conference interactions.
This approach was proven successful in Buenos Aires with 34 new users and 175+ conversations. One converted user, a freedom tech advocate and speaker at the Cypherpunk Congress that coincided with DevConnect, told us: “I spoke directly with Zooko about Zcash, and I remained unwilling to install Zashi. But after speaking with you for ten minutes, I am so game to use this.”
Team Information
Project Lead
Name: @readymouse
Role: Lead Community Ambassador and Project Manager
Background: Product Manager with 10+ years experience in technical project management. Active Zcash community member and regular attendee at Boston Zcash meetups and major crypto conferences. Successfully led grassroots outreach at DevConnect Buenos Aires, onboarding 34+ new Zashi users and making 175+ individual connections.
Responsibilities: Event coordination, community outreach strategy, workshop facilitation, budget management, and partnership development.
Socials: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mylo-mbennett/, ReadyMouse (Mylo) · GitHub, https://x.com/zReadyMouse
Additional Team Members
Name: @fabacab
Role: Technical Educator and Privacy Advocate
Background: Experienced privacy technology educator. Skilled technical workshop facilitator with deep knowledge of Zcash and encrypted money concepts. Has facilitated six workshops onboarding 100+ participants from at-risk communities (sex workers, gig workers, LGBTQIA+ individuals). Made 80+ new connections during Buenos Aires outreach.
Responsibilities: Technical workshops, developer relations, privacy education, content creation, community engagement, and technical support.
Socials: @violetrollergirl.com on Bluesky, https://x.com/rollergirlVi
Name: @cos
Role: Developer Connection
Background: Contributed to other chains and coins open source projects but Zcash convert to the private world. Neuroscience background, collaborated with @readymouse have collaborated on AI and data pipeline projects.
Responsibilities: Developer relations, privacy education, content creation, and community engagement.
Socials: https://github.com/Cosmojg, Cosmo G. - Boston Fusion | LinkedIn
Budget
Compensation Costs Justification:
Cost Breakdown:
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Travel Per Person: $2,795 per person
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Flights: East Coast → Denver: $1,200 per person
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Hotel: $150 per night per two people (11 nights: $825)
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Food: $70/per day/pp ($490)
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Incidentals + Ubers: $40 per day ($280)
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ETH Denver Ticket: FREE
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Team Costs:
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$2,795 x 3 people = $8385
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Swag, Stickers, Business Cards, Info sheets: $500
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Total Estimated Costs: $8,885
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Requested Cost: $9,000
Total Budget (USD): $9,000
I’m going to start booking refundable flights and hotels to lock-in rates as a good steward of ZCG’s funding, to avoid late-notice booking price increases. Funding before the trip would be optimal, but given the time constraints, retroactive is understandable.
User Stories:
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“As a crypto enthusiast at ETHDenver, I want to learn about encrypted money from knowledgeable advocates, so I can protect my financial privacy.”
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“As a privacy-inclined crypto user, I am confused by the ECC dev team quitting news and I’d like clarify on the security and team stability of the protocol.”
Deliverables:
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Conference attendance (February 13-21, 2026) with 3 team members
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40+ new Zcash wallet downloads
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200+ documented conversations
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Daily social media documentation on @zReadyMouse Twitter
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Trip report posted to Zcash Community Forums within 1 week of event completion
Acceptance Criteria:
- Trip report includes photos, metrics (downloads, conversations), and new user testimonials
Supporting Documents
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Buenos Aires Crowdfunding: Proposal for Marketing Efforts at Global Conferences - #18 by readymouse
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Full marketing proposal (rejected with feedback): Grant Application - Marketing + Workshops at Global Conferences - #11 by ZCG
