Cardano-Powered RWA Traceability for Sustainable Lithium Production in Argentina’s $5.6B Industry

[GENERAL] Name and surname of main applicant

zenGate Global Ltd

[GENERAL] Are you delivering this project as an individual or as an entity (whether formally incorporated or not)

Entity (Incorporated)

[GENERAL] Co-proposers and additional applicants

Sol Litio

Mercosur Chamber of Commerce

Latin America Lithium Chamber (Calbamerica)

LITHIUM ARGENTINA INVESTMENTS S.A.

Argentinian Local Partners - Facundo Ramirez

Samuel Lambert (zenGate Global)

Theodore Morisis (zenGate Global)

[GENERAL] Please specify how many months you expect your project to last (from 2-12 months)

9

[GENERAL] Please indicate if your proposal has been auto-translated into English from another language

No

[GENERAL] Summarize your solution to the problem (200-character limit including spaces)

Onboarding leading Argentine Lithium Provinces & projects to implement traceability on Cardano; ensuring ESG-compliant sourcing via RWA tokenization, provenance & verifiable credentials.

[GENERAL] Does your project have any dependencies on other organizations, technical or otherwise?

Yes

[GENERAL] If YES, please describe what the dependency is and why you believe it is essential for your project’s delivery. If NO, please write “No dependencies.”

Alignment with existing Lithium projects and government support. We are already making inroads however, getting this aligned will ensure the project stays ahead of schedule. Several MOUs have already been signed to ensure alignment ahead of the proposal submission. Additionally, working with a respected company in the field of lithium mining that is looking to engage in sustainable lithium refining practices will help us accelerate the process of creating long-term viable solutions for lithium refinement sustainability.

[GENERAL] Will your project’s output/s be fully open source?

Yes

[GENERAL] Please provide here more information on the open source status of your project outputs

The on-chain and back-end components of this project will be made open source. The Winter Protocol is already open-source and additions that are made in this project will continue to remain open source.

Further, the blue prints around onboarding provincial governments and projects, reports and insights will all be made available to the public as well.

[METADATA] Horizons

Supply Chain

[SOLUTION] Please describe your proposed solution

The Problem Statement

Lithium is essential for clean energy technologies, particularly for electric vehicles (EVs), a sector projected to reach $1.3 trillion by 2028. Argentina, one of the world’s largest lithium producers; with significant reserves in Catamarca, Salta and Jujuy and is uniquely positioned to meet this growing demand as it holds over half of the world’s lithium reserves. Argentina’s Lithium Exports are projected to reach over $5.5 billion annually by 2025. 

However, the lack of transparency in the lithium supply chain raises significant concerns regarding responsible sourcing and ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) compliance. Without traceability, the sector risks limiting export opportunities and access to financing, as global investors increasingly prioritize sustainable and ethically sourced materials. It is estimated that over 50% of the entire Argentinian lithium industry is affected by these changing demands from consumers and investors. 

To meet international benchmarks such as the EU Battery Regulation, which comes into effect in 2025, and global sustainability frameworks like the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), Argentina's lithium industry must address issues surrounding environmental impacts and social governance. The GRI standards emphasize environmental stewardship (e.g., water use, emissions), social performance (e.g., labor practices, community relations), and governance (e.g., anti-corruption measures). These frameworks help ensure that lithium sourcing is sustainable, ethical, and transparent, building trust in global markets.

Our Solution:

We aim to address these challenges by implementing Palmyra Pro, an enterprise traceability solution across several target regions. This will be pioneered in collaboration with a leading Argentine lithium company (Sol Litio) and industry experts from the Mercosur Chamber of Commerce & Latin America Lithium Chamber (Calbamerica), to ensure compliance with ESG standards, enhance transparency and leverage tokenization technologies on over 56000 hectares of lithium rich land being primed for lithium sourcing, extraction and refinement of no less than 1000 tons of battery grade lithium annually with a potential value of USD $280 million.

Key Components of the Solution:

1. RWA Tokenization and Traceability: Palmyra Pro enables real-world asset (RWA) tokenization as well as the ability to trace lithium from extraction to export. This blockchain-based solution ensures transparency throughout the supply chain, issuance of on-chain provenance and assets, providing verifiable data on each batch, and offering greater visibility to regulators, international buyers and financiers.
2. IoT Devices for Real-Time Monitoring:We will leverage IoT devices to monitor key environmental metrics where required, such as water usage and emissions in real time. This data will enable continuous monitoring of mining activities, ensuring transparency and helping companies optimize operations while minimizing environmental impacts.
3. Digital Credentials for Verification: Palmyra Pro will issue cryptographic digital credentials at critical stages of the supply chain, certifying that lithium is sourced responsibly and signed off by the relevant stakeholders. These credentials will provide stakeholders with a reliable way to verify the provenance and integrity of the lithium they purchase, ensuring ethical sourcing.
4. Focus on ESG Compliance: Our solution will align itself to the upcoming EU Battery Regulation and GRI standards, which are global benchmarks for reporting on sustainability and responsible business practices. By integrating these standards, we ensure that Argentina’s lithium industry meets the growing demand for ethical sourcing, unlocking access to export markets and financing.
5. Creating the Blueprint for the LATAM Roll-out Plan with The Mercosur Chamber of Commerce & Latin America Lithium Chamber (Calbamerica): The two Chambers will support the design of a broader blueprint to roll-out the solution across additional lithium projects, as well as facilitate partnerships, training, and compliance support for a sustainable LATAM mining ecosystem.

Our project’s mission around sustainability and transparency is very much aligned with the work that Cardano has done to date. We believe it would be a great addition to empower businesses in the region and further demonstrate real-world use cases on Cardano. 

Our Partners:

Sol Litio: a leading player in the Argentina Lithium mining sector; expertise on the acquisition and extraction of Lithium. The business is well-known for their strong vision to drive sustainable and clean energy solutions.

Latin America Lithium Chamber (Calbamerica): Calbamerica is a leading organization committed to sustainable development of the lithium industry in Latin America. Through the promotion of the lithium industry, they seek to generate employment, boost the regional economy and contribute to the transition towards a cleaner and more efficient energy. They believe in a future where energy is accessible to all and where the environment is protected. This Chamber is founded by Pablo Rutigliano who is the Co-Founder of Atomico3 (a lithium reserved backed token). 

The Mercosur Chamber of Commerce: The Mercosur Chamber of Commerce is a private organization that facilitates trade and investment between Mercosur member countries and international markets. Through its services, such as international trade consulting, exporters' clubs and the development of commercial networks, the Chamber connects companies and governments to promote regional economic development by representing the interests of the private sector.

LITHIUM ARGENTINA INVESTMENTS S.A.

A private lithium refinement and production company, holding 56,317 hectares of lithium mines in the Salar de Antofalla, Catamarca Province, Argentina. These sites have secured environmental impact and exploration authorizations and are included in the NI 43-101 certification as per Toronto Stock Exchange regulations.

[IMPACT] Please define the positive impact your project will have on the wider Cardano community

We believe that there is still quite a large opportunity for real-world impact and compliance solutions on Cardano. Whilst there are a number of projects already building solutions on Real-World Asset Tokenization, we believe that there is a need to accelerate these efforts to broaden the impact and accessibility the Cardano ecosystem has to offer. 

Impact 1: Accelerating RWA Tokenization Adoption & On-Chain Cardano Transactions:

While several Cardano-based projects are focused on RWA tokenization, there is a growing need to accelerate these efforts and increase their scope. Our project demonstrates the tangible application of RWA tokenization in the high-demand lithium sector, ensuring compliance and transparency across supply chains and will bring transactions onto the Cardano blockchain. This will serve as a real-world use case for tokenizing physical assets as well as tokenizing provenance, offering the Cardano community a showcase of how blockchain can solve global challenges in sustainability and resource management.

Impact 2: Demonstrating Cardano for Compliance and Sustainability:

Our use of Palmyra Pro to track and verify lithium sourcing in compliance with international ESG standards provides a powerful demonstration of Cardano's capabilities in supporting compliance and sustainability initiatives. This project highlights Cardano’s ability to manage complex global challenges such as transparency in mining, environmental protection, and ethical sourcing through its blockchain infrastructure. By aligning with key global regulations like the EU Battery Regulation and GRI standards, we will show how Cardano can be leveraged for compliance-driven projects, strengthening its reputation as a platform for responsible and ethical business practices.

Impact 3: Strengthening Local Partnerships in Argentina and LATAM:

This project provides an opportunity to build on and strengthen local partnerships in Argentina and the wider LATAM region. By working with leading Argentinian lithium companies, we aim to grow Cardano’s presence in a key growth area for sustainable commodities. The project will lay the groundwork for future collaborations, helping to foster deeper connections with local community members and talent in the region. By engaging with local industries and regulators, the Cardano ecosystem can expand its reach and influence, attracting more projects and contributors from LATAM. This growth will not only enhance Cardano’s visibility but also ensure its blockchain solutions are applied to pressing real-world problems, particularly in regions rich in natural resources.

[CAPABILITY & FEASIBILITY] What is your capability to deliver your project with high levels of trust and accountability? How do you intend to validate if your approach is feasible?

Capability:

Team and subject matter expertise: We believe our core team is uniquely positioned as global subject matter experts in RWA tokenization and traceability solutions; having conducted several traceability pilots across the gold and soft-commodities industry already.  Further there are subject matter experts in the Lithium Industry from the LATAM region from leading private sector firms and Chambers of Commerce. 

Below you can find information about the team and our past experiences which are critical for the successful delivery of the proposal. 

Core zenGate Team

• Daniel Friedman (CEO of zenGate Global): Daniel is known for being an early team member of IOG and participated to launch Cardano. As the former Business Develop Manager for IOG, he has spent a number of years developing relationships, entering new jurisdictions and deploying national-level solutions. He is a reputable voice in the Cardano community.

• Sam Lambert (COO of zenGate Global): Sam has extensive management consulting experience, working with executives from some of the largest global institutions from banks, insurance and telecommunication companies. His ability to run projects through to implementation are critical for this project.

• Luca D’Angelo (Lead Blockchain Engineer): Luca is the Co-lead developer of the Winter Protocol. Deep expertise in smart contract development including prior roles as the Founder / Lead Developer of GuapSwap, Founder of Lilium, Ergo Script Developer for ErgoPad (leading launchpad platform), Phoenix Finance, Blitz TCG, and EXLE. Background in Computer Science and Physics from McGill University.

• Shishir Pai (Blockchain Developer): Co-lead developer of the Winter Protocol and has spear-headed the build on the Cardano side. He also has experience building on the Alephium, Eth and other EVM blockchains. Experienced back-end and smart contract developer with roles such as the Founder of Lilium and ErgoSapiens, and development support for Phoenix Finance and ErgoNames (decentralized DNS platform).

• Jonathan Wynne (Senior Full-Stack Engineer): Jonathan has over 20 years of experience in technology working with leading financial institutions, fintechs, and Web3 companies. Some notable companies include Nomad (YC S21), Credit Suisse and Barclays. 

• Davis Kemlers (Full-Stack Engineer): Davis previously worked as one of the first full-stack developers at IOG (Japan). After his tenure at IOG, he worked at a leading development agency (Fenrir Inc), where he built systems for enterprise clients in Japanese across the manufacturing, B2C, shipbuilding and gaming industries. His expertise is working closely with enterprises with some of his applications used by millions.

• The core team is supported by the zenGate team of 10+ who are experts across working with regulators, public policy, development institutions and finance.

Local Partners and Domain Experts 

• Federico Vernocchi (CEO of Sol Litio): Federico is the CEO of Sol Litio, a leading player in the Argentina Lithium mining sector. He has worked extensively on the acquisition and extraction of Lithium; with his business having a strong vision to drive sustainable and clean energy solutions. Federico is also a well-respected professional and key opinion leader in the field of metallurgy.

• Pablo Rutigliano (Founder of Latin America Lithium Chamber and Atomico3): Pablo has 20+ years working in the capital markets space and is also behind the Atomico3 protocol; the first reserve backed lithium token. He is a local expert on Lithium commercialization, financing and supporting regional and local community initiatives. 

• Facundo Ramirez (Implementation and Local Lead) Facundo has +6 years in the blockchain industry with a wide range of institutional and corporate partners that he has advised on digitization. The advisory experience allows the onboarding of new clients in a smooth and efficient way as well as the implementation in regulatory entities.

• Gaston Zanazzo (Argentina CEO of The Mercosur Chamber of Commerce) is a government relations expert with an outstanding track record in facilitating interaction between the public and private sectors. This experience is central to his role at the Mercosur Chamber of Commerce, where he is dedicated to facilitating trade and investment between member countries, working closely with the region's governments guidelines.

• Lamon Rutten (zenGate Global Advisor): Over four decades of experience in the commodities trade sector. Key roles include Former UN Chief of Commodities, CEO of the Indian Multi Commodities Exchange, and CEO of the Indonesian Commodity & Derivatives Exchange. Expertise in applying technology to enterprise businesses and large-scale markets.

Feasibility:

• Sol Litio and zenGate Global have already signed an MOU to collaborate with each other on several initiatives over the past few months.

• The team will be collaborating with local partners and experts such as Facundo Ramirez and Federico Vernocchi on the ground in Argentina to ensure smooth navigation from an implementation point of view.

• zenGate Global and The Mercosur Chamber of Commerce have also signed a strategic MOU to collaborate on initiatives surrounding tokenization and traceability. 

• zenGate and Lithium Argentina Investments S. A. Have also signed an MOU to collaborate on new sustainable methods of lithium extraction refinement like hydrocalivation coupled with utilization of IOT devices and Palmyra's Provenance tokenization solution.

• zenGate Global have already successfully completed several Catalyst Proposals and have demonstrated the ability to safely manage funds and deliver.

• The zenGate team have conducted several pilots in the traceability and sustainability space and already have experience deploying these solutions.

• We intend to validate the approach through the successful integration of Palmyra Pro into Sol Litio’s pilot project, Lithium Argentina Investments S. A. initiative & other target provinces selected in the planning milestone. This data will be on-chain and viewable through a custom dashboard for importers and regulators.

[PROJECT MILESTONES] What are the key milestones you need to achieve in order to complete your project successfully?

Milestone 1: Requirements Gathering & Project Scope Deep Dive

A. Milestone Outputs

• Detailed project scope document, including ESG compliance requirements and existing system compatibility.
• Alignment with all key stakeholders, to create an action plan tailored to the Argentine Lithium Sector.
• Partners to provide a short-list of businesses in key Argentinian provinces for initial deployment and testing. 
• Booking and scheduling of future onsite visits and stakeholder meetings for project implementation (including visits for Milestone 2 and Testing / Deployment milestones - this will include costs associated with international and domestic flights, hotels, workshop venues, food and other on-ground transport.).

B. Acceptance Criteria

• Completion of stakeholder meetings and workshops to gather technical and business requirements.
• Documented ESG compliance requirements and analysis of how they fit into the traceability solution.
• Confirmation of travel arrangements and scheduling for site visits.

C. Evidence of Milestone Completion

• Signed-off project scope document.
• List of pilot projects selected, along with a stakeholder alignment report.
• Confirmation of booked travel and onsite visit schedules for deployment and testing phases.

Milestone 2: Supply-Chain and Procurement Process Mapping

A. Milestone Outputs

• 3-4 workshops conducted with key stakeholders to identify business, compliance, data, production, and IoT requirements.
• Complete mapping of process flows for materials purchasing, production, and quality control integration.

B. Acceptance Criteria

• Workshops conducted and documented, with clear alignment on key metrics and traceability specifications.
• Comprehensive process flow mapping, validated by stakeholders & industry experts.

C. Evidence of Milestone Completion

• Workshop minutes and deliverables documented and signed by stakeholders.
• Finalized process flow diagrams approved by the project team and stakeholders.
• Outlined solution required for RWA Traceability to support tracking of sustainable production and compliance. 

Milestone 3: Design of Initial UI/UX Components & Metadata Templates of On-Chain Trace Events

A. Milestone Outputs

• [UI/UX] Initial design of UI/UX for the traceability and compliance solution, tailored for user needs.
• [UI/UX] User interface wireframes and prototypes for key modules (traceability, ESG data inputs).
• [Trace]  Integration of key events (e.g., procurement, production, quality control) into the Winter Protocol (Palmyra Pro) for on-chain recording.
• [Trace] Test transactions on the testnet to verify data capture and storage on-chain.

B. Acceptance Criteria

• [UI/UX]  Completion of wireframes and initial UI/UX designs, covering essential user journeys.
• [UI/UX] Stakeholder review and sign-off on design components.
• [Trace] Events successfully recorded on-chain using Winter Protocol.
• [Trace] Verification of correct data flow from IoT devices and existing systems into the blockchain.

C. Evidence of Milestone Completion

• [UI/UX]  Approved wireframes and UI/UX mockups.
• [UI/UX]  Documentation of stakeholder feedback and design iterations.
• [Trace] Open-sourced code for the event integration into Winter Protocol.
• [Trace] Record of test transactions and on-chain data visible on the testnet.

Milestone 4: End-to-End Solution Development for Palmyra Pro Lithium 

A. Milestone Outputs

• Development of the digital credentials component, allowing for the verification and attestation of data from key ESG checkpoints.
• IoT Integration; if required, coordinate with existing IoT devices or deploy new devices to capture real-time data reporting for operational activities; ensuring adherence to sustainability standards. 
• RWA Traceability & Provenance: Develop custom interfaces and dashboards to track supply chain data (of the lithium’s journey from extraction onward), sustainability metrics and other data-points captured along the supply-chain. 

B. Acceptance Criteria

• The digital credentials system is operational within Palmyra Pro.
• IoT Integration: Successful testing and validation from IoT devices and other data sources (if required). 
• Custom interface developed and deployed for stakeholders to log-into to view supply-chain data. 

C. Evidence of Milestone Completion

• Issued digital credentials for test batches of lithium.
• Examples on test-net of IoT data flowing through and leveraged on-chain where required. 
• Screenshots of the Lithium interface that stakeholders will log-in via the Palmyra Pro Portal.

Milestone 5: Shortlisting & On-Ground Onboarding of Pilot Businesses

A. Milestone Outputs

• Identification and Finalization of the short-list of businesses in Argentina’s lithium regions ready to pilot the solution. 
• Begin on-ground onboarding of the businesses onto the new platform; integration of various on-chain modules such as traceability, digital credentials and IoT feeds in order to meet their long-term sustainability initiatives.

B. Acceptance Criteria

• List of businesses ready to onboard are selected and MOUs signed. 
• Solution is beginning to be used and integrated - this might mean initial integration into existing systems and credentials minted. 

C. Evidence of Milestone Completion

• Evidence of MOUs that the parties will begin onboarding onto the platform. 
• Test transaction and instances of the solution being utilized on-chain.

Milestone 6: Evaluation, Refinement, and Government Engagement

A. Milestone Outputs

• Gather performance data and feedback from businesses across provinces.
• Create a roadmap for how the solution will need to be refined based on insights to optimize sustainable production practices in Argentina’s lithium sector.
• Approach provincial governments with a proven solution that ensures sustainability and transparency in lithium production.
• Blueprint design for a broader roll-out plan for other Argentinian Lithium projects looking to provide greater transparency into their supply chains. 

B. Acceptance Criteria

• Conduct interviews with pilot businesses and gather feedback on initial deployments and solutions. 
• Drafted roadmap for improvements required based on pilot business interviews. 
• Interviews conducted with provincial governments.

C. Evidence of Milestone Completion

• Report submitted covering the outcome of the deployment and integration phase with the shortlisted businesses; from performance data, feedback and insights to further improve the solution. 
• Evidence of meetings conducted with pilot businesses.
• Evidence of meetings conducted with provincial government bodies. 
• Blueprint report submitted and made publicly available - co-written with the partners on this proposal. 

[RESOURCES] Who is in the project team and what are their roles?

Below are the main individuals working on the proposal (from zenGate Global and our partners). On top of this core team, the zenGate Global team is supported by 10+ other experts across working with regulators, public policy, development institutions and finance.  More information about the team’s past experience is listed above. 

• Daniel Friedman (Proposal Delivery Lead)

• Facundo Ramirez (Implementation and Local Lead):

• Sam Lambert (Development Project Lead).

• Federico Vernocchi (CEO of Sol Litio & Local Partner Lead): Local Lead for Palmyra Pro Implementation on the Mining and Extraction side.

• Pablo Rutigliano (Subject Matter Expert); support on ecosystem mapping, data collection prioritization, tokenization compliance and strategies.

• Gaston Zanazzo (Subject Matter Expert - Ecosystem Mapping & Implementation)

• Lamon Rutten (Commodities Trade Subject Matter Expert - zenGate Board Advisor)

• Luca D’Angelo (Lead Blockchain Developer)

• Shishir Pai (Blockchain Developer)

• Jonathan Wynne (Senior Full-Stack Engineer)

• Davis Kemlers (Full-Stack Engineer)

[BUDGET & COSTS] Please provide a cost breakdown of the proposed work and resources

Milestone 1: Requirements Gathering & Project Scope Deep Dive

Milestone Outputs: Total 140,000 ADA 

• 20,000 ADA: Completion of the detailed project scope document, including ESG compliance requirements and existing system compatibility. To be completed by the Project Lead and Project Manager. 
• 20,000 ADA:Alignment with all key stakeholders, to create an action plan tailored to the Argentine Lithium Sector. Report to be completed by the Project Lead. 
• No Costs: Partners to provide a short-list of businesses in key Argentinian provinces for initial deployment and testing. 
• 100,000 ADA: Booking and scheduling of future onsite visits and stakeholder meetings for project implementation (including 2 visits for 3 core team members from outside of Argentina - this will include costs associated with international and domestic flights, hotels, workshop venues, food and other on-ground transport.). This also includes an extended visit during the implementation phase as well for 1 project manager.  The costs here have been grouped all together to ensure flights, other costs can be locked in ahead of the implementation phases.

Milestone 2: Supply-Chain and Procurement Process Mapping

A. Milestone Outputs: Total - 80,000 ADA

• 20,000 ADA: 3-4 workshops conducted with key stakeholders to identify business, compliance, data, production, and IoT requirements.
• 60,000 ADA: Deep dives into the mapping of lithium supply chain process flows for materials purchasing, production, and quality control integration. This includes having a clear understanding of which data points, metrics and steps need to be captured. As these are extremely complex supply chains, this will require support from supply chain, industry and compliance experts to align with requirements.

Milestone 3: Design of Initial UI/UX Components & Metadata Templates of On-Chain Trace Events

A. Milestone Outputs: Total: 120,000 ADA

• 20,000 ADA: [UI/UX] Initial design of UI/UX for the traceability and compliance solution, tailored for user needs.
• 20,000 ADA: [UI/UX] User interface wireframes and prototypes for key modules (traceability, ESG data inputs).
• 80,000 ADA:  [Trace]  Integration of key events (e.g., procurement, production, quality control) into the Winter Protocol (Palmyra Pro) for on-chain recording.

Milestone 4: End-to-End Solution Development for Palmyra Pro Lithium 

A. Milestone Outputs: Total 330,000 ADA

• 60,000 ADA: Development and integration of the digital credentials component, allowing for the verification and attestation of data from key ESG checkpoints.
• 150,000 ADA: IoT Integration; if required, coordinate with existing IoT devices or deploy new devices to capture real-time data reporting for operational activities; ensuring adherence to sustainability standards. 
• 120,000 ADA: RWA Traceability & Provenance: Develop custom interfaces and dashboards to track supply chain data (of the lithium’s journey from extraction onward), sustainability metrics and other data-points captured along the supply-chain. 

Milestone 5a: Shortlisting & On-Ground Onboarding of Pilot Businesses

A. Milestone Outputs: Total: 200,000 ADA

• 5,000 ADA: Identification and Finalization of the short-list of businesses in Argentina’s lithium regions ready to pilot the solution. Minimal cost to short list other than the coordination with experts’ time on which makes the most sense to begin with.

• 195,000 ADA: Begin on-ground onboarding of the businesses onto the new platform; integration of various on-chain modules such as traceability, digital credentials and IoT feeds in order to meet their long-term sustainability initiatives.  The costs here can be broken down into several factors including:

• Part 1 - 95,000 ADA: Integration into existing software systems such as SAP, ERP or other solutions used by the pilot businesses.  This will be costs associated with developers integrating and project leads gathering data from the 3rd party systems providers.

• Part 2 - 100,000 ADA: Costs associated with on-ground onboarding activities from paying for project leads, running workshops, initial onboarding the businesses onto the platform’s site, and costs to visit the sites. 

Milestone 5b: Pilot Businesses Testing and Iterations

B. Milestone Outputs: Total: 210,000 ADA

• Iterating and testing of the platform on the ground with staff working side-by-side with pilot businesses. There will be a constant feedback loop for developers to make changes and ensure that the platform is upgraded in an agile way throughout the pilot. This accounts for the developers and project managers time over the period of several months. 
• 70,000 ADA: Month 1 of refining: Staff includes 2x Full Stack Engineers, 2x Smart contract  engineers and 1x Project Manager
• 70,000 ADA: Month 2 of refining: Staff includes 2x Full Stack Engineers, 2x Smart contract  engineers and 1x Project Manager
• 70,000 ADA: Month 3 of refining: Staff includes 2x Full Stack Engineers, 2x Smart contract  engineers and 1x Project Manager

Milestone 6: Evaluation, Refinement, and Government Engagement

A. Milestone Outputs: Total 120,000 ADA

• 15,000 ADA: Gather performance data and feedback from businesses across provinces. This will require running several interviews with the pilot users. 
• 15,000 ADA: Create a roadmap for how the solution will need to be refined based on insights to optimize sustainable production practices in Argentina’s lithium sector.
• 30,000 ADA: Approach provincial governments with a proven solution that ensures sustainability and transparency in lithium production.
• 60,000 ADA: Blueprint design for a broader roll-out plan for other Argentinian Lithium projects looking to provide greater transparency into their supply chains.

[VALUE FOR MONEY] How does the cost of the project represent value for money for the Cardano ecosystem?

The Cardano Ecosystem has excelled in building innovative tools and applications for crypto-native users. We believe that the next evolution of the ecosystem requires greater accessibility and use-cases for non-crypto-native businesses. Our goal is to provide these solutions and work hand-in-hand with these businesses. 

Delivering real-world-use-cases to those that need it the most brings enormous value for the ecosystem as well as increase in transactions on-chain.  This is something that this proposal addresses, and these businesses will have tangible benefits as a result of the Cardano ecosystem’s community, funding and tooling