Decentralized Public Key Infrastructure - DPKI - Project "Sefirot"

[GENERAL] Name and surname of main applicant

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

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

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

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

Project "Sefirot" enables out-of-box support of Web3. End-client just needs to install regular updates for web-browser or OS. For website owners it is even more simple.

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

[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.”

No dependencies

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

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

Apache License 2.0

[SOLUTION] Please describe your proposed solution.

Decentralized, blockchain based Internet services get more and more attention from business and government. It is the driving force of Web3 revolution – Internet decentralization. Technologies that are currently widely leveraged, should be transmitted into decentralized ecosystem to accelerate adoption of decentralized Internet services as practically accepted solutions.

Decentralized Internet – Web3 smooth transition needs classic conventional services propagation to decentralized blockchain based platforms. Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) – TLS/SSL Certificates – is a backbone of secure data transfer in Internet. It is being used by financial, legislation, government, etc. institutions. Decentralized implementation of PKI - DPKI fascinating transformation to Web3 - decentralized Internet.

Project "Sefirot" enables out-of-box support of Web3. In order to get involved in decentralized TLS/SSL certificates world, the end-client just needs to install regular updates for web-browser or OS. For website owners it is even more simple; at the same simplicity as using Letsencrypt service. Other solutions, either requires change of the whole Internet infrastructure, acceptance of big corporations, or they solve extremely narrow core-case.

In the case of "Sefirot" DPKI case, Chrome extension is sufficient to get browsers to properly trust the generated certificates. "Sefirot" stands out by its practicality and integration in the current technological stack. 

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

Public TLS/SSL Certificates are being produced by big-name corporations like Symantec, GlobalSign and they are trusted based on trusted producers – corporations delivering that service. Meantime corporations are vulnerable against interventions and data leeks. Transferring PKI to distributed highly redundant systems – is important steps towards completely decentralized Internet.

Project "Sefirot" provides exposure to another backbone of the current Internet - TLS/SSL certificates. Ethereum will expedite its presents over a technology that is involved in any communication in the Internet. It will have a positive impact on such an important subject as Ethereum monetary value. Ethereum ecosystem will get more push and power towards worldwide Decentralization.

[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?

I have team ready to start the project. I have developers and solution architect already on the project and about to implement solution un real code.

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

Developing Trusted Root, Certificate Authorities and Issuing Member as a part of Cardano ecosystem

Build a website where users can create Certificate Signing Request (CSR), request certificate signing, and save it as NFT

Create custom build (tentatively Ubuntu based) OS image with imbibed Trusted Root Authority for "Sefirot"

End user requested the certificate, deployed at its website, browse it at OS/browser with Trusted Root deployed and get same experience standard for current days

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

Myself - Project architect

Two back-end developers to work at project

One front-end to build user interface

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

Salary - Developers

1. Back-end developer -> 6 month -> USD 24000
2. Front-end developer -> 1 month -> USD 4000
3. DevOps (cloud architect, CI/CD pipelines, developer support, etc. - myself) -> 8 month part time -> USD 2000

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

Funds will be used to pay team of 3 professionals at the period of 8 month with wage below average for Canada

[IMPORTANT NOTE] The Applicant agrees to Fund Rules and also that data in the submission form and other data provided by the project team during the course of the project will be publicly available.