[ADAXON] BlueTick: Privacy-First Cardano-based Instant Messaging Solution

[GENERAL] Name and surname of main applicant

Dr. Bharath Ramesh

[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

Bala Muralidhar (Community manager):

• Role: User interactions/acquistions and user experience.
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bala1988/

Jyothi Kiran (Creative Design):

• Role: Graphic design and branding.
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jyothi-kiran-923baa184/

Our very capable team at Adaxon Pte. Ltd. and our partners at Duellix Pte Ltd for managing the entity, ensuring efficient operations and coordination.

We are honored to have Kwadwo Konadu Ansahi Antwi as our strategic advisor, providing valuable insights and guidance for the success of the BlueTick project.strategic advisor

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

8

[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)

Building on our prior work, BlueTick is a decentralized beta solution on Cardano that ensures wallet2wallet messaging confidentiality with end-to-end encryption, tamper-proof history & user anonymity.

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

No

[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?

Yes

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

For our project, BlueTick, we are committed to embracing open source principles. We plan to release the entire codebase under the GNU General Public License (GPL). This license aligns with our vision of fostering collaboration and ensuring that our solution is accessible and beneficial to the broader Cardano community. All aspects of our project, including the backend infrastructure, frontend interfaces, and encryption algorithms, will be open source, including integration with SiaCoin (which already is open-source).

[METADATA] SDG rating

Our project aligns with SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure) by introducing a privacy-first messaging solution on the Cardano blockchain, contributing to technological innovation and infrastructure development.

[SOLUTION] Please describe your proposed solution.

Introduction to ADA Connect - our BETA solution built by Adaxon for Nucast:

ADA Connect stands as a cutting-edge, wallet-based communication protocol, designed with a singular focus on enhancing the interaction experience for NFT collectors within the Cardano ecosystem. In its BETA phase, ADA Connect introduces a seamless and secure platform that empowers users to establish connections swiftly and effortlessly: https://v1.adaconnect.io/

Building on this prior work to create wallet-to-wallet messaging, the proposed solution, BlueTick, is a revolutionary blockchain-based privacy-preserving chat application that transforms communication by providing secure and confidential conversations, without requiring NFTs. Incorporating cutting-edge technologies, such as end-to-end encryption and blockchain immutability, BlueTick ensures the utmost privacy for users. Messages exchanged on the platform are encrypted from end to end, safeguarding their content from unauthorized access or eavesdropping, utilizing SiaCoin's robust decentralized storage infrastructure.

The chat solution goes beyond encryption; it implements user anonymity, allowing individuals to engage in conversations without revealing their true identities, fostering a sense of security and protecting sensitive information. The blockchain technology used ensures a tamper-proof message history, creating an immutable and transparent record of conversations. This not only enhances trust among users but also serves as a robust audit trail for compliance purposes.

In response to concerns about on-chain data storage feasibility, BlueTick enhances its design by integrating the robust storage capabilities of SiaCoin. This strategic decision brings decentralized storage, cost-effectiveness, scalability, and seamless encryption integration, creating a synergistic approach that optimizes blockchain utilization.

To fortify BlueTick's security, a comprehensive testing strategy is devised. Rigorous internal simulations emulate user interactions, ensuring potential issues are uncovered. The solution undergoes meticulous testing on Cardano's testnet, ensuring alignment with blockchain intricacies. The beta phase engages a diverse user group, incentivizing feedback on aspects like latency, concurrency, stability, scalability, and regression. Encryption strength is validated through a transparent proof of complexity and a reward-based decryption challenge, ensuring a robust and secure BlueTick solution.

To bolster marketing during beta testing, BlueTick plans incentives, a clear reward structure, community engagement, targeted social media campaigns, direct communication channels, and seamless integration of ADA rewards as the native currency. This strategy aims to attract a large user base, foster community engagement, and ensure a successful beta testing phase. BlueTick, with its secure, cost-effective, and scalable solution, positions itself as a pioneer in providing a private and reliable communication platform for global users.

Highlights:

End-to-End Encryption: BlueTick employs cutting-edge end-to-end encryption using asymmetric encryption GPG (Gnu Privacy Guard).

• This ensures that messages are secured during transmission, and only the intended recipient can decrypt and read them.

Cardano's Integration: BlueTick leverages Cardano's blockchain for transmitting messages through transactions, and the user's wallet serves as their identification ID.

• The blockchain ensures a tamper-proof message history, creating an immutable and transparent record of conversations.

Decentralized Storage with SiaCoin: BlueTick addresses concerns about on-chain data storage feasibility by integrating with SiaCoin's decentralized storage network.

• SiaCoin offers decentralized storage, ensuring data redundancy, cost-effectiveness, scalability, and end-to-end encryption integration.

User Anonymity: BlueTick allows users to engage in conversations without revealing their true identities.

• This feature enhances user privacy, fostering a secure environment for confidential discussions.

Community Engagement and Loyalty: BlueTick incentivizes user participation through ADA rewards during beta testing and collaborates with Cardano communities like LoveLace Club and Gods of Block.

• Leveraging the loyalty of users fosters collaboration with other DApps within the Cardano network, expanding the Cardano ecosystem.

Comprehensive Testing Methodology: BlueTick follows a dual-pronged testing approach, including internal simulations and external reward-based decryption challenges.

• This ensures a robust and secure messaging platform, with the community actively involved in identifying potential vulnerabilities.

Optimization Based on Real-World Feedback: BlueTick allocates resources for optimization based on beta testing feedback.

• This iterative approach ensures that the final version meets user expectations, providing a reliable and user-friendly messaging experience.

Native ADA Integration: BlueTick seamlessly integrates ADA as the native currency for incentivizing users during beta testing.

• Uniqueness: Leveraging Cardano's native currency enhances the user experience and aligns with the Cardano ecosystem.

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

BlueTick not only prioritizes privacy and security in online communication but also strategically integrates with the Cardano ecosystem to promote user onboarding. By utilizing the Cardano wallet as the login ID, BlueTick streamlines the login process for existing Cardano users, requiring just one step. This seamless integration fosters a user-friendly experience and encourages existing Cardano users to explore the BlueTick chat solution.

For unregistered users, the registration process involves creating a Cardano wallet, thereby introducing them to the Cardano ecosystem. As the user base of BlueTick grows, the number of individuals with Cardano wallets also increases exponentially. This integration aims to enhance user stickiness, as communication is a powerful method for spreading the adoption of both BlueTick and the Cardano ecosystem.

Moreover, the loyalty of BlueTick users will be leveraged in the future to foster collaborations or synergies with other decentralized applications (DApps) within the Cardano network. This collaborative approach aims to create a network effect, where users of one Cardano-based application are more likely to explore and engage with other applications, ultimately contributing to the overall growth and vibrancy of the Cardano ecosystem.

These adjustments emphasize the strategic integration of BlueTick with the Cardano ecosystem, maximizing the potential for user acquisition and ecosystem expansion. Attracting a large number of users to the Cardano ecosystem not only brings vitality but also empowers users to break free from the control of web2 super companies dominating information-based Apps. Reclaiming user privacy rights significantly elevates the position of the Cardano ecosystem in the online environment.

Measurement Metrics:

• Beta Testing Userbase and Engagement
• Community Feedback
• Partnerships and Integrations
• Security and Privacy Metrics

Sharing Outputs and Opportunities:

• Regular Updates
• Community Collaboration
• Documentation and Resources
• Open Source Contributions

[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?

Our team is well-equipped to deliver the BlueTick project with a strong commitment to trust and accountability. Our prior experience in social messaging, demonstrated through proof-of-concept demonstrations for Gods of Block (GOB) and LoveLace Club (LLC), showcases our expertise in this domain. While these demonstrations were smaller in scale, they provided valuable insights that guide our approach to BlueTick.

Participation in the FetaChain project during Fund9 Catalyst further enriched our capabilities. We successfully demonstrated on-chain data encryption and decryption, highlighting our proficiency in data security and privacy—a crucial aspect of BlueTick's development. This collective experience positions us as a capable team to deliver a privacy-focused chat solution at scale.

Regarding fund management, we prioritize transparency and accountability. Our established processes and internal controls ensure the responsible allocation and use of funds. Regular updates and comprehensive reports will be provided throughout the project, underscoring our commitment to financial transparency. Our track record in responsible financial management reinforces our capability to handle funds with diligence and accountability.

In summary, our team's demonstrated capabilities in social messaging and data security, coupled with a strong commitment to financial transparency, make us the ideal choice to deliver the BlueTick project with trust and accountability.

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

Milestone 1: Project Initiation and Planning (Timeline: 1 month)

Objective: Establish a detailed project plan, finalize team roles, and set up communication channels.

Acceptance Criteria:

• Comprehensive research report on user behavior and messaging apps.
• Initial testing of decentralized storage solution and report it.
• Communication channels (Discord/Telegram) established for the beta testing.

Milestone 2: Development and Testing Phase (Timeline: 3 months)

Objective: Implement BlueTick's core features, integrate SiaCoin for decentralized storage, and conduct rigorous testing.

Acceptance Criteria:

• BlueTick features developed and integrated.
• SiaCoin storage integration completed.
• Internal testing and simulations conducted successfully.

Milestone 3: Beta Testing and Community Engagement (Timeline: 2 months)

Objective: Launch beta testing, gather user feedback, and engage with the Cardano community.

Acceptance Criteria:

• Beta version of BlueTick released for public testing.
• User feedback gathered through incentivized programs.
• Collaboration with other Cardano projects for community engagement.

Milestone 4: Optimization, Marketing, and Final Release (Timeline: 2 months)

Objective: Optimize BlueTick based on beta feedback, enhance marketing efforts, and release the final version.

Acceptance Criteria:

• Optimization based on beta testing feedback completed.
• Marketing campaigns executed, targeting a wider audience.
• Final version of BlueTick released on Cardano's testnet.

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

Dr. Bharath Ramesh (Project Lead):

• Role: Project management, overall coordination, and strategic direction. Dr. Bharath Ramesh stands as a luminary figure in the realm of Industry 4.0, blending technical acumen with a passion for transformative change. His journey exemplifies a commitment to pushing the boundaries of what's possible in the digital era.
• LinkedIn: Dr. Bharath Ramesh

Balamuralidhar V (Community and Business):

• Role: Community engagement, partnerships, and business development.
• LinkedIn: Balamuralidhar V

Su Hongxu (Blockchain Developer):

• Role: Smart contract development, blockchain integration.
• LinkedIn: Su Hongxu

Jyothi Kiran (UI/UX and Creative Design):

• Role: Graphic design and branding.
• LinkedIn: Jyothi Kiran

Team Expertise:

Our team brings together seasoned professionals with extensive expertise in Blockchain and project management. Dr. Bharath Ramesh, a distinguished researcher in the field of Industry 4.0 , leads our project, providing a solid foundation. Notably, our team has successfully developed various prototypes on the Cardano blockchain, including the Fetachain project.

Development Team:

Adaxon takes pride in hosting a highly skilled and experienced development team comprising over ten members, accumulating more than 30 years of combined research and industry experience. Our team has a proven track record, as demonstrated by our successful contributions to previous Catalyst rounds. Specifically, team members like Robin Thomas, a Hardware Engineer, have showcased their expertise in Catalyst and their respective fields. We have notably excelled in the FetaChain project, highlighting our proficiency in blockchain implementation and hardware integration during Fund9.

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

Milestone 1: Project Initiation and Planning (Timeline: 1 month)

Budget Breakdown:

• Project Management: 4,000 ADA
• Research Reports: 8,000 ADA
• Communication Channels Setup: 3,000 ADA

Total for Milestone 1: 15,000 ADA

Milestone 2: Development and Testing Phase (Timeline: 3 months)

Budget Breakdown:

• Development (BlueTick Features): 15,000 ADA
• Integration of SiaCoin: 15,000 ADA
• Testing and Simulations: 15,000 ADA

Total for Milestone 2: 45,000 ADA

Milestone 3: Beta Testing and Community Engagement (Timeline: 2 months)

Budget Breakdown:

• Beta Version Release: 10,000 ADA
• User Feedback Program: 10,000 ADA
• Community Engagement Collaboration: 7,000 ADA
• Contingency: 3,000 ADA

Total for Milestone 3: 30,000 ADA

Milestone 4: Optimization, Marketing, and Final Release (Timeline: 2 months)

Budget Breakdown:

• Optimization Based on Feedback: 5,000 ADA
• Marketing Campaigns: 5,000 ADA
• Contingency: 12,000 ADA

Total for Milestone 4: 22,000 ADA

Grand Total for All Milestones: 112,000 ADA

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

The cost of the project represents value for money within the Cardano ecosystem by aligning with the complexities and requirements of developing a privacy-focused messaging platform. The budget allocation reflects a detailed breakdown of essential components, ensuring a comprehensive approach to project development and delivery.

Justification for Costs:

1. Research and Planning: Adequate funds are allocated for in-depth research and meticulous planning, crucial for understanding user behavior and creating a robust project plan. The costs are justified by the need for a solid foundation and strategic approach to meet user expectations and industry standards.
2. Development and Testing: The budget for this phase covers the core development of BlueTick features and the integration of SiaCoin for decentralized storage. These costs align with the intricacies of blockchain development, ensuring the implementation of secure and efficient messaging features. Rigorous testing is pivotal for creating a reliable product, justifying the allocation for internal testing and simulations.
3. Beta Testing and Community Engagement: Funds are allocated for launching the beta version, gathering user feedback, and collaborating with Cardano communities. These costs are justified by the importance of community involvement and feedback, ensuring the platform meets user expectations and addresses any concerns before the final release.
4. Optimization, Marketing, and Final Release: The budget for this phase covers optimization based on beta feedback, marketing campaigns, and the final release. These costs are justified by the need to refine the product based on real-world usage, promote widespread adoption through effective marketing, and ensure a successful launch on Cardano's testnet.

The cost breakdown considers the complexity of the project, industry standards for blockchain development, and the significance of community engagement. It ensures that each phase receives adequate resources for a thorough and successful implementation, making the project a valuable investment for the Cardano ecosystem. Our costs are focused on the development of privacy protection features and testing the user experience. This is advantageous as it allows us to leverage the pioneering advantage in privacy protection, combined with Cardano, to challenge the market dominance of information transmission applications held by web2 companies.

[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.

I Accept