NuAuth: ZK-IP PartnerChain to Fight Global AI Trust Crisis from Deepfakes & Misinformation — 90% of online content will be AI-generated by 2026 — 63% of humans can’t differentiate AI content .

[GENERAL] Name and surname of main applicant

Sricharan Ganta

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

Entity (Incorporated)

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

4

[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)

A ZK-IP Cardano partnerchain that stamps content at its origin, ensuring undeniable proof of authenticity for both AI-generated and human-created data. Don’t detect—declare the origin from the start.

[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

The project will be open source under the MIT License, allowing unrestricted use of the original code with proper attribution.

[METADATA] Horizons

Infrastructure

[SOLUTION] Please describe your proposed solution

NuAuth addresses the global trust crisis fueled by AI deepfakes and misinformation, providing a secure and decentralized solution for managing intellectual property (IP). Scams that use AI for the purpose of deception have already cost victims millions of dollars and the spread of fake content continues to proliferate. A whopping 90% of online content is expected to be AI-generated by 2026 and providing individuals with a method for verifying the authenticity of digital content is essential.

Leveraging Cardano’s Partner Chain Stack and Midnight’s Zero-Knowledge (ZK) capabilities, NuAuth ensures tamper-proof IP registration, automated licensing, and seamless revenue sharing. It empowers creators, media organizations, and AI developers by offering real-time content verification, privacy protection, and scalability across industries like digital media, gaming, and AI.

We also won first prize at the Midnight Hackathon at Rare Evo for NuAuth -

https://x.com/nucastio/status/1824983712913633446?s=46&t=ViPsv-qfsWrzHwVx49F2tQ

The Need for NuAuth

A study by the University of Oxford found that fake news can influence elections immensely, with 35% of Americans admitting to changing their vote based on fake news they encountered.

Fake News Statistics:

• Approximately 62% of online information could be false. 
• 23% of surveyed Americans admitted to sharing a fake news story.
• 9 out of 10 American adults fact-check their news.
• 45% of UK adults report coming across a fake news item daily.
• On average, 40% of content shared on social media platforms is false.
• 80% of adults in the U.S. alone have consumed fake news at one time or another.
• 86% of global citizens have been exposed to fake news.

References:

https://www.weforum.org/publications/global-risks-report-2024/

https://www.mcafee.com/blogs/internet-security/hallucinating-headlines-the-ai-powered-rise-of-fake-news/

https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/india/ai-and-deepfakes-unveiling-the-dark-side-of-election-campaigns-in-india/articleshow/110169142.cms?from=mdr

https://www.livescience.com/technology/artificial-intelligence/ai-models-trained-on-ai-generated-data-could-spiral-into-unintelligible-nonsense-scientists-warn

https://www.cs.ox.ac.uk/news/2356-full.html

https://www.statista.com/topics/8897/fake-news-in-the-uk/

https://www.demandsage.com/fake-news-statistics/

https://redline.digital/fake-news-statistics/

https://www.ofcom.org.uk/media-use-and-attitudes/attitudes-to-news/one-in-three-internet-users-fail-to-question-misinformation/

Key Components:

1. Decentralized IP Repository
2. Creators can securely register their content on a decentralized platform, ensuring a tamper-proof, immutable record of ownership and creation. NuAuth stamps every piece of content at the origin, providing indisputable proof of authenticity for both AI-generated and human-created data.
3. Automated Licensing and Revenue Sharing
4. Through smart contracts, NuAuth simplifies licensing, automating royalty payments and revenue sharing. This enables creators to license their IP effortlessly, reducing administrative overhead and ensuring timely and transparent payouts.
5. NuAuth AI Marketplace
6. NuAuth bridges media companies and AI developers, creating a marketplace for verifiable, high-quality, human-generated data. By partnering with media houses, NuAuth unlocks unrealized revenue by licensing their archives for AI training while ensuring the authenticity of the data used.
7. Midnight ZK Privacy Layer
8. With Midnight’s Attribute-Based Encryption (ABE), NuAuth protects sensitive IP by ensuring that only authorized parties can access the content. This layer guarantees confidentiality without compromising the transparency of content ownership and usage rights.
9. Scalability and Modularity

NuAuth is built on Cardano’s Partner Chain framework, providing a flexible, modular system that easily integrates new content types and supports scalability across various media formats, including prose, images, video, gaming, and more.

Why AI Companies Need NuAuth:

AI models are vulnerable to degradation when trained on fake data. Research shows that even 10% synthetic data can severely impact model accuracy, leading to what experts call "AI self-destruction." NuAuth protects AI companies by ensuring access to verified, high-quality human-generated data, preserving model integrity and preventing the long-term erosion of AI reliability.

Key Benefits:

• For Creators: Secure control over IP, automated payments, and new revenue streams through verified licensing.
• For Media Organizations: Simplified IP management with real-time tracking and transparent revenue sharing.
• For AI Developers: Access to verified data, ensuring AI models are trained on reliable, authentic content to maintain accuracy.

For End Users: Enhanced trust in the content they consume, with guaranteed privacy and authenticity.

Use Cases:

• Content Creators & Artists: Ensure ownership and monetize their work with automated licensing.
• Generative AI Content: Protect IP rights for AI-generated content and ensure fair compensation.
• Gaming & Digital Media: Track and license in-game content and user-generated assets seamlessly.
• Collaborative Media Production: Enable derivative works with clear licensing and revenue distribution.

NuAuth’s Role in the Cardano Ecosystem:

NuAuth is a critical piece of infrastructure for managing digital assets in a decentralized world. By providing secure content registration, automated revenue sharing, and advanced privacy protection it empowers creators, media organizations, and AI companies. NuAuth strengthens Cardano’s position across key industries like digital media, gaming, and generative AI, showcasing the power of its scalability and security.

NuAuth fosters a new era of trusted IP management, where innovation is rewarded, content is protected, and authenticity is guaranteed.

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

NuAuth is tackling one of the most pressing challenges of our time—intellectual property (IP) protection, misinformation, and AI model degradation—by leveraging the power of Cardano. Here's how NuAuth's transformative solution will make a lasting impact on the community:

1. Empowering Creators

NuAuth revolutionizes how creators protect and monetize their work, offering automated revenue sharing and real-time IP verification. Creators across digital media, gaming, and AI can finally take control of their content.

• Measure: Track soaring IP registrations, licensing growth, and boosted creator earnings.
• Share: Public dashboards and case studies will showcase creator success stories and industry impact.

2. Strengthening AI Integrity

NuAuth solves the critical issue of AI self-destruction by providing AI developers with verified, human-generated data, ensuring model reliability and preventing degradation from synthetic data.

• Measure: Monitor improved AI model performance and adoption of NuAuth’s data marketplace.
• Share: NuAuth will release technical reports on how it’s elevating AI reliability across industries.

3. Expanding Cardano’s Reach

NuAuth positions Cardano as the go-to blockchain for IP management, transforming industries like media, AI, and gaming by integrating decentralized solutions at scale.

• Measure: Surge in IP registrations, partnerships, and cross-industry collaborations using Cardano.
• Share: Track industry adoption metrics to highlight Cardano's expansion.

4. Building Global Trust in Content

As misinformation floods the internet, NuAuth is restoring trust by ensuring content authenticity and empowering creators and end users alike. Cardano becomes the backbone of trusted, decentralized content verification.

• Measure: Increased verified transactions and content shared through the platform.
• Share: Regular updates on platform growth, user trust, and feedback to demonstrate NuAuth’s widespread adoption.

NuAuth is more than a solution—it's a revolution. By harnessing Cardano, it’s solving one of the world’s most urgent challenges, empowering creators, safeguarding AI, and restoring trust in digital content, all while driving Cardano’s adoption across key industries.

[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?

Development Team

Our development team is highly skilled, with extensive experience in blockchain development, specifically on the Cardano platform. We have successfully contributed to several Cardano-based projects and are proficient in Cardano dApp development, ensuring NuAuth is built on a solid technical foundation.

• Zero-Knowledge Proof Expertise: Our team includes Midnight ZK Pioneers with deep expertise in implementing Zero-Knowledge Proof (ZKP) techniques, which are essential to ensuring privacy and data protection within NuAuth.
• Media & Copyright Specialists: We have industry professionals on board with a strong background in media and copyright law. Their knowledge of digital rights management ensures that NuAuth is aligned with industry standards for IP protection and media licensing.

Strong Partnerships

We have established partnerships with key players in the media industry, such as ETV Network, which reaches millions of consumers daily. These relationships position NuAuth for rapid adoption and scalability. Our discussions with ETV regarding the Nucast platform and Cardano demonstrate the feasibility of large-scale media collaborations.

• Watch the discussion with ETV Network:
• 
  

Proven Track Record

Our team has a history of delivering complex blockchain solutions that are recognized for their innovation and impact. We have successfully deployed blockchain-based projects that required meticulous planning and robust technical execution.

For more details on our previous work: https://www.nucastlabs.xyz/

Community Engagement

We are active contributors to the Cardano community, regularly sharing insights, updates, and contributions that align with the ecosystem's growth and values. This deep involvement demonstrates our commitment to the success of both NuAuth and the broader Cardano network.

Development and Initial Testing

Initial Prototype on Testnet

We have already developed a Proof of Concept (PoC) for NuAuth, deployed on the Cardano testnet. This PoC showcases core functionalities such as content registration and rights management, demonstrating the viability of our solution.

• Testnet Transaction: https://preprod.cardanoscan.io/transaction/5eea2082b24a56df24a1a23039d30af22fef16ae5ba461397d1aa4fdc139e068
• Smart Contract Address: https://preprod.cardanoscan.io/address/addr_test1wpzz0977nq8vl5gkak5u46vecdhlee98x0nntj9sph4ljvqpc9jpn
• Midnight ZK PoC: https://midnight.nucast.io/

Iterative Feedback and Refinement

We will refine the protocol based on feedback from initial users and stakeholders. The focus will be on improving integration, user experience, and scalability to ensure that NuAuth is intuitive and effective for creators, media companies, and AI developers.

Piloting Program with Partners

Partner Collaboration for Pilot Testing

We will collaborate closely with media companies and AI platform partners to conduct real-world pilot tests of NuAuth. These pilots will validate the solution and help identify any operational challenges or improvements needed to optimize performance.

Adjustments Based on Piloting Results

Based on insights from the pilots, we will make necessary adjustments to the NuAuth protocol, fine-tuning its functionality and enhancing user experience. This ensures that NuAuth is fully optimized for seamless integration with partner systems.

Budgeting and Financial Reporting

We will maintain transparency in our budgeting, adhering to Catalyst guidelines. Regular financial updates, including progress reports, milestones, and challenges, will be shared with the Cardano community through forums and social media channels. We will actively seek and incorporate community feedback throughout the development process.

Partnerships and Collaborations:

We have worked closely with key players in the Cardano ecosystem, including NMKR, NEWM, Cardano Foundation, Rare Evo, Midnight Team, Iagon, and more, to collaboratively deliver impactful solutions. These partnerships have been instrumental in ensuring our projects are well-positioned for widespread adoption and scalability across the ecosystem, enhancing both their reach and overall impact.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JpZpAH9aKZo

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

Project Kickoff

A. Milestone Outputs

Project Initiation Report:

• Analysis of Current IP Management Methods: Evaluate existing intellectual property (IP) management strategies, focusing on the limitations and inefficiencies of traditional centralized systems and their vulnerability to issues like AI deepfakes and misinformation.
• Technical Review: Assess the feasibility of integrating NuAuth within the Cardano ecosystem, leveraging Zero-Knowledge (ZK) technologies to enhance security and privacy. Identify potential technical challenges and opportunities related to decentralized IP registration, licensing, and revenue sharing.

B. Acceptance Criteria

Completion of Initiation Report:

• Comprehensive Understanding: Provides an in-depth analysis of current IP management pain points and demonstrates how NuAuth’s decentralized approach using Cardano’s Partner Chain and ZK technologies can address these issues.
• Clear Project Outline: Clearly defines the project’s scope, objectives, and expected impact on IP management, trust enhancement, and user engagement within the blockchain ecosystem.

C. Evidence of Milestone Completion

Initiation Report: A finalized and comprehensive document submitted to the project repository, detailing the analysis of current IP management methods and the proposed project approach.

Technical Design

A. Milestone Outputs

Technical Feasibility Report:

• Technical Requirements: Detailed outline of the technical requirements for developing the NuAuth platform, including necessary APIs, data flows, and integration points with Cardano's smart contracts and wallet infrastructure.
• Scalability and Security Solutions: Proposed solutions for ensuring scalability, security, and real-time IP verification challenges using Zero-Knowledge (ZK) technologies.

High-Level Architectural Design:

• Architectural Diagram: Comprehensive architectural diagram illustrating the components of NuAuth, including the decentralized IP repository, automated licensing system, AI marketplace, and Midnight ZK privacy layer.

B. Acceptance Criteria

Technical Feasibility Confirmation:

• Validation of Capabilities: Confirmation that NuAuth can meet the requirements for secure and transparent IP management, ensuring compatibility with existing Cardano tools.
• Identification of Dependencies: Clear identification of technical dependencies and strategies for addressing potential challenges related to decentralized data storage and ZK integration.

Architectural Design:

• Support for Key Features: The design must adequately support key NuAuth features such as IP registration, smart contract licensing, AI marketplace interactions, and advanced privacy protection while ensuring a seamless user experience.

C. Evidence of Milestone Completion

Technical Feasibility Report: A detailed report submitted to and reviewed by the technical team, confirming the feasibility of the proposed solutions. Architectural Design Document: A finalized architecture document available in the project repository, outlining all components and their interactions within the NuAuth platform.

Platform Development

A. Milestone Outputs

NuAuth Platform:

• Decentralized IP Repository: Implementation of a secure, tamper-proof decentralized repository for registering and managing IP, ensuring immutable records of ownership and creation.
• Automated Licensing and Revenue Sharing: Development of smart contracts to automate licensing processes, royalty payments, and revenue sharing, reducing administrative overhead and ensuring transparency.
• AI Marketplace Integration: Creation of a marketplace module that connects media companies and AI developers, facilitating the licensing of verified, high-quality data for AI training.

Sandboxed Testing Environment:

• Testing Environment Setup: A secure environment configured to test the platform’s core functionalities, including IP registration, licensing automation, marketplace transactions, and ZK privacy features.

B. Acceptance Criteria

Successful Platform Demonstration:

• Core Functionalities: The platform showcases essential functionalities, including real-time IP registration, automated licensing and revenue distribution, and secure data access through ZK encryption.
• Seamless Integration: Demonstrates seamless integration with Cardano's smart contracts and wallet infrastructure, ensuring smooth operations within the Cardano ecosystem.

Stable Sandboxed Testing:

• Reliable Testing Environment: The sandbox operates reliably, with no major bugs or vulnerabilities, successfully simulating various IP management scenarios and user interactions.

C. Evidence of Milestone Completion

Platform Documentation: Detailed documentation outlining the platform’s capabilities, usage instructions, and technical specifications. Sandbox Testing Report: Comprehensive records of testing scenarios, outcomes, and security validations within the sandbox environment.

Final Milestone:Project Close-out

A. Milestone Outputs

Final Project Completion and Closure Report:

• Comprehensive Documentation: Detailed documentation covering all phases of the project, from initiation to mainnet deployment.
• Summary of Achievements: Summary of key achievements, lessons learned, and evaluation of project performance against initial KPIs.
• Development Roadmap: A forward-looking roadmap outlining next steps for further development, testing, and launch, including feature expansions and security enhancements.

B. Acceptance Criteria

Comprehensive Documentation:

• Thorough Details: The closure report thoroughly details the project’s technical achievements, strategic insights, and overall impact on IP management and trust enhancement.
• KPI Evaluation: Includes an evaluation of project success against predefined KPIs and objectives.
• Actionable Roadmap: A detailed and realistic development plan for fullscale development 

C. Evidence of Milestone Completion

Final Project Closure Report and Presentation: A detailed report submitted to the project repository, along with a presentation summarizing project outcomes and key achievements.

Development Roadmap: A clear, actionable roadmap published on the Cardano Blockchain, outlining next steps.

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

Sricharan Ganta, CEO @ Nucast

Sricharan is an entrepreneur and business development strategist with over seven years of experience in business-driven roles and over four years of experience in the web3 domain. He has a successful track record of delivering innovative products on the Cardano Blockchain. As the CEO of Nucast, Charan is extremely passionate about community building and pioneering solutions. He currently leads a dynamic team of 15+ professionals at Nucast Labs. Additionally, he holds a Masters in Computer Science from the University of Central Missouri, USA.

Sam Jeffrey M, CTO @ Nucast

Building tech on Cardano for 4+ years. Midnight Pioneer 1st Cohort. Worked as Plutus Consultant at Gimbalabs. Awarded the Presidential Award for Innovation 2021 by the Government of India.

Nucast Labs : Successfully built various scalable Cardano dapps. Nucast is proud to host a highly skilled and experienced development team of 15+ members with over 30 years of combined industry experience.

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

Milestone 1: Project Kickoff

Total: 20,000 ADA

• Project Manager: 5,000 ADA
• Senior Cardano Developer: 10,000 ADA
• Operational & Research Costs: 5,000 ADA

Milestone 2: Library Technical Design

Total: 35,000 ADA

• Project Manager: 10,000 ADA
• Senior Cardano Developer x 2 : 25,000 ADA

Milestone 3: Technical Prototyping

Total: 55,000 ADA

• Project Manager: 10,000 ADA
• Senior Cardano Developer x 2: 45,000 ADA

Final Milestone: Mainnet Deployment and Project Close-out

Total: 20,000 ADA

• Project Manager: 10,000 ADA
• Senior Cardano Developer x 2 : 10,000 ADA

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

NuAuth represents strong value for the Cardano ecosystem by delivering an innovative, decentralized IP management solution with far-reaching impact. Our project costs are carefully calculated based on industry-standard freelance rates, ensuring the team is fairly compensated while maximizing efficiency.

The costs reflect the high level of expertise required to develop the ZK-Programmable Partner Chain, privacy layers, and smart contract infrastructure. By streamlining IP registration, licensing, and revenue sharing, NuAuth provides long-term value to creators, AI developers, and media organizations, driving real-world adoption of Cardano.

Our expenditures are optimized for scalability and impact, with development costs proportional to the average wages in our region, ensuring cost-effective delivery of a high-impact solution. Every dollar invested into NuAuth contributes to advancing Cardano's presence in industries such as digital media, AI, and gaming, providing measurable returns through expanded usage and trust in the ecosystem.

NuAuth is not just a project—it’s an investment in the future of decentralized IP management, offering lasting value to the Cardano network and its participants.