SAIB: Buriza.Core – The Library Behind Buriza, the Truly Open Source, Cross-Platform Cardano Wallet

[GENERAL] Name and surname of main applicant

Clark Alesna

[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

No Additional applicants

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

6

[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)

Buriza.Core, a subset of Buriza, is a library powering a decentralized open-source Cardano wallet, letting users self-host and self-install, ensuring asset security without relying on third parties.

[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

Everything about Buriza will be open source under the Apache Open-Source License, which can be found in the project repository.

[METADATA] Horizons

Developer Tools

[SOLUTION] Please describe your proposed solution

This proposal is part of a family of proposals that collectively aim to create Buriza, a comprehensive Cardano wallet software suite spanning mobile, browser, and desktop applications. Buriza, named after the Japanese word for Blizzard, will be designed to be the best open-source, fully decentralized, and cross-platform Cardano wallet. It will empower users with maximum control over their entire wallet infrastructure. By combining open-source transparency, backend flexibility, and utilizing a standardized protocol for interacting with UTxO-based blockchains through the UTxO RPC standard, Buriza will enable users to self-host, choose their backend servers, self-verify and install the software itself and fully customize the wallet’s security, privacy, and functionality to meet their specific needs. While other proposals focus on platform-specific apps, this one focuses on the core library, which is the backbone that powers all of them. 

In order to power Buriza and its features, Buriza.Core will serve as the foundational library driving multiple applications across platforms (Desktop, Browser, Mobile). As the core library powering Buriza, Buriza.Core will offer developers essential wallet functionalities, including transaction building, signing, and submission, as well as security protocols and cross-platform compatibility. Additionally, it will expose real-time blockchain state information, enabling developers to retrieve data such as user balances, assets, and other relevant blockchain details. It will ensure that components like Buriza.Desktop, Buriza.Browser, and Buriza.Mobile will rely on it for fundamental functionality. 

Problem Statement 

There are various Cardano wallets available today, and while they are functional and serve their purpose, they still come with the following significant limitations: 

• Centralized Dependency: Many wallets depend on third-party services or centralized backend servers to access blockchain state, introducing potential security risks and undermining long-term reliability, particularly if these servers go offline or are shut down. 

 

• Closed-Source: The rise of closed-source wallets means users can no longer inspect the code, raising concerns about security vulnerabilities and lack of accountability. 

 

• Limited User Control: Many wallets limit users' control over wallet infrastructure, making it challenging to interact with UTxO-based blockchains in a decentralized manner. This not only undermines user autonomy and privacy but also restricts the user’s ability to customize the wallet according to their individual preferences. 

 

• Poor User Experience: Existing wallets often face issues such as unclear transaction dialogs, confusing account balance displays, and challenges in rendering digital assets like NFTs or media (e.g., audio and books). Additionally, transaction history is often poorly organized, making it difficult for both crypto-native and average users to understand their activities. Furthermore, many wallets are limited to specific platforms—available on mobile but not desktop—resulting in inconsistent user experiences across devices. 

 

• Insufficient Decentralization: Although some wallets allow users to edit the submission node, this is not enough to ensure true decentralization, as many still rely on third-party infrastructure for essential functions like balance and transaction history retrieval. 

 

• Failure to Comply with Standards: Several wallets fail to comply with Cardano Improvement Proposal (CIP) standards, limiting interoperability, security, and compatibility within the ecosystem. 

To highlight these differences, a comparison table between existing Cardano wallets and Buriza will be provided to illustrate how Buriza will overcome these limitations. 

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Key Features 

Despite the limitations of current Cardano wallets, Buriza.Core aims to overcome these challenges by implementing the following features: 

• Open-Source & Decentralized: Buriza.Core will be fully open-source, encouraging community participation, auditing, and continuous improvement. Its decentralized architecture will ensure that users maintain full control without relying on centralized entities or services. Additionally, Buriza.Core will adhere to Cardano Improvement Proposals (CIPs), ensuring compliance with established standards within the ecosystem for enhanced compatibility and security. 

 

• Self-Install & Self-Host: Buriza.Core will empower users to deploy their wallet backends on their own infrastructure, providing complete control over data, security, and privacy. In contrast to existing wallets that primarily provide a "submit node" configuration—where users connect to a node exclusively for transaction submissions— Buriza.Core will ensure that all wallet data is directly fetched from the blockchain node. Although some wallets provide a way to edit the submission node, this is not enough to ensure complete decentralization and control, as they still rely on third-party infrastructure for critical operations. With Buriza.Core, reliance on third-party providers or intermediaries for key information, such as account balances or transaction history, will be eliminated, making it ideal for privacy-conscious users seeking true decentralization. Fully integrated with the user’s own blockchain node, Buriza.Core will guarantee data authenticity and security, delivering a more robust, independent experience. 

 

• Backend Flexibility: Buriza.Core will enable users to choose their preferred backend host, granting flexibility in selecting trusted nodes. This feature enhances decentralization and minimizes dependency on any single provider or centralized infrastructure, ensuring a more resilient and customizable experience for users. 

 

• Full Node and Light Wallet Support: Buriza.Core’s architecture will support both full node and light wallets, ensuring that users have flexibility depending on their preferences and technical requirements. Full-node wallet users can now access dApps via the UTxO RPC protocol, a feature currently unavailable in the only full-node wallet for Cardano users, Daedalus. This gives users greater flexibility and functionality, allowing them to interact with decentralized applications while maintaining full control of their own data. 

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

Positive Impact on the Cardano Community: 

• Enhanced User Security: Buriza.Core will give users full control over their wallets, from the code itself to the entire infrastructure, eliminating the risks associated with centralized wallets. In centralized systems, users are often forced to trust third-party providers with sensitive information, such as seed phrases, which exposes them to potential security breaches, hacks, or mismanagement. Buriza.Core will ensure that users never have to rely on centralized entities for key wallet data or security, maintaining full ownership and control over their seed phrases and wallet infrastructure whilst preventing such vulnerabilities. This will lead to safer, more secure interactions within the Cardano ecosystem, aligning with the core principles of decentralization and user autonomy. 

 

• True Decentralization: By enabling self-hosting and allowing users to choose their backend servers, Buriza.Core promotes decentralization, aligning with Cardano’s core mission. This reduces dependency on any single provider and strengthens the resilience of the network. For example, stake pools could provide access to their copy of the blockchain using UTxO RPC, offering enhanced flexibility. Additionally, they have the ability to cater exclusively to their delegators, giving pool operators more control over who can access their infrastructure. This approach not only decentralizes data access but also encourages the growth of a more diverse and resilient ecosystem. 

 

• Community-Driven Innovation: Buriza.Core will be open-source, encouraging community participation and continuous improvement. Its collaborative nature will enable both developers and users to contribute to its ongoing development, ensuring the wallet evolves to meet the needs of the broader Cardano ecosystem. 

 

• Boost to DeFi and DApp Growth: By offering a secure and decentralized wallet with top user experience, Buriza.Core will encourage more users to confidently engage in Cardano’s DeFi and DApp ecosystems. This will drive the growth and adoption of decentralized applications, further advancing Cardano’s potential. For instance, full-node wallet users will be able to participate in dApps without concerns about the risks tied to closed-source or centralized wallets, ensuring a more secure and transparent experience in DeFi environments. 

 

• Network Stability and Health: Buriza.Core will contribute to the decentralization and robustness of the network by distributing wallet infrastructure across multiple backends, thereby enhancing the overall stability and health of the Cardano blockchain. 

[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?

With over fifteen (15) years of full-stack development experience across diverse platforms such as cloud, gaming, mobile, and server environments, I can confidently say that my comprehensive and diverse background uniquely qualifies me to lead this initiative. As the founder of SAIB Inc., a company specializing in blockchain technologies, I have successfully spearheaded several innovative projects on the Cardano platform. My collaboration with key entities such as TxPipe, dcSpark, Crashr, Coinecta, Levvy, and the Cardano Foundation highlights my strong understanding and deep commitment to the Cardano ecosystem.  

In addition to my leadership role, I bring hands-on experience as the operator of the ADAPH stake pool, and I have contributed to the development of open-source Cardano tools—further advancing the platform's functionality and accessibility. Our team's successful funding in Project Catalyst's Fund 12 demonstrates our ability to undertake projects with transparency and accountability. This ongoing work further reinforces my commitment to driving innovation within the Cardano ecosystem. For more details, you can learn about our project here: https://github.com/SAIB-Inc/Argus 

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

Library Architecture Design (Month 1-2) 

Objective: Define the comprehensive architecture of Buriza.Core, outlining its modular structure, integration points, and core functionalities such as transaction building, signing, blockchain interaction, and security protocols. The goal is to ensure that the library will serve as a scalable, efficient, and secure foundation for the Buriza wallet's desktop, browser, and mobile applications. 

 

Deliverables: 

• Detailed architecture design document covering: 
• Modular structure and key components. 
• API functions and integration with UTxO RPC protocols. 
• Security protocols and backend server selection options. 
• Design of data flow, including how blockchain information (balances, assets, etc.) will be retrieved and managed. 
• Report detailing the design phase, key decisions made, and any design challenges encountered. 

Implementation (Month 3-4) 

Objective: Develop the core functionalities of the Buriza.Core library, ensuring compatibility with multiple platforms (desktop, browser, mobile). This phase focuses on implementing the major components such as transaction building, signing, submission, and security protocols. Flexibility for self-hosting and backend server selection will also be built in. 

Deliverables: 

• Source code implementing: 
• Transaction building, signing, and submission functionalities. 
• Dataflow / Blockchain state query (Balance, Assets, etc.) 
• Security protocols and support for decentralized backend servers. 
• Report detailing completed functionalities and issues encountered. 

Documentation (Month 4-5) 

Objective: Develop comprehensive documentation for Buriza.Core, enabling developers and users to integrate and utilize the library efficiently. This includes API documentation, setup guides, and usage examples that will support community adoption. 

Deliverables: 

• Complete API documentation explaining all core features (transaction handling, security, blockchain interaction). 
• Developer guides for integrating Buriza.Core.
• Use case examples and sample code for common implementations. 

Testing (Month 5-6) 

Objective: Conduct thorough testing of Buriza.Core to ensure stability, security, and performance across different environments and platforms. This includes unit tests, integration tests, and stress tests to verify that the library functions efficiently under various conditions. 

Deliverables: 

• Comprehensive test suite covering: 
• Functional tests for transaction processing, blockchain data retrieval, and security features. 
• Stress tests simulating high transaction volumes and large datasets. 
• A testing report summarizing test results, performance benchmarks, identified bugs, and fixes applied. 

Release (Month 6) 

Objective: Officially release Buriza.Core as the foundational library powering the Buriza suite of applications. This phase includes packaging the library for public use, organizing community outreach, and initiating feedback collection from developers and users. 

Deliverables: 

• Public release of Buriza.Core on open-source platforms (e.g., GitHub). 
• Developer guides published alongside the library. 
• Organized launch events such as live Q&A sessions or webinars to introduce the library to the community. 
• A community engagement report, detailing initial feedback, user adoption metrics, and suggestions for future improvements. 
• Final project report summarizing the entire project lifecycle, outcomes achieved, and future roadmap recommendations. 

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

Team Lead: 

• Clark Alesna - https://www.linkedin.com/in/clarkalesna/ 

Backend Engineer:  

• Reza Jhay Lacanlale - https://www.linkedin.com/in/reza-jhay-lacanlale-6b8b62107/ 
• Christian Benedict Gantuangco - https://www.linkedin.com/in/christan-gantuangco/ 
• John Quinnvic Taboada - https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-quinnvic-taboada-8801b9275/ 
• Wendell Mor Tamayo - https://www.linkedin.com/in/wendell-mor-tamayo-41388b298/
• Rico Miles Quiblat - https://www.linkedin.com/in/rico-miles-quiblat-34a6b7298/
• Jonh Alexis Buot - https://www.linkedin.com/in/laplace-xd/

Frontend Engineer:  

• Stan Kiefer Gallego - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kiefer-gallego/ 
• Kathea Mari Mayol - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathea-mayol/ 
• Caitlin Mariel Lindsay - https://www.linkedin.com/in/caitlin-mariel-lindsay-7341a3323/
• Ivanne Bayer - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ivanne-bayer-a23b30302/

Marketing and Quality:  

• Melissa Naomi Legara - https://www.linkedin.com/in/misai-legara/ 
• Bern Villacura - https://www.linkedin.com/in/barbiebern/

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

Developers:

We will allocate 45,000 ADA for the engagement of 4 developers. This will cover their compensation for the duration of the project, including development, testing, and ongoing support for the solution.

Development Infrastructure:

An additional 10,000 ADA is allocated for Development Infrastructure, including Continuous Integration (CI) and Continuous Deployment (CD) servers, as well as other server and hosting requirements. This budget will ensure the necessary tools and infrastructure are in place to support efficient and secure development processes.

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

The budget for Buriza.Core is thoughtfully designed to ensure value for money while maintaining fairness and competitiveness. Our allocation for salaries is based on competitive industry standards and adjusted for the cost of living in the geographic locations of our development team. This ensures that our skilled professionals are compensated fairly, reflecting their integral role in the success of the project.

Additionally, we’ve included necessary costs for infrastructure and promotional activities, both of which are crucial for the effective deployment and community adoption of Buriza. These expenses have been calculated based on current market rates and are essential for ensuring the smooth delivery of the project, as well as driving visibility and adoption within the ecosystem.

Our six-month timeline is meticulously planned based on a comprehensive understanding of the project’s scope and the capabilities of our team. This allows us to efficiently execute all phases, from development to launch, while adhering to high-quality standards.

By carefully managing the budget and aligning it with realistic salary benchmarks and operational requirements, we ensure financial prudence while delivering a project that provides substantial value to the Cardano ecosystem. Buriza not only enhances the infrastructure but also promotes wider adoption, including enterprise-level applications, which will contribute to significant growth and utilization across various industries.