Decentralized Digital Identity Platform on Cardano

[GENERAL] Name and surname of main applicant

Kidest Berhanu

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

Individual

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

12

[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 decentralized digital identification system that provides safe, verifiable, and self-sovereign IDs for people and businesses, enhancing trust, privacy, and access to a range of services.

[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 completely open-source platform will let other developers enhance and include the identity solution into several industries. Transparency and broad acceptance will be promoted by the open-source character.

[METADATA] Horizons

Identity & Verification

[SOLUTION] Please describe your proposed solution

Problem Perception:

Data and privacy are some of the major concerns about a centralized digital identity system. This results in a lack of user trust, and a mediocre control of personal data.

Approach and Reasoning:

Our solution would be a decentralized identity solution built on the Cardano blockchain allowing the users to own their identities and disclose only the necessary information to the service providers.

Project Engagement:

The project will target individuals, businesses performing KYC identity checks, developers and advocacy organizations for awareness and uptake of the initiative.

Impact Demonstration:

We are in the process of doing pilot programs and evaluating the activity using various KPIs including, the number of registered identities, the number of validated identities, user satisfaction, and fraud. From these observations, changes will be made progressively.

Unique Value of the Solution:

Our platform places power in the consumers concerning their Former employers digital identities, raising confidence and being able to provide organisations with effective methods of proving their clients identity. There is scope for advancement through the use of a variety of channels.

Importance to Cardano:

This project sits well within the framework of Cardano’s tenets of decentralization and security without compromising on the practical aspect of solving real life problems. The notion of managing digital identities better enables us to partner with various sectors.

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

The growing usage of the decentralized identity Hub will further demonstrate the applicability of Cardano beyond payment transactions and will into strengthen the ecosystem’s position as a pioneer in the area of privacy oriented digital identities. This project will show how Cardano may successfully be applied to provide high quality services with a significant security measure in such areas as medicine, education, finance. It will be used to increase the on-chain activity as users will use their decentralized identities.

Measuring Impact: Key performance indicators (KPIs) include: Number of decentralized identities issued. Volume of verified identity transactions on the Cardano network. User satisfaction and feedback. Number of organizations using the platform for identity verification. Sharing Outputs and Opportunities: The open-source nature of the project is expected to encourage further development and advancement of the project to incorporate usability in other sectors as well. We shall share outputs through: The open-source adoption and dissemination of materials on GitHub. Success stories on how integration has been done. Webinars and workshops intended towards increasing uptake.

[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 has experience in blockchain development, specifically within Cardano, and expertise in identity management. We will employ Agile methodologies and develop a working prototype on the Cardano testnet to validate our approach. Milestone-based funding and regular reporting will ensure transparency.

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

Milestone 1: Research & System Design (Months 1-2)

• Outputs: Complete system architecture design, user interface blueprint, and smart contract framework.
• Acceptance Criteria: Finalized documentation detailing platform design, core functionalities, and user flows.
• Evidence of Completion: Submission of design documents and diagrams for review.

Milestone 2: Development of Smart Contracts & Prototype (Months 3-5)

• Outputs: Development of smart contracts for decentralized identity management and prototype on Cardano testnet.
• Acceptance Criteria: Working prototype with basic identity creation and verification functionalities.
• Evidence of Completion: Testnet logs and demo of prototype functionality.

Milestone 3: Pilot Testing & Feedback Collection (Months 6-8)

• Outputs: Pilot testing with select users and businesses to gather feedback and improve the platform.
• Acceptance Criteria: Feedback from at least two pilot partners and identification of key areas for improvement.
• Evidence of Completion: Feedback reports and usage metrics from pilot users.

Milestone 4: Security Audits & Platform Optimization (Months 9-10)

• Outputs: Third-party security audits and platform optimizations based on feedback.
• Acceptance Criteria: Finalized security audit reports and optimized codebase.
• Evidence of Completion: Security audit documentation and performance benchmarks.

Final Milestone: Full Deployment & Close-out Report (Month 11-12)

• Outputs: Platform deployment on Cardano mainnet, user guides, and a project close-out report.
• Acceptance Criteria: Positive feedback from users, live platform, and final report including a summary video.
• Evidence of Completion: Deployment logs, user feedback, close-out report, and video presentation.

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

Kidest Berhanu (Project Lead)

• Role: Overseeing the project, managing relationships with stakeholders, ensuring timely delivery of milestones, and coordinating with team members.
• Experience: Experienced in blockchain technology, project management, and strategic execution.

Blockchain Developer

• To be recruited
• Skills Needed: Proficient in Cardano blockchain development, smart contract creation (Plutus), and Haskell programming. Responsible for developing and maintaining the smart contracts and backend functionality.
• Recruitment Status: Actively engaging with developers in the Cardano community on Discord and GitHub.

UI/UX Designer

• To be recruited
• Skills Needed: Expertise in designing user-friendly interfaces, particularly for blockchain applications. Will design intuitive front-end for users to create, manage, and share their digital identities securely.
• Recruitment Status: Searching for a UI/UX specialist with blockchain experience, particularly from Cardano’s developer ecosystem.

Security Auditor

• To be recruited
• Skills Needed: Expertise in blockchain security, conducting smart contract audits, and penetration testing. Will ensure platform security and mitigate risks of data breaches.
• Recruitment Status: Exploring partnerships with established blockchain security firms and independent auditors.

Technical Writer

• To be recruited
• Skills Needed: Experienced in writing technical documentation and user guides. Will create comprehensive documentation to support users and developers.
• Recruitment Status: Searching for candidates with strong technical writing skills, particularly those familiar with Cardano development.

Community Engagement Specialist

• To be recruited
• Skills Needed: Strong background in community management and outreach. Will engage with businesses, users, and the Cardano community to promote platform adoption.
• Recruitment Status: Looking to recruit someone with experience in blockchain education and community engagement, with a focus on Cardano.

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

Team Roles and Costs:

Project Lead: 30,000 ADA

• Oversees overall project execution, milestone delivery, and stakeholder coordination.

Blockchain Developer: 35,000 ADA

• Responsible for developing smart contracts, integrating with the Cardano blockchain, and backend systems.

UI/UX Designer: 15,000 ADA

• Ensures user-friendly design and seamless user experiences for both businesses and consumers.

Security Auditor: 10,000 ADA

• Performs security assessments, audits, and penetration testing to ensure platform security.

Community Engagement Specialist: 9,000 ADA

• Manages outreach, education, and engagement efforts within the Cardano ecosystem and beyond.

Technical Writer: 6,000 ADA

• Creates detailed documentation, user guides, and reporting for the community and stakeholders.

Infrastructure & Tools:

Server Hosting & Infrastructure (12 months): 8,000 ADA

• Cloud hosting for running nodes, APIs, and managing data for the platform.

Development Tools & Software Licenses: 3,000 ADA

• Tools for software development, collaborative platforms, and testing environments.

Security & Auditing:

Third-party Smart Contract Audits: 7,000 ADA

• Engaging external firms to audit smart contracts and ensure code security.

Penetration Testing: 3,000 ADA

• Identifying vulnerabilities in the platform through professional penetration testing services.

Marketing & Outreach:

Educational Campaigns & Webinars: 4,000 ADA

• Hosting webinars and producing educational content for onboarding businesses and users.

Community Engagement & Promotional Material: 3,000 ADA

• Developing promotional content, graphics, and videos for outreach campaigns.

Contingency Fund:

Contingency Fund: 7,000 ADA

• Reserved for unforeseen costs or risks during project execution.

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

The proposed budget provides significant value to the Cardano ecosystem. Each cost has been meticulously allocated according to industry benchmarks, ensuring a rational and effective team structure while retaining talented professionals.

This is in line with market prices:

Team positions such as blockchain developers and UI/UX designers are paid at a rate consistent with average freelance rates in the blockchain industry. For example, blockchain developers and auditors typically charge between $50 and $100 per hour, depending on their level of expertise. Our pricing is designed to provide access to world-class talent while remaining competitive for similar projects.

Security and auditing

The budget also includes the cost of third-party security audits and penetration testing, which are critical to building a secure and resilient platform. While these audits are necessary, they are competitively priced to maintain a high-quality audit process without excessive costs. This approach reduces risk and supports the long-term viability of the platform.

Infrastructure and tools:

Hosting costs are based on standard cloud infrastructure fees and the operational requirements of the distributed identity platform. Balancing performance with cost-effective solutions prevents over-provisioning and ensures scalability while reducing operational costs.

Marketing and community engagement:

By allocating a reasonable budget for community outreach and education initiatives, we aim to drive adoption and growth of both the platform and the Cardano ecosystem. Our marketing strategy emphasizes the benefits of Cardano technology and helps build awareness and credibility through real-world applications.

Open source contributions:

The open source nature of the platform enables Cardano to further strengthen its developer community. This not only increases the usefulness of the project, but also encourages continuous innovation, which provides long-term benefits beyond the initial investment.