Last updated a month ago
The fear of scams is a huge barrier for new Cardano users. Malicious links and complex transactions are confusing and create risk, slowing down mass adoption and hurting the ecosystem's trust.
Aegis is an AI-powered security bot. Users can send it links, addresses, or transactions before signing. It instantly analyzes them for threats and explains what they do in simple, safe language.
Please provide your proposal title
Aegis: Your AI Security Guardian for Cardano
Enter the amount of funding you are requesting in ADA
85000
Please specify how many months you expect your project to last
6
Please indicate if your proposal has been auto-translated
No
Original Language
en
What is the problem you want to solve?
The fear of scams is a huge barrier for new Cardano users. Malicious links and complex transactions are confusing and create risk, slowing down mass adoption and hurting the ecosystem's trust.
Supporting links
Does your project have any dependencies on other organizations, technical or otherwise?
Yes
Describe any dependencies or write 'No dependencies'
Our project relies on a few key external services to function. We'll need a reliable Cardano blockchain API (like Blockfrost or Koios) to get real-time on-chain data. For the AI-powered analysis, we'll integrate with a third-party Large Language Model provider. The bot itself will also depend on the Telegram and Discord platforms to operate.
Will your project's outputs be fully open source?
Yes
License and Additional Information
This project is committed to being 100% open source from the first day of development. All code will be publicly available on GitHub under the MIT License. We chose this permissive license to encourage the widest possible adoption, allowing any developer in the Cardano community to freely use, audit, and integrate our security tools into their own projects.
Please choose the most relevant theme and tag related to the outcomes of your proposal
Cybersecurity
Mention your open source license and describe your open source license rationale.
We've chosen the MIT License for this project.
Honestly, we want to make it as easy as possible for developers to use and build upon our work. The MIT license is perfect for that it's super permissive, which means anyone can integrate our security tools into their own projects, even commercial ones, without having to worry about complex legal stuff. Our goal is to make the entire Cardano ecosystem safer, and encouraging the widest possible adoption is the best way to do that.
How do you make sure your source code is accessible to the public from project start, and people are informed?
From day one, we'll have a public repository on GitHub. I mean, literally, the first task on our list is git init and git push.
All of our development will happen completely in the open. Every commit, issue, and project board will be public. We'll include the link to the repository directly in this proposal and share it across Cardano community channels on platforms like X and Telegram to make sure everyone can find it, follow our progress, and even contribute if they want to.
How will you provide high quality documentation?
We will provide high-quality documentation for two key audiences:
For Developers: We'll publish comprehensive API documentation with clear code examples on a dedicated site, making it simple for developers to integrate Aegis.
For Users: The bot itself will have easy-to-understand guides built directly into a /help command.
The project's README.md on GitHub will be the central source of truth for everyone, kept constantly up-to-date with the project's status and setup instructions.
Please describe your proposed solution and how it addresses the problem
Our solution is Aegis, an open-source, AI-powered security guardian for the Cardano community. We’re tackling the problem of scams and user fear from two angles: one for developers and one for everyday users.
1. An Open-Source Security API for Developers:
The core of our project is to build a powerful, open-source security API. This isn't just a consumer app; it's a foundational tool that any developer in the Cardano ecosystem can integrate into their own projects. Imagine a wallet that automatically warns you if you're about to send funds to a known scam address, or a dApp that can verify the authenticity of an NFT before you even connect your wallet. Our API will provide the backend for this, offering endpoints for:
Link Analysis: Checking URLs for phishing scripts and malicious code.
Address Reputation: Querying an address to check its on-chain history for red flags.
Asset Verification: Confirming the Policy ID of tokens and NFTs against a trusted registry.
Transaction Simulation: A powerful feature that will decode raw transaction data and return a simple, human-readable summary of what it actually does.
By making this tool open source and free, we empower other builders to make their own projects safer, creating a ripple effect of security across the entire ecosystem.
2. A Free Public Bot for the Community:
To provide immediate value and demonstrate the power of our API, we will build and maintain the first reference implementation: the Aegis Telegram and Discord bot. This bot will be a friendly, accessible front-end to our security engine. Any user, from a complete beginner to a seasoned expert, can interact with it directly.
Before you click a suspicious link or sign a confusing transaction, you can simply paste it into a chat with the Aegis bot. Within seconds, you'll get a clear, simple breakdown:
This bot serves as both a vital public service and a real-world showcase of our developer tools, proving their effectiveness and encouraging other projects to integrate them. We're not just building a product; we're building a safer environment for everyone on Cardano.
Please define the positive impact your project will have on the wider Cardano community
The impact of Aegis goes far beyond just another tool; it's about fundamentally changing the user experience on Cardano from one of potential fear to one of confidence and safety.
For Cardano Users: The most immediate impact will be a dramatic reduction in successful scams. By providing a simple, free "second opinion" before any interaction, we can save countless users from losing their hard-earned ADA and valuable NFTs. This builds immense trust. When new users feel safe, they are more likely to explore the ecosystem, try new dApps, and become long-term, active community members. Aegis will lower the barrier to entry by replacing technical jargon and uncertainty with clear, simple language, making Cardano more accessible to a global, non-technical audience.
For Cardano Developers: Aegis provides a massive shortcut for developers who want to build secure applications. Instead of every team having to build their own security solutions from scratch, they can simply plug into our open-source API. This saves them time and money, allowing them to focus on creating amazing products. By making security an easy, "out-of-the-box" feature, we raise the baseline security standard for the entire ecosystem. This makes Cardano a more attractive platform for serious projects and businesses to build on.
For the Cardano Ecosystem as a Whole: Our project directly strengthens Cardano's reputation as a secure, professional, and user-focused blockchain. In a world where headlines are dominated by hacks and exploits on other chains, Cardano can stand out as the place where the community proactively builds tools to protect its own. This is a powerful marketing message that will attract new users, developers, and investment. By funding Aegis, the community isn't just funding an app; it's investing in the long-term health, safety, and growth of the entire ecosystem.
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 am a developer with proven, hands-on experience in building the exact type of application I am proposing. I have already successfully developed and deployed multilingual, AI-powered bots on platforms like Telegram. My work has involved integrating external APIs, managing asynchronous operations, and handling real-world user interactions. Furthermore, I have experience with most of the Python libraries, demonstrating my ability to work with specialized tools to solve unique problems. This project is not a theoretical exploration for me; it's a practical application of skills I already possess and use regularly.
Our Approach to Feasibility and Validation: We believe in building in the open and validating our approach with the community every step of the way. Our plan is not to build in a silo for six months and hope we got it right. Instead, we will use a phased, iterative approach:
Immediate Transparency: The first action upon funding will be to make our GitHub repository public. Every line of code, every project task, and every bug report will be visible to everyone. This holds us accountable from day one.
Minimum Viable Product (MVP) First: Our first phase focuses on delivering the core, high-value features quickly (Address Reputation and Asset Verification). This allows us to get a working product into the hands of the community within the first three months.
Community-Driven Validation: We will launch a public beta of the Aegis bot and actively solicit feedback from real users. This is the ultimate test of feasibility. We will listen to what the community needs, what features are most helpful, and where the pain points are. This feedback loop will directly inform the development of the more complex features, like the Transaction Explainer, ensuring we are building a tool that people actually want and will use.
By combining my proven technical capabilities with a transparent and community-focused development process, I am certain that we can deliver a high-quality, impactful project that meets its goals on time and on budget.
Milestone Title
Project Setup & Core Features MVP Launch
Milestone Outputs
This first milestone is all about building a solid foundation and delivering immediate value. The key outputs will be:
Acceptance Criteria
This milestone will be considered complete when:
The GitHub repository is public, licensed, and contains our project plan.
The Telegram bot is online and responds to basic commands from any user.
A user can submit any valid Cardano address and receive a basic reputation report (e.g., age, activity, known flags).
A user can submit a token/NFT asset ID and receive a successful verification of its Policy ID against the blockchain.
Evidence of Completion
To prove this milestone is complete, I will provide:
Delivery Month
2
Cost
28000
Progress
30 %
Milestone Title
AI Integration, Discord Expansion & Public Beta Launch
Milestone Outputs
This milestone focuses on expanding the bot's intelligence and reach. The key outputs will be:
Acceptance Criteria
This milestone will be considered complete when:
The bot can successfully analyze a URL and return a clear security assessment (e.g., "safe," "suspicious," "known phishing site").
The bot is successfully deployed and operational on Discord.
The public beta is officially announced and made accessible to the wider Cardano community.
We have gathered actionable feedback from at least 20 unique community members in our feedback channel.
Evidence of Completion
To prove this milestone is complete, I will provide:
Delivery Month
4
Cost
28500
Progress
60 %
Milestone Title
Final Features, API Documentation & Project Completion
Milestone Outputs
This final milestone is about delivering the most powerful feature and ensuring the project's long-term value to developers. The key outputs will be:
Acceptance Criteria
This milestone will be considered complete when:
The bot can accept raw transaction data and return a simple, human-readable summary of its effects.
The API documentation is live, publicly accessible, and includes clear examples for each endpoint.
The final version of the bot is stable, and all core features are working as described in this proposal.
The project close-out report is submitted, detailing the project's journey, achievements, and plans for future maintenance and updates.
Evidence of Completion
To prove this milestone is complete, I will provide:
Delivery Month
6
Cost
28500
Progress
100 %
Please provide a cost breakdown of the proposed work and resources
We are requesting a total of ₳85,000 to fund the development, launch, and initial maintenance of the Aegis project over a 6-month period. The budget is designed to be lean and efficient, ensuring every Ada is used to create maximum value for the ecosystem.
1. Developer Compensation: ₳72,000
This covers my full-time commitment as the lead developer for the 6-month timeline, budgeted at ₳12,000 per month. This rate ensures I can dedicate my focused, professional effort to the project, allowing for rapid development and ensuring we meet our roadmap milestones. This is more than just a side project; it's a full-time commitment to building a core piece of community infrastructure.
2. Infrastructure & API Costs: ₳8,000
This allocation is for the essential third-party services that will power Aegis. This includes:
Server Hosting: Costs to run the Telegram and Discord bots 24/7.
Blockchain API: A premium subscription to a reliable Cardano API provider (e.g., Blockfrost, Koios) to ensure our bot has high uptime and fast access to on-chain data.
AI Model API: Costs associated with using a powerful Large Language Model for the link scanning and transaction analysis features.
3. Contingency Fund: ₳5,000
This is a prudent buffer (less than 6% of the total budget) to cover any unforeseen challenges. This could include needing a higher-tier API plan due to high user demand, unexpected development hurdles, or the need for specialized software. This fund ensures the project can adapt to challenges without needing to pause or request additional funding.
How does the cost of the project represent value for the Cardano ecosystem?
This ₳85,000 investment represents exceptional value for the Cardano ecosystem because it funds a public good that delivers three distinct layers of value: for users, for developers, and for the Cardano brand as a whole.
1. Direct Value for Every User:
At its heart, this project is about building confidence. Every single scam we prevent, from a simple phishing link to a complex wallet-draining transaction, provides a direct and tangible return on investment to the community. By giving every user a free, simple tool to verify their actions, we lower the risk of participation and make the entire ecosystem a safer place to be. A safer ecosystem encourages more activity, more investment, and more trust.
2. A Force Multiplier for Developers:
The budget doesn't just fund a single bot; it funds the creation of an open-source security toolkit that hundreds of other Cardano developers can use for free. This is a massive force multiplier. Instead of every dApp or wallet team having to build their own security features, they can integrate the Aegis API. This saves the ecosystem thousands of hours of redundant development work and raises the baseline security standard for all projects. Funding Aegis is like funding an infrastructure project that benefits everyone who builds on it.
3. Unmatched Capital Efficiency & Marketing:
This proposal is incredibly capital-efficient because it comes with a built-in, organic marketing and distribution engine. Through my Bana Codes channels, we have a direct line to thousands of engaged community members. We don't need a separate marketing budget. I will be creating videos, tutorials, and progress updates as part of my regular content, providing valuable education to the wider Cardano community while simultaneously promoting the adoption of Aegis. This project doesn't just deliver a product; it delivers a continuous stream of content that highlights innovation happening within the ecosystem.
For a modest investment, the community is funding a project that protects users, empowers developers, and strengthens the Cardano brand as a safe and innovative platform.
Terms and Conditions:
Yes
For this initial phase, I will be the sole developer and project lead. My name is [Your Name], and I'm a software developer who is passionate about building practical tools that solve real-world problems.
My core capability lies in developing AI-powered applications and multilingual bots, primarily using Python. This project is not a theoretical experiment for me; it is a direct application of the skills I use regularly. I have hands-on experience integrating external APIs, managing asynchronous operations, and building robust applications from the ground up.
However, my most unique and valuable asset is not just my technical skill, but the community I've already built. I run "Bana Codes," an educational platform with over 2,600 subscribers on Telegram and 2,300 on YouTube. This provides the Aegis project with several incredible advantages right from the start:
A Built-in Feedback Loop: We have an established, technical-minded audience to help test, critique, and refine the tool.
Immediate Distribution Channel: We don't need a separate marketing budget. I can communicate our progress, share demos, and drive adoption directly through my channels.
Proven Trust and Communication: My work with Bana Codes demonstrates a long-term commitment to educating and empowering the community, a principle that will be at the heart of the Aegis project.
All development will be conducted with full transparency on our public GitHub. I will be sharing regular updates, tutorials, and behind-the-scenes content across all my platforms to keep the Cardano community engaged and informed every step of the way.