Cardano Identity: A Secure WordPress Plugin & Token-Gating

[Proposal setup] Proposal title

Please provide your proposal title

Cardano Identity: A Secure WordPress Plugin & Token-Gating

[Proposal Summary] Budget Information

Enter the amount of funding you are requesting in ADA

75000

[Proposal Summary] Time

Please specify how many months you expect your project to last

6

[Proposal Summary] Translation Information

Please indicate if your proposal has been auto-translated

No

Original Language

en

[Proposal Summary] Problem Statement

What is the problem you want to solve?

Users risk their privacy by sharing emails & passwords for web access. This contradicts the self-sovereign identity Cardano wallets offer, creating a significant adoption barrier for Web3.

[Proposal Summary] Project Dependencies

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

No

Describe any dependencies or write 'No dependencies'

No dependencies.

[Proposal Summary] Project Open Source

Will your project's outputs be fully open source?

Yes

License and Additional Information

Our project will be fully open source, released under the MIT License. This ensures that the entire codebase of the project will be publicly accessible and available for community contributions. The open-source repository will be hosted on GitHub, where all development stages, including documentation, issue tracking, and feature updates, will be transparently managed.

[Theme Selection] Theme

Please choose the most relevant theme and tag related to the outcomes of your proposal

Developer Tools

[Campaign Category] Category Questions

Mention your open source license and describe your open source license rationale.

Our rationale for choosing the MIT License is to maximize adoption, collaboration, and community trust, which is ideal for a foundational tool like a WordPress plugin. By making our code freely available, we aim to:

• Foster Collaboration & Innovation: Encourage developers from the global Cardano and WordPress communities to contribute, audit, and build upon our work.
• Ensure Transparency & Trust: An open codebase allows for public review, ensuring the plugin is secure and functions as promised.
• Drive Widespread Adoption: Removing licensing barriers encourages maximum uptake by developers.

How do you make sure your source code is accessible to the public from project start, and people are informed?

We will ensure public access and keep the community informed through the following channels:

• Immediate Public Access via GitHub: The project's source code will be hosted in a public GitHub repository from day one.
• Proactive Community Communication: We will actively inform the public through multiple channels: monthly progress reports, community engagement, milestone demonstrations.

How will you provide high quality documentation?

We will provide high-quality documentation by creating comprehensive guides tailored to two specific audiences, ensuring the plugin is easy to use for everyone from non-technical site owners to advanced developers.

Our plan includes

• User Documentation: We will create detailed, step-by-step guides for website administrators.
• Developer Documentation: For developers who wish to contribute or extend the plugin's functionality, we will provide thorough technical documentation.
• Centralized & Accessible: All documentation will be published and maintained within our public GitHub repository.

[Your Project and Solution] Solution

Please describe your proposed solution and how it addresses the problem

The Problem with Digital Identity

Traditional login systems, which require users to hand over personal information like emails and passwords, are a liability. For users, they represent a constant risk of data breaches and loss of privacy. For website owners, managing this sensitive data is a significant security and compliance burden. This centralized model is fundamentally at odds with the self-sovereign principles of Web3.

Our solution is a simple yet powerful WordPress plugin that bridges this gap. It provides a "plug-and-play" tool for any website administrator to replace insecure, traditional logins with a secure, decentralized authentication system powered by the Cardano blockchain.

Key Features

• Advanced Token-Gating: Site owners can easily restrict access to premium content, special features, or entire sections of their site based on the ownership of specific Cardano native tokens or NFTs. This is a powerful tool for DAOs, NFT projects, and creators to build and reward their communities.
• Seamless Wallet Login: Users can securely authenticate with a single click using their favorite Cardano wallets (Eternl, Lace, etc.), eliminating the need for passwords and protecting their privacy.
• On-Chain Actions: Enable features like spam-resistant voting or commenting where a micro-transaction in ADA is required to verify the user's action on-chain, ensuring authenticity and engagement.
• Customizable Interface: A clean, simple front-end interface that can be easily customized to match any website's branding for a seamless user experience.
• Engagement Analytics: A dashboard for site owners to view anonymized data on wallet logins and token-gated access, helping them understand their Web3 user base.
• Fully Open-Source (MIT License): We are committed to transparency and collaboration. The entire codebase will be open-source to encourage community review, contribution, and trust.

Why WordPress?

WordPress powers over 43% of all websites on the internet. By creating a simple, integrable plugin for this platform, we are not just building a niche tool; we are creating an adoption highway. This single solution has the potential to introduce Cardano's utility to millions of websites and hundreds of millions of users, making it one of the most effective ways to drive mainstream adoption.

Why Cardano?

Cardano is the ideal blockchain for this solution for several key reasons:

• Security & Determinism: The EUTXO model provides a predictable and secure environment for handling authentication and on-chain actions.
• Low Transaction Fees: Features like on-chain voting are only feasible with Cardano's low, stable transaction fees.
• Native Asset Standard: Cardano’s native handling of tokens and NFTs makes our token-gating feature robust, efficient, and easy to implement.
• Growing Identity Ecosystem: This plugin will serve as a foundational layer, complementing and integrating with the broader identity solutions being developed across the Cardano ecosystem.

By building this bridge, we benefit everyone. Users gain privacy and control, developers get a powerful Web3 tool, and the Cardano ecosystem gains its most significant foothold yet into the mainstream web.

[Your Project and Solution] Impact

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

Our project is designed to be a powerful and scalable bridge between the mainstream web and the Cardano ecosystem, delivering tangible value in three key areas

1. Value to the Cardano Community

• A Mainstream Adoption Engine: WordPress powers over 43% of the web. This plugin will act as a primary onboarding tool, introducing millions of everyday users and website owners to the utility of Cardano wallets in a practical, low-friction way.
• Demonstrating Real-World Utility: Beyond just payments, this tool showcases Cardano's strengths in decentralized identity (password-less login) and native assets (token-gating). It makes the benefits of blockchain tangible for non-crypto-native businesses and creators.
• Empowering Developers and Creators: We provide a "plug-and-play" solution for the massive community of WordPress developers to begin building with Web3 technology. Simultaneously, we give Cardano-native projects (DAOs, NFT communities, etc.) a simple tool to create value and engage with their members on the world's most popular website platform.

2. How We Will Measure Our Impact

We are committed to data-driven reporting. We will track and share the following Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to measure our success:

• GitHub Engagement: We will monitor repository stars, forks, and pull requests to measure developer community engagement.
• User Feedback: We will aim for a 4.5+ star rating on the WordPress Plugin Directory.
• Case Studies: We will gather and publish testimonials and case studies from at least 3 wordpress developers.

3. How We Will Share Our Outputs and Opportunities

Our commitment to the community is centered on open access and transparent communication:

Outputs

• The Plugin: The final, polished plugin will be published for free on the official WordPress Plugin Directory, making it accessible to millions.
• Open-Source Code: The entire codebase will be maintained in a public GitHub repository under the MIT License, inviting community contributions and forks.
• Documentation: We will publish comprehensive guides for both end-users (site administrators) and developers who wish to contribute or extend the plugin's functionality.

Communication

• We will provide monthly progress updates through Linkedin and Telegram accounts.
• We will actively engage with the community in Cardano forums and developer channels to share our work and gather feedback.
• Upon completion, we will submit a detailed Project Close-out Report and a comprehensive video demonstration showcasing the plugin's features and its impact.

[Your Project and Solution] Capabilities & 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's capability is best demonstrated by our proven track record within the Cardano Catalyst ecosystem. We are not a new team; we have successfully proposed, delivered, and closed out multiple funded projects, including: Funded project 1 https://projectcatalyst.io/funds/11/cardano-open-ecosystem/cardano-for-100000-students and Funded project 2 https://projectcatalyst.io/funds/11/cardano-open-developers/enhancing-cardano-developer-ecosystem-with-open-source-tooling

This history shows our consistent ability to manage funds responsibly, meet deadlines, and deliver high-quality, open-source tools for the Cardano community. Trust is earned through action, and our past performance is the strongest evidence of our commitment.

Technical Feasibility & Risk Management

Our approach is designed to be both feasible and low-risk:

1. Proven Technical Expertise: Our team possesses the specific skills required for this project, combining senior-level experience in WordPress plugin architecture with verified expertise in Cardano blockchain integration via the CIP-30 standard.

2. Agile Development: We will validate our approach by first developing a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) that perfects the core wallet login functionality. Only after this core feature is stable and tested will we build out the advanced features like token-gating. This iterative process, which we have used successfully in our past projects, minimizes risk and ensures the final product is robust.

3. Self-Contained Project: Our project has no external dependencies. We have all the skills and resources required on our team, giving us full control over the development timeline and removing the risk of third-party delays.

Fund Management and Accountability

We hold ourselves to the highest standard of accountability:

• Transparent Budgeting: Every ADA requested in our budget is precisely allocated to a specific development milestone, testing, or marketing task, as detailed in our proposal.
• Open-Source as Default: Our commitment to a fully open-source (MIT License) project is our primary accountability tool. The community can track our progress in real-time via our public GitHub repository, ensuring all work funded by the treasury is visible to everyone.
• Proactive Communication: We will provide detailed public monthly progress reports to the community. These reports will outline work completed against our milestones, challenges encountered, and a clear plan for the upcoming month.

[Milestones] Project Milestones

Milestone Title

MVP Development - Core Wallet Login

Milestone Outputs

A functional alpha version of the WordPress plugin focused exclusively on secure, password-less login functionality.

Outputs

• Authntication using at least one CIP-30 wallet
• Login page customization features for site admins
• A public github repo

Acceptance Criteria

• The public GitHub repository is active with regular, documented commits.
• A video demonstration is provided showing a user successfully authenticating and logging into a WordPress test site using at least one CIP-30 wallet (e.g., Lace, Eternl).
• Basic login page customization features (e.g., button text and color) are implemented and demonstrated.

A progress report detailing the core architecture and development progress is shared with the community.

Evidence of Completion

• Link to github repo with enough documentation on Readme
• Link to login demonstratioin demo video
• Link to video of site admins login page customization features

Delivery Month

2

Cost

20000

Progress

30 %

Milestone Title

Advanced Feature Integration & Public Beta

Milestone Outputs

The plugin is enhanced with its advanced features (token-gating, on-chain actions) and released for public beta testing.

Outputs

• The token-gating feature implemented, showing content that is visible to a wallet holding a specific token/NFT and correctly hidden from one that does not.
• Then on-chain actions feature implemented (e.g., a simple poll) creating a verifiable access based on the token held.
• The analytics dashboard is functional, displaying basic metrics like wallet sign-ins.
• A public beta version of the plugin is deployed on a live test site, with a link and feedback form shared with the community.

Acceptance Criteria

• A video demonstration of the token-gating feature, showing content that is visible to a wallet holding a specific token/NFT and correctly hidden from one that does not.
• A video demonstration of the on-chain actions feature (e.g., a simple poll) creating a verifiable access based on the token held.
• The analytics dashboard is functional, displaying basic metrics like wallet sign-ins.
• A public beta version of the plugin is deployed on a live test site, with a link and feedback form shared with the community.

Evidence of Completion

• Link to token-gating feature demo video
• Link to on-chain actions demo video
• Link to analytics dashboard demo video
• Link to staging/development site

Delivery Month

4

Cost

25000

Progress

60 %

Milestone Title

Final Release, Documentation & Marketing

Milestone Outputs

A production-ready, secure, and well-documented plugin is released to the public.

• The plugin submitted to wordpress.org official plugin directory
• User guide and technical documentation finalized and shared on github
• Official launch announcements will be posted on social media and cardano community channels
• A project closeout report prepared bsed on catalyst guideline.

Acceptance Criteria

• The final, stable version of the plugin is officially submitted to the WordPress.org Plugin Directory for public access.
• Comprehensive user documentation for site administrators and technical documentation for developers are published on the project's GitHub.
• The marketing and outreach plan is initiated, including an official launch announcement on social media and Cardano community channel.
• A Project Close-out Report and final summary video are submitted to the Catalyst team, detailing project outcomes, challenges, measured impact (KPIs), and future plans.

Evidence of Completion

• Link to wordpress.org plugin directory for public access
• Link to user guide and technical documentations
• Images/videos of social media posts evidence
• Link to final closeout report based on Catalyst guideline
• Link to final closeout video

Delivery Month

6

Cost

30000

Progress

100 %

[Final Pitch] Budget & Costs

Please provide a cost breakdown of the proposed work and resources

Our budget is designed to be transparent, efficient, and entirely focused on delivering a high-quality, secure product for the Cardano ecosystem. The total requested funding is 75,000 ADA, with no additional funding sources required.

We have calculated our costs based on a blended team rate of 50 ADA per hour. This professional rate reflects our team's proven expertise, successful track record in previous Catalyst funds, and the level of quality required to build secure, public-facing infrastructure. This rate allows our experienced members to dedicate the necessary focused time to the project.

There are no third-party software licenses or service costs; 100% of the funds are allocated directly to the development, management, and delivery of the open-source plugin.

Milestone 1: MVP Development - Core Wallet Login (Months 1-2)

• Project Management & Lead WP Dev: 200 hours

Tasks: Project planning, team coordination, core plugin architecture, and front-end development for the login interface.

• Lead Blockchain Developer: 200 hours

Tasks: Architecting the secure CIP-30 wallet integration and authentication logic.

• Backend & Frontend Support: 150 hours

Tasks: Building supporting APIs, assisting with wallet integration, and UI implementation.

• QA & Testing: 50 hours

Tasks: Initial test case creation and validation of core login functionality across multiple wallets and browsers.

Milestone 2: Advanced Feature Integration & Public Beta (Months 3-4)

• Project Management & Lead WP Dev: 180 hours

Tasks: Managing the feature integration phase and developing the admin-side configuration panels.

• Lead Blockchain Developer: 120 hours

Tasks: Developing and testing the token-gating and on-chain action smart contract logic.

• Backend & Frontend Support: 220 hours

Tasks: Building the analytics dashboard and integrating the token-gating logic with the WordPress content system.

• QA & Testing: 80 hours

Tasks: Comprehensive testing of all new features, security audits, and managing the public beta feedback process.

Milestone 3: Final Release, Documentation & Marketing (Months 5-6)

• Project Management: 40 hours

Tasks: Overseeing the final release, submission to the WordPress directory, and community communication.

• Development & QA: 100 hours

Tasks: Implementing final fixes based on beta feedback and conducting final regression testing.

• Documentation & Marketing: 100 hours

Tasks: Writing comprehensive user/developer guides, creating marketing materials (posts, social media content), and engaging with the community.

• Final Reporting: 60 hours

Tasks: Compiling the Project Close-out Report and producing the final demonstration video

[Final Pitch] Value for Money

How does the cost of the project represent value for the Cardano ecosystem?

This 75,000 ADA proposal represents a strategic investment in a high-impact, foundational tool for the Cardano ecosystem, delivering exceptional value in three key ways:

1. Investing in a Proven, Low-Risk Team

Our budget is based on a blended rate of 50 ADA/hour for a team with a verifiable track record of successfully delivering multiple funded projects in Cardano Catalyst. While this is a professional rate, it represents significant value because the Treasury is not funding a speculative venture; it is investing in reliability. You are funding a team that has already demonstrated its ability to manage funds, meet deadlines, and deliver high-quality, open-source code. This drastically reduces project risk and ensures a higher probability of a successful outcome compared to an unproven team.

2. Unlocking an Unparalleled Adoption Channel

WordPress powers over 43% of the internet. For a modest investment of 75,000 ADA, we are building a permanent, open-source bridge to this ecosystem. This isn't just another dApp; it's an adoption highway. If only 1,000 websites install this plugin (a very conservative goal), the cost to the ecosystem is a mere 75 ADA per integration for a tool that can onboard thousands of their users. The potential return on investment in terms of new users, developers, and on-chain activity is unparalleled.

3. Building Reusable Public Infrastructure

This plugin is an "ecosystem public good." By funding its development once, the Treasury provides a foundational tool that every current and future Cardano project can use for free. Instead of hundreds of projects spending their own funds to build custom WordPress solutions, we are creating a single, secure, and well-maintained solution for everyone. This "build once, use everywhere" approach saves the ecosystem immense future costs and development time, making this a highly efficient use of community funds.

In summary, this budget is a strategic investment in a proven team to build a force-multiplier tool that will significantly lower the barrier for mainstream adoption of Cardano.

[Required Acknowledgements] Consent & Confirmation

Terms and Conditions:

Yes