Hydra-Point-of-Sale: Accept ADA, CNTs in Retail & Invoicing

[Proposal setup] Proposal title

Please provide your proposal title

Hydra-Point-of-Sale: Accept ADA, CNTs in Retail & Invoicing

[Proposal Summary] Budget Information

Enter the amount of funding you are requesting in ADA

95000

[Proposal Summary] Time

Please specify how many months you expect your project to last

4

[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?

Cardano lacks an open-source, non-custodial merchant PoS and invoicing system that supports ADA/CNTs, avoids fees/KYC, and offers fast settlement via Hydra for real-world commerce.

[Proposal Summary] Supporting Documentation

Supporting links

• https://x.com/trivolvetech/status/1915102979155489171
,
• https://trivolvetech.com/

[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

MIT License

[Theme Selection] Theme

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

Layer2

[Campaign Category] Category Questions

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

We will release Hydra Point-of-Sale under the MIT License, a permissive open-source license that allows anyone to use, modify, and distribute the code with minimal restrictions. This encourages global adoption, fosters community contributions, and ensures long-term sustainability by allowing integration into other Cardano projects. The license also guarantees transparency and enables rapid innovation while preserving the freedom for merchants and developers to adapt the solution to their specific needs.

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

From day one, the complete source code will be published in a public GitHub repository under the MIT License. Commits will be made in real time, and progress will be transparent through public commits, tagged releases, and issue tracking. We will post regular development updates on GitHub.

How will you provide high quality documentation?

Documentation will be developed in parallel with coding, ensuring clarity and completeness from the start. It will include installation guides, API specifications, Hydra integration instructions, and usage examples. All documentation will be hosted on GitHub Pages and a Gitbook site, with clear navigation, code samples, and visual diagrams. We will also provide video walkthroughs and step-by-step tutorials to support merchants, developers, and integrators worldwide.

[Your Project and Solution] Solution

Please describe your proposed solution and how it addresses the problem

Hydra Point-of-Sale is a self-hosted, open-source Point-of-Sale (PoS) and invoicing toolkit built for the Cardano blockchain. It enables merchants, freelancers, and service providers to accept ADA and Cardano Native Tokens (CNTs) directly on-chain, without intermediaries, custodians, or added fees, the only cost to users is the standard Cardano network fee.

The system is non-custodial, meaning private keys remain entirely under the control of the merchant. No third party holds funds at any time. The platform is also self-hosted, giving users complete sovereignty over their payment infrastructure, whether deployed on a personal server, cloud instance, or even low-cost hardware.

To address real-time settlement challenges, the solution integrates Hydra, Cardano’s layer-2 scaling protocol. Hydra support enables instant confirmation of transactions, making it suitable for in-person retail, events, and microtransactions. If Hydra is unavailable, the system automatically falls back to standard on-chain (Layer 1) payments.

Key features include:

PoS Web Interface — Optimized for retail, touchscreen devices, and kiosks, allowing quick product selection, payment request generation, and transaction confirmation.

Invoice Management — Merchants can create detailed invoices in ADA or CNTs with QR codes, expiry times, descriptions, and automated status updates. Invoices can be printed, downloaded as PDFs, or sent digitally.

Multi-token Support — Accept any Cardano Native Token, including stablecoins or community tokens, with merchant-defined token filters.

REST API & Webhooks — Developers can integrate the PoS and invoicing engine into existing e-commerce platforms like WooCommerce or Shopify, or build custom solutions.

Security-first Architecture — encrypted local key storage, and configurable user permissions for multi-employee operations.

How it Works

Setup & Hosting — Merchants deploy Hydra Point-of-Sale on their preferred environment, such as a personal server, cloud VPS, or local hardware.

Configuration — The merchant connects their Cardano wallet, defines accepted tokens, and sets up store details, product listings, or service menus.

Payment Flow — At checkout, the PoS generates a QR code containing payment details. Customers scan the code with their Cardano wallet to pay in ADA or CNTs.

Transaction Settlement — If Hydra is active, payments are confirmed instantly via the layer-2 protocol. If not, they are processed through Cardano’s standard on-chain layer.

Invoice & Records — The system issues a digital invoice, records the transaction, and updates its status in real-time for both merchant and customer.

By combining these elements, Hydra Point-of-Sale directly addresses the lack of a Cardano-native, fee-free, non-custodial payment solution. It empowers merchants to operate without relying on centralized payment processors or undergoing KYC, while giving them the ability to process transactions instantly via Hydra.

[Your Project and Solution] Impact

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

Hydra Point-of-Sale will serve as a critical enabler of real-world ADA and CNT adoption. By giving merchants, freelancers, and community organizations the ability to accept Cardano payments instantly, securely, and without added fees, the project reduces friction between blockchain technology and everyday economic activity.

• Demonstrates Cardano’s utility beyond DeFi into physical retail and service industries.
• Encourages circulation of ADA and CNTs in the economy, supporting ecosystem growth.
• Strengthens decentralization by eliminating dependency on centralized payment processors.
• Offers a live showcase of Hydra’s scalability benefits for the Cardano network.

Impact Measurement

We will measure success through:

Adoption Metrics: Number of merchants and freelancers running Hydra Point-of-Sale.

Transaction Data: Volume and value of ADA/CNT transactions processed.

Hydra Usage: Number and duration of active Hydra payment channels in operation.

Community Contributions: Number of forks, PRs, and extensions built by others.

Feedback & Case Studies: Testimonials from pilot merchants and event organizers.

These metrics will be tracked in dashboards and included in monthly progress reports.

Sharing Outputs & Opportunities

Open Source Repository: All code available under MIT License from day one, enabling others to deploy, fork, or integrate the solution.

Public Documentation: Guides, API docs, and video tutorials for developers and merchants, hosted on GitHub Pages.

By bridging the gap between blockchain capability and merchant usability, Hydra Point-of-Sale will help the Cardano community showcase real-world utility, inspire further innovation, and create lasting opportunities for decentralized commerce.

[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?

The Hydra Point-of-Sale project will be delivered by a team of seasoned blockchain and financial technology professionals with over 30 years of combined experience in building secure, scalable, and production-ready solutions. We have a proven track record of delivering high-quality Cardano projects with transparency, accountability, and measurable impact.

Development Team

Our core developers specialize in enterprise-grade blockchain infrastructure and decentralized application (dApp) development on Cardano. They have successfully led multiple Cardano-based projects, combining deep technical knowledge with practical deployment experience.

Core Competencies

Enterprise Blockchain Solutions: Designing secure, decentralized infrastructure for governments, enterprises, and public institutions.

Real-World Asset (RWA) Tokenization: Converting physical assets (commodities, real estate) into Cardano-native tokens to improve transparency and liquidity.

Zero-Knowledge Proofs (ZKPs): Building privacy-preserving systems for sensitive data management.

AI & Blockchain Integration: Leveraging AI for predictive analytics and operational optimization within blockchain-powered ecosystems.

Notable Projects & Experience

Government Forensics: Partnered with the Government of Uttar Pradesh, India, to develop a ZKP-powered forensic system on Cardano, ensuring tamper-proof, secure evidence management.

Granite Market Tokenization: Tokenized India’s $2.89B granite market with the GRNT-1 token on Cardano, improving transparency and investment liquidity.

Cardano-Midnight ZKBridge: This bridge enables Cardano’s assets to leverage Midnight advanced features for secure transactions for privacy focused usecases. This also allows two-way portability of assets.

Our approach will be validated through:

• Incremental development with public testnet releases.
• Merchant pilot programs to test both Layer 1 and Hydra payment flows.
• Continuous integration and automated testing for stability and security.

This combination of deep technical expertise & proven delivery record that Hydra Point-of-Sale can be executed with the trust, accountability, and quality expected by the Cardano community.

[Milestones] Project Milestones

Milestone Title

Project Kick-off & Technical Design

Milestone Outputs

Finalize requirements and feature set for Hydra Point-of-Sale.

Prepare technical architecture and data flow diagrams.

Set up GitHub repository with initial MIT license and contribution guidelines.

Confirm integration approach for Hydra and Layer 1 fallback.

Acceptance Criteria

Complete and reviewed requirements document outlining full Hydra Point-of-Sale feature set.

Technical architecture and data flow diagrams

Public GitHub repository created with MIT license, contribution guidelines, and initial README.

Documented integration plan for Hydra layer-2 and Layer 1 fallback

Evidence of Completion

Public link to GitHub repository showing MIT license, contribution guidelines, and initial project structure.

Uploaded requirements document and architecture diagrams to the repository (or shared public link).

Delivery Month

1

Cost

25000

Progress

20 %

Milestone Title

Core Development

Milestone Outputs

Implement PoS interface (retail & tablet-optimized).

Build invoice generation and tracking system (ADA/CNT).

Integrate wallet connection

Develop API endpoints for payment requests and invoice data.

Acceptance Criteria

Payments can be initiated, sent, and confirmed on Cardano Layer 1.

Invoices can be created, updated, and exported to excel and PDF formats.

User Interface tested on mobile, tablet, and desktop for resposiveness.

Evidence of Completion

Public demo video of PoS and invoicing features.

Code updated to GitHub with feature documentation.

Delivery Month

2

Cost

25000

Progress

40 %

Milestone Title

Hydra Integration & Testing

Milestone Outputs

Deploy Hydra head for instant ADA/CNT settlement.

Implement hybrid mode for L1/L2 fallback.

Run merchant pilot with at least 2 test environments.

Capture transaction speed, stability, and UX feedback.

Acceptance Criteria

Hydra payment processing works reliably in testnet and mainnet pilots.

Fallback to Layer 1 works without breaking merchant flow when L2 is unavailable.

Merchant Pilot feedback is collected and documented.

Evidence of Completion

Public testnet demo of Hydra payments.

Published pilot report with metrics and findings in PDF format.

Delivery Month

3

Cost

25000

Progress

80 %

Milestone Title

Launch & Project Close-out

Milestone Outputs

Mainnet release of Hydra Point-of-Sale under MIT License.

Publish full deployment and integration documentation.

Host final community demo.

Deliver final report including adoption metrics and next steps.

Acceptance Criteria

Mainnet-ready code uploaded to Github, downloadable and installable by the public.

Documentation and setup guide completed and hosted publicly in gitbook

Documented Feedback from launch event attendees.

Evidence of Completion

GitHub release tagged “v1.0.0” with all source code.

Publicly accessible documentation site.

Video recording of final community launch event.

Delivery Month

4

Cost

20000

Progress

100 %

[Final Pitch] Budget & Costs

Please provide a cost breakdown of the proposed work and resources

Milestone 1 – Project Kick-off & Technical Design

Project Manager: 10,000 ADA

Senior Cardano Developer: 10,000 ADA

Operational & Research Costs: 5,000 ADA

Total: 25,000 ADA

Milestone 2 – Core Development

Project Manager: 8,000 ADA

Senior Cardano Developer: 15,000 ADA

UI Designer: 2000 ADA

Total: 25,000 ADA

Milestone 3 – Hydra Integration & Testing

Project Manager: 7,000 ADA

Senior Cardano Developer: 14,000 ADA

Frontend Developer: 4000 ADA

Total: 25,000 ADA

Milestone 4 – Launch & Project Close-out

Project Manager: 8,000 ADA

Senior Cardano Developer: 12,000 ADA

Total: 20,000 ADA

[Final Pitch] Value for Money

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

Reusable Infrastructure

The PoS framework, invoice engine, and Hydra payment integration can be reused by merchants, dApp developers, community projects, and event organizers — multiplying the project’s impact beyond its initial launch.

Low Ongoing Costs for Users

Merchants using Hydra Point-of-Sale will incur no platform fees, no custodial risks, and no KYC barriers, only standard Cardano network fees.

This greatly reduces friction for adoption and encourages more ADA/CNT usage in real-world commerce.

Hydra Showcasing and Ecosystem Growth

This project doubles as a practical showcase for Hydra technology, demonstrating its speed and scalability benefits in a live, retail-ready environment.

It creates a tangible example for other Cardano builders on how to integrate Hydra into production systems.

Efficient Budget Allocation

The budget prioritizes core development and deployment over non-essential costs, ensuring that the majority of funds directly support engineering and delivery.

Four clear milestones ensure accountability and staged value delivery, reducing project risk.

Global Applicability

Suitable for a wide range of businesses, from small shops in emerging markets to large-scale e-commerce, without geographic or regulatory restrictions (due to the non-custodial, self-hosted nature).

All source code will be public from day one, allowing developers worldwide to use, fork, and extend the system without licensing costs.

This creates long-term ecosystem value by enabling ongoing innovation and customization for diverse Cardano use cases.

[Required Acknowledgements] Consent & Confirmation

Terms and Conditions:

Yes