Last updated 3 months ago
.NET lacks a production-ready Cardano transaction builder. Chrysalis.Tx exists but needs comprehensive testing, maintenance, and advanced features to become the canonical solution.
Transform Chrysalis.Tx into .NET's canonical transaction builder through comprehensive testing, enhanced template engine, smart coin selection, and full provider APIs for production use.
This is the total amount allocated to SAIB: Chrysalis.Tx – Advanced Transaction Building for .NET.
Please provide your proposal title
SAIB: Chrysalis.Tx – Advanced Transaction Building for .NET
Enter the amount of funding you are requesting in ADA
100000
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?
.NET lacks a production-ready Cardano transaction builder. Chrysalis.Tx exists but needs comprehensive testing, maintenance, and advanced features to become the canonical solution.
Supporting links
Does your project have any dependencies on other organizations, technical or otherwise?
Yes
Describe any dependencies or write 'No dependencies'
This project has a dependency on Aiken UPLC for smart contract interaction and validation. Aiken UPLC is essential for proper Plutus script evaluation and transaction validation when working with smart contracts, ensuring our transaction builder can handle complex DeFi operations and script interactions accurately. This is why we're also building a native .NET UPLC evaluator (Chrysalis.Plutus) - to eliminate this dependency and ensure the entire Cardano stack becomes pure .NET without FFI bridges.
Will your project's outputs be fully open source?
Yes
License and Additional Information
Chrysalis.Tx is fully open source under the MIT License. All transaction building algorithms and provider implementations are publicly available.
Please choose the most relevant theme and tag related to the outcomes of your proposal
Developer Tools
Mention your open source license and describe your open source license rationale.
We chose the MIT License for consistency with Microsoft's .NET ecosystem—including .NET Core, ASP.NET Core, and Entity Framework Core. This alignment ensures seamless enterprise adoption by removing license compatibility concerns. MIT allows commercial use, modification, and distribution without requiring derivative works to remain open source, eliminating barriers for both open source and commercial Cardano projects.
How do you make sure your source code is accessible to the public from project start, and people are informed?
All development has been public on GitHub since the repository was forked in late 2023, and developers can watch the repository for real-time updates. Every commit, pull request, and issue is visible. Additionally, updates are shared through multiple channels, including NuGet package releases, GitHub releases with changelogs (https://github.com/SAIB-Inc/Chrysalis/releases) and X posts. We would also share progress in our public Discord server and through Catalyst reports.
How will you provide high quality documentation?
Similar to our previous Catalyst project, Argus (formerly Cardano.Sync), Chrysalis.Tx documentation will be centralized on our website: https://docs.saib.dev/. It will include API references, integration guides, and working examples for all supported protocols. Currently, the GitHub README provides an overview of the project and quick-start instructions and the source code includes XML comments to support IDE IntelliSense. Documentation is updated on major releases, ensuring developers have accurate and up-to-date information for seamless integration.
Please describe your proposed solution and how it addresses the problem
This proposal is part of a suite comprising Chrysalis—the foundational library for developing on Cardano with .NET and the core of our .NET Cardano technology stack.
Chrysalis.Tx represents months of unfunded development where we built a native .NET transaction builder from the ground up. When existing solutions like CardanoSharp proved outdated and incomplete, we invested our own resources studying the UTxO model, implementing coin selection algorithms, and creating provider integrations. Despite being unfunded, we delivered a working transaction builder with a revolutionary template system inspired by domain-specific approaches like tx3, allowing developers to define reusable transaction patterns that generate concrete transactions from parameters—turning weeks of complex transaction logic into simple template invocations. The results exceeded expectations—Chrysalis.Tx is now the only active .NET transaction building library. However, like Chrysalis.CBOR before its enhancement, the library now needs comprehensive testing, code quality audits, and advanced features to establish it as the canonical solution. Developers still face critical gaps:
To establish Chrysalis.Tx as the production-ready canonical .NET transaction builder, we will focus on comprehensive enhancements:
1. Comprehensive Testing and Code Quality Audit
2. Enhanced Template Engine
Building on our tx3-inspired template system, we'll enhance the core engine capabilities:
3. Advanced Coin Selection Algorithms
We will implement a suite of sophisticated coin selection algorithms, giving developers precise control over transaction costs, privacy, and efficiency.
4. Complete Provider Support and Advanced Transaction Features
We will provide robust data provider support and advanced transaction capabilities for enterprise use:
This comprehensive approach transforms Chrysalis.Tx from a functional library into an enterprise-grade, battle-tested foundation that the entire .NET Cardano ecosystem can rely on with confidence. By providing comprehensive testing, expanding the template system, and adding advanced features, we eliminate weeks of development time while preventing costly bugs and wallet fragmentation.
Most importantly, establishing Chrysalis.Tx as the canonical .NET transaction builder prevents the fragmentation and abandonment that plagued previous .NET Cardano libraries. With proper testing, documentation, and ongoing maintenance funded by Catalyst, we ensure this critical infrastructure remains viable for years to come—enabling the 7-8 million .NET developers worldwide to build on Cardano with confidence.
Please define the positive impact your project will have on the wider Cardano community
Chrysalis.Tx will become the production-ready canonical transaction builder for .NET, transforming how developers build on Cardano. Through comprehensive testing and code quality audits, we'll ensure reliability for all applications from DeFi protocols to NFT marketplaces. The enhanced tx3-inspired template engine reduces complex transaction logic to simple function calls, while smart coin selection algorithms significantly cut transaction fees and prevent wallet fragmentation. By establishing a properly maintained foundation, we prevent the abandonment that plagued previous .NET Cardano libraries, ensuring sustainable development for the ecosystem.
Furthermore, the zero-dependency architecture removes a major barrier for enterprise .NET adoption - eliminating the compliance and security reviews typically required for solutions with external dependencies.
While this project specifically targets .NET developers, it strategically positions Cardano for significant enterprise adoption. The .NET ecosystem represents one of the world's largest developer communities, with over 7-8 million active developers globally. By providing enterprise-grade transaction management tooling, we're removing a major barrier for institutional and corporate adoption of Cardano applications that require efficient, cost-effective transaction processing.
Our impact is already proven in production: Levvy, built with our Chrysalis toolchain including early Tx optimizations, currently secures 1.76 million ADA in total value locked across thousands of active loans, directly serving the Cardano community today. This demonstrates that our transaction management tools work and scale to handle real financial operations with optimal fee efficiency.
The improvements of the module will be tracked in both quantitative and qualitative metrics:
Quantitative Impact Measurement:
Qualitative Impact Measurement:
To ensure the greatest impact possible, technical outputs would be published as a NuGet package for easy installation, with the complete source code placed in the GitHub repository. Comprehensive documentation would be recorded on our existing documentation site containing examples and tutorials.
Technical outputs would then be strengthened by community engagement, with progress reports published to the Catalyst community, video tutorials and presentations establishing guidelines, and our active Discord support channel for any inquiries or issues.
The success of this project would make Cardano significantly more accessible to the massive enterprise .NET community. Additionally, C#’s popularity could boost adoption and visibility far beyond the existing ecosystem. With proven production impact already demonstrated through Levvy's success, this library expansion would enable a wider range of high-quality projects and use cases on the blockchain, ultimately strengthening Cardano's position in the enterprise development space.
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?
We believe that SAIB Inc. has a strong track record of technical success and community-oriented tool creation and management. Highlights include achieving major milestones in our Catalyst Fund 12–funded project Argus (Cardano.Sync - https://projectcatalyst.io/funds/12/cardano-open-developers/cardanosync-or-a-netc-indexing-framework-for-cardano) delivering consistent monthly Chrysalis updates from v0.1.0 to v0.7.18 (https://github.com/SAIB-Inc/Chrysalis/releases) and deploying Levvy (https://levvy.fi/) which leverages Chrysalis and Argus to process Mainnet transactions. Furthermore, our tool development is open and transparent, with code publicly available on GitHub and progress tracked in real time.
The team brings over 15 years of full-stack development experience, with six dedicated engineers who have proven Cardano expertise. We have successfully implemented complex Conway-era CBOR types, built high-performance networking protocols that outperform Rust implementations, and created production-ready transaction building systems. Additionally, we maintain strong collaborations with key ecosystem participants including TxPipe, dcSpark, and the Cardano Foundation. As operators of the ADAPH stake pool and contributors to multiple open-source Cardano tools, we bring hands-on network experience and deep integration within the Cardano community.
This deep expertise enabled us to architect Chrysalis.Tx with zero external dependencies, reducing project risk and ensuring long-term ecosystem stability as the foundational .NET library for Cardano.
Leveraging our successful work on Chrysalis.Cbor, the team has already implemented complex Conway-era types and CBOR serialization. Furthermore, we have already applied this expertise to Chrysalis.Tx itself, having developed its core transaction builder. This proven expertise provides the confidence and capability to further enhance and validate the Chrysalis.Tx module. By building incrementally on these existing layers, we can reduce risk and ensure a reliable development process.
Furthermore, our track record demonstrates that we deliver, aiming for the highest quality while ensuring responsible and transparent fund usage.
Milestone Title
Performance Optimization & Quality Foundation (Months 1-2)
Milestone Outputs
Establish comprehensive testing and quality standards while implementing performance optimizations that provide measurable improvements in transaction building efficiency and reliability.
Source code containing:
Publicly available link to report outlining updates and test results:
Acceptance Criteria
A reviewer must see the source code has:
A reviewer must be able to access the document and see it contains the coverage and achieves:
Evidence of Completion
Delivery Month
2
Cost
30000
Progress
20 %
Milestone Title
Complete Feature Implementation (Months 3-5)
Milestone Outputs
Implement comprehensive provider support, enhanced template system, and advanced transaction features including coin selection algorithms, ensuring .NET developers have access to all modern transaction building capabilities.
Acceptance Criteria
A reviewer must see the source code has:
A reviewer must be able to access the document and see it contains the coverage and achieves:
Evidence of Completion
Delivery Month
5
Cost
40000
Progress
50 %
Milestone Title
Documentation & Community Engagement (Month 6)
Milestone Outputs
Create comprehensive documentation and educational resources that enable widespread adoption of the enhanced transaction builder, ensuring developers can effectively utilize all new features.
Detailed report outlining:
Acceptance Criteria
A reviewer must be able to access the document and see it contains the coverage and achieves:
Evidence of Completion
Delivery Month
6
Cost
20000
Progress
80 %
Milestone Title
Project Close-out Report and Video (Month 6)
Milestone Outputs
To deliver the final close-out report and video presentation documenting all project achievements, outcomes, and lessons learned.
Final Close-Out Report:
Final Close-Out Video/Presentation:
Acceptance Criteria
Final Close-Out Report:
Final Close-Out Video/Presentation:
Evidence of Completion
Link to Final Close-Out Report:
Link to Final Close-Out Video/Presentation:
Delivery Month
6
Cost
10000
Progress
100 %
Please provide a cost breakdown of the proposed work and resources
The project's cost breakdown ensures value for the Cardano ecosystem by focusing on key areas:
Development Team (65,000 ADA):
Developers working around 4 months will handle coin selection algorithm implementation, provider API integration, transaction features development, architecture design, code review, and technical documentation. This investment ensures sophisticated optimization algorithms and production-ready transaction building capabilities.
Testing and Quality Assurance (15,000 ADA):
Algorithm testing through historical transaction analysis and fee comparison validation. Provider testing including Blockfrost, Maestro, and Kupo API costs with testnet/mainnet node access. AI development tools for test generation and code optimization. These investments guarantee robust implementations that demonstrably reduce transaction costs.
Documentation and Community (10,000 ADA):
Technical documentation covering API references, migration guides, and optimization best practices. Community engagement through Discord support, developer workshops, and beta testing programs. Marketing and developer outreach through social media and conference presentations. Two frontend engineers will create/enhance the documentation website at our official documentation website as part of this allocation.
Project Management and Reporting (10,000 ADA):
Project coordination including milestone planning, team management, and resource allocation. Catalyst reporting with progress updates and major milestone documentation. Close-out activities include final report, video production, and knowledge transfer. This ensures transparent delivery and accountability throughout the project.
Total Budget: 100,000 ADA
Third-Party Services:
Provider APIs (Blockfrost/Maestro) for testing are included in the Testing & QA budget. All other development utilizes free tier services (GitHub, Discord, NuGet) and open-source tools (VS Code, .NET SDK). The project leverages existing Chrysalis.Tx infrastructure, maximizing value delivery within budget constraints.
No Additional Funding Required:
The 100,000 ADA fully covers all project costs. We leverage existing Chrysalis infrastructure and our established development environment, eliminating setup costs. Our team is based in the Philippines where development costs are competitive, maximizing value per ADA spent.
How does the cost of the project represent value for the Cardano ecosystem?
The costs of this project have been carefully structured to ensure they represent strong value for money for the Cardano ecosystem, while delivering high-quality results. Here's how the costs were determined and why they are justified:
Development Team (65,000 ADA):
The 65,000 ADA allocated for development is based on standard market rates for skilled blockchain developers with transaction optimization expertise. This ensures our engineers are compensated fairly for the specialized knowledge required to implement sophisticated coin selection algorithms, which demands deep understanding of blockchain economics and optimization techniques beyond general software development. This investment ensures we can deliver advanced transaction features that will save users significant fees.
Testing and Quality Assurance (15,000 ADA):
Transaction optimization requires extensive testing with real blockchain data. The budget covers algorithm testing against historical transactions, provider API testing costs, and AI-assisted development tools. This investment is critical because poor coin selection can cost users thousands in unnecessary fees. Professional testing ensures our algorithms consistently outperform basic implementations while preventing wallet fragmentation.
Documentation and Community (10,000 ADA):
Clear documentation is essential for developers to understand optimization techniques. This budget ensures complete API documentation, migration guides, and active community support through Discord and workshops. Our developers will update the documentation website, making optimization strategies accessible. Good documentation enables developers to integrate advanced features quickly, reducing implementation time from weeks to days.
Project Management and Reporting (10,000 ADA):
Effective project management is essential for delivering complex technical projects on time and within scope. This allocation covers project coordination including milestone planning, team management, and resource allocation, ensuring efficient development workflows and preventing costly delays. Catalyst reporting with comprehensive progress updates and milestone documentationmaintains transparency and accountability to the community throughout the project lifecycle. Close-out activities including final report, video production, and knowledge transfer ensure successful project completion and enable future community contributions.
Direct Economic Impact:
Each poorly optimized transaction costs users unnecessary fees and wallet fragmentation creates exponentially growing costs over time. Smart coin selection can reduce fees by significant amounts per transaction. For active DeFi users making hundreds of transactions, savings quickly reach thousands of ADA. Preventing just one case of severe wallet fragmentation could save tens of thousands in future fees.
Competitive Rates and Regional Standards:
Our team operates from the Philippines, where we can access strong technical talent at competitive rates. This regional advantage allows us to deliver the same quality as teams charging hundreds of thousands of dollars in other ecosystems, while keeping costs reasonable for Catalyst funding. We've benchmarked our rates against local market standards to ensure fair compensation without budget inflation.
Long-Term Value:
By building the first established, native .NET solution without dependencies, we're establishing Cardano's technical foundation in the .NET space with architectural decisions that will benefit the ecosystem for years. The zero-dependency design ensures minimal ongoing maintenance costs and maximum developer adoption potential.
While the initial investment is 100,000 ADA, the fee savings accumulate permanently across all users. Every transaction processed with our optimized algorithms saves fees, creating cumulative value far exceeding the development cost. The open-source nature ensures these optimizations benefit the entire ecosystem forever. We're building on the existing Chrysalis.Tx foundation, reducing risk and accelerating delivery of advanced features.
In summary, this project delivers exceptional value through immediate fee savings for every user, prevention of costly wallet fragmentation, and permanent open-source optimization algorithms that will benefit Cardano transactions for years to come. The careful allocation of resources ensures the ecosystem receives enterprise-grade transaction optimization at a fraction of typical development costs.
Terms and Conditions:
Yes
Team Lead:
Clark Alesna - https://www.linkedin.com/in/clarkalesna
15+ years full-stack development, transaction optimization specialist, SAIB Inc. founder
Backend Engineers:
Rico Miles Quiblat - https://www.linkedin.com/in/rico-miles-quiblat-34a6b7298
Herminigildo Timtim - https://www.linkedin.com/in/hrminigildo-timtim-43a7b0298
Wendell Mor Tamayo - https://www.linkedin.com/in/wendell-mor-tamayo-41388b298
Frontend Engineers:
Stan Kiefer Gallego - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kiefer-gallego
Caitlin Lindsay - https://www.linkedin.com/in/caitlin-mariel-lindsay-7341a3323
Operation and Marketing:
Bern Villacura - https://www.linkedin.com/in/barbiebern/
Leah Belle Acas - https://www.linkedin.com/in/leah-belle-acas-886714370/