Last updated 8 months ago
Document digitalization relies heavily on costly X.509 certificates. While Cardano could provide a great alternative, legal uncertainty is slowing down Web3 adoption.
Our Professor and lawyers perform a legal and academic analysis, followed by a publication in academic journal to clarify opportunities offered by global and regional key regulations (focus on eIDAS).
This is the total amount allocated to Disrupting X.509: Building Legal Arguments for Cardano.
Please provide your proposal title
Disrupting X.509: Building Legal Arguments for Cardano
Enter the amount of funding you are requesting in ADA
100000
Please specify how many months you expect your project to last
9
Please indicate if your proposal has been auto-translated
No
Original Language
en
What is the problem you want to solve?
Document digitalization relies heavily on costly X.509 certificates. While Cardano could provide a great alternative, legal uncertainty is slowing down Web3 adoption.
Supporting links
Does your project have any dependencies on other organizations, technical or otherwise?
Yes
Describe any dependencies or write 'No dependencies'
To properly prototype a strong legal concept of e-signatures based on Cardano without reliance on X509 certificates, we collaborate with our project partner Docufi3d/BlockSign and its leadership team composed of Patrick Rayermann, Tim Brückmann and Dennis Mittmann. Our partner is currently executing an approved Catalyst proposal (Fund ID: #1300028 Catalyst project “Bridging Web2 to Web3 with Swisscom: Onboarding SMEs to Cardano with Digital Signing”). With the verification and digital certificates from their reputable trust service provider, Swisscom Trust Services AG, they manage to raise Cardano awareness and respond to web2 requirements in a dynamic web3 environment. As leading web3 lawyers, we plan to define a legal concept enabling, through the Docufi3d/Blocksign products, to use the Cardano Blockchain as a stand-alone, autonomous web3 solution for legally binding e-signing, e-invoicing and e-archiving without the need to rely on fragmented and expensive classical trust service providers. The success of this project therefore depends on the collaboration with the Docufi3d/Blocksign team since they will provide strategic technical insights on how their e-signing tools benefit from the Cardano's blockchain and ecosystem.
Will your project's outputs be fully open source?
No
License and Additional Information
Our commitment to making our project fully open-source means dealing with significant legal constraints due to the professional secrecy requirements applicable to all lawyers and IP restrictions associated to academic publications. We aim to maximize the open-source aspects of our project, but the complex legal environment around IP means we can't fully guarantee this. We remain dedicated to embracing open-source principles as broadly as possible.
Please choose the most relevant theme and tag related to the outcomes of your proposal.
Identity & Verification
Describe what makes your idea innovative compared to what has been previously funded (whether by you or others).
Most Catalyst-funded concepts are technical. By adding a legal and academic assessment to a technical product, we're creating a holistic (tech + business + legal) solution. This unprecedented approach is key to demonstrating legal compliance and bridging Web2 and Web3 for real-world needs like e-signing and sealing.
Describe what your prototype or MVP will demonstrate, and where it can be accessed.
Our legal prototype will demonstrate that Cardano-based e-signing solutions are admissible for a large number of real-world use cases, without necessarily relying on X.509 certificates. This demonstration will be conducted by an associate law professor and attorney-at-law focusing on EU law (A. ROCHER) and by a leading Web3 Swiss lawyer, Matthias Traussnig. The findings will be accessible in two ways: a summary of the legal assessment published on platforms like GitHub, and a full-length legal analysis in a scientific academic journal.
Describe realistic measures of success, ideally with on-chain metrics.
We will issue a state-of-the-art legal memorandum to the Catalyst reviewers, with a focus on the very mature EU framework, especially the eIDAS regulation. It will feature extensive legal references, relevant case law, and leading academic opinions from various jurisdictions across the globe. Additionally, the successful acceptance of a scientific publication in a leading academic journal will serve as a powerful validation of our legal analysis. This two-part approach ensures that our findings are not only comprehensive but also recognized by the highest academic standards.
Please describe your proposed solution and how it addresses the problem
This proposed project is currently needed because, at the moment, the highest level of e-signature relies upon the X.509 Root Certificate. The X.509 root certificate is a foundational component in digital security, used as part of the Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) to verify the authenticity and validity of digital certificates. It serves as a trusted “root” or authority in a hierarchy of certificates, enabling secure, encrypted communications and digital signatures across the internet. X.509 certificates provide a widely accepted and reliable method for securing digital communications. However, they rely on centralized certificate authorities, which can be a single point of failure or a target for cyberattacks.
Our solution consists in performing a legal assessment of a completely innovative nature. The main objective is to enable a fully Web3 e-signing solution, leveraging the Cardano blockchain's unique capabilities without needing the currently unavoidable X.509 certificates. This can be done not through a theoretical legal analysis but on a pragmatic legal assessment based on concrete Cardano technical products. Whereas most legal assessments are done by lawyers to their clients in a strict confidentiality framework, our approach consists in broadening the scope of recipients of the legal services. Firstly, Docufi3d/Blocksign as the main project partner will get the entirey of the legal assessment based on the features of their products. Secondly, the entire Cardano community will have access to a pragmatic and easy-to-use summary of this legal assessment. Thirdly, the maximum level of communication and credibility will be reached through the publication of a scientific article in a leading academic journal. Such academic publications are scrutinized by regulators and lawmakers and can encourage Blockchain permissible legal reforms.
Please define the positive impact your project will have on the wider Cardano community
This project, with the technical support from our sponsor Docufi3d/Blocksign, will provide positive benefits to the entire Cardano community since we plan to publicly release key extracts and conclusions of the legal analysis so that all interested parties can rely on this effort and come up with new potential projects and ideas.
In addition, the global academic community will benefit from the in-depth scientific publication to be issued in a leading academic journal. Subsequently, legal practitioners can use this assessment to advocate and initiate lobbying efforts towards regulators to make blockchain (specifically Cardano) a valid alternative to X.509 certificates in a large number of use cases, satisfying the needs of most individuals and SMEs looking for affordable and reliable document digitization options.
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 articulate a rare set of skills through the combination of digital legal experts supported by Cardano blockchain technology experts (Docufi3d/Blocksign), who are already running a successful e-signing product on Cardano with funding from Catalyst. Our two leading lawyers, one of them being also a recognised associate law professor with publications in all continents, ensures the relevance of the legal assessment to be conducted. With 10+ years of working experience in international projects in leading web3 consultancy firms and big four for each of them, the project can leverage on their strong track record. In the course of their past and ongoing legal engagements for their clients, they have already identified hidden legal opportunities that they can now assess in detail and disclose to the wider Cardano community.
Milestone Title
Deep-dive legal Memorandum Part 1: Building legal arguments under EU law (eIDAS)
Milestone Outputs
In Milestone 1, we perform a thorough legal assessment of key EU ground-breaking regulations planning EU-wide deployment of mandatory e-invoicing and e-ID wallet since these new regulations open doors to more Blockchain usage. The main objective is to pave the way for web3 only e-signing, e-sealing, e-invoicing, e-archiving services powered by the Cardano Blockchain as an alternative to the expensive and complex web2 qualified trust services providers leveraging on X509 certificates.
Acceptance Criteria
A state-of-the-art legal assessment strongly documented and justified by multiple relevant legal references, including leading academic opinions, case law, regulatory and technical guidelines of all key EU regulations.
Evidence of Completion
The reviewer will get access to the entire legal memorandum and the referenced legal sources with - where possible - hyperlinks to key laws, regulations and cases for ease of review and validation. In addition, we plan to share with the Cardano community the main conclusions and legal arguments so that all users and relevant Cardano partners can team up and build a strong ecosystem able to seize important opportunities at this unique momentum where many national laws and regulations push for entire digitisation of all key web2 documents (contracts, invoices, etc).
Delivery Month
2
Cost
30000
Progress
30 %
Milestone Title
Deep-dive legal Memorandum Part 2: Exploratory legal assessment in key geographies (outside the EU)
Milestone Outputs
In Milestone 2, we perform an exploratory legal assessment of laws and regulations in relevant jurisdictions around the world. The main goal is to select national laws with great potential for legally valid Blockchain-based e-signing services powered by the Cardano Blockchain as an alternative to the expensive and complex web2 qualified trust services providers leveraging on X509 certificates. It also provides relevant assessment criteria for complex cross-border transactions involving laws of multiple countries.
Acceptance Criteria
A state-of-the-art legal assessment strongly documented and justified by multiple relevant legal references, including leading academic opinions, case law, regulatory guidelines of all key reviewed national and regional regulations.
Evidence of Completion
The reviewer will get access to the entire legal memorandum and the referenced legal sources with - where possible - hyperlinks to key laws, regulations and cases for ease of review and validation. In addition we plan to share with the Cardano community the main conclusions and legal arguments so that all users and relevant Cardano partners can team up and build a strong ecosystem able to seize important opportunities at this unique momentum where many national laws and regulations push for entire digitisation of all key web2 documents (contracts, invoices, etc).
Delivery Month
1
Cost
20000
Progress
50 %
Milestone Title
Academic publication
Milestone Outputs
Milestone 3 consists in the publication of a scientific article in a recognised academic journal to demonstrate the Blockchain stand-alone capabilities for e-signing/sealing/invoicing in key geographies across all continents, including Europe. It brings Cardano’s community strategic legal insights regarding countries that can rely on web3 stand-alone solution, without the need for X509 certificate and related trust services providers.This isn’t just a theoretical legal analysis—it’s Cardano’s entry into regulated industries, backed by the strong legal and academic expertise of the authors of this regulatory assessment.
Acceptance Criteria
Acceptance of the scientific article in a leading academic journal, which enables to demonstrate that the analysis is fully in line with the highest standards of academic excellence, noting that the scientific article would include in-depth and entire details leveraging on the legal memorandum in milestones 1 and 2.
Evidence of Completion
Publication of the article and/or, depending on publication timeline which can be sometimes quite long, provision of an email and/or official letter from the scientific committee or responsible person of the academic journal confirming the acceptance of the academic article for publication.
Delivery Month
4
Cost
35000
Progress
80 %
Milestone Title
Final communication: Project Close-Out Report and Video
Milestone Outputs
As per the applicable Catalyst guidelines, we will produce the requested Project Close-Out Report and Video together with some additional communications for the Cardano community through relevant publications (e.g. on GitHub) plus additional follow up communications, including on LinkedIn and/or academic conferences.
Acceptance Criteria
Those applicable as per Catalyst processes plus the relevant acceptance of the academic concluding conference as per scientific approval processes applicable in Universities (i.e. provision of the relevant administrative and logistic support for the organisation of the conference).
Evidence of Completion
Issuance of documentation to Catalyst decision makers as per applicable Catalyst rules, together with the publication of the announced conference on the relevant websites (from the University, or research center welcoming the conference)
Delivery Month
2
Cost
15000
Progress
100 %
Please provide a cost breakdown of the proposed work and resources
Milestone 1: Part 1 of Legal Memorandum – 30,000 ADA
Purpose: Funds the performance of an unprecedented and highly demanding, complex legal assessment covering a package of regulations, with multiple cross-references to EU official technical standards, amounting to 1000+ pages of regulatory provisions and guidelines together with the scanning of multiple national relevant regulations outside the EU by a duo of recognised legal and academic experts and lawyers.
Value: Establishes Cardano as a secure and trusted blockchain for enterprise-grade applications, bridging the gap between Web2 and Web3 compliance.
Milestone 2: Part 2 of Legal Memorandum - 20,000 ADA
Same as above but with a focus on national and regional laws outside the EU
Milestone 3: Legal publication - 35,000 ADA
Same as above but funding a highly demanding academic research and publication
Milestone 4: Final communication and academic conference - 15,000 ADA
Ensure final communication of the successful completion of the project, mostly through an academic conference
How does the cost of the project represent value for the Cardano ecosystem?
It provides an innovative and unprecedented in-depth legal assessment building a new legal concept based on Cardano technology, which will attract the attention from the academic and legal community as well as the regulators and lawmakers on the significant disruption potential of Cardano in document digitization.
Terms and Conditions:
Yes
Academic and legal experts: Prof Aurélien Rocher and Matthias Traussnig, both qualified lawyers with combined expertise in web3 and digital law, will perform this game-changing and demanding legal assessment. In their previous roles; they acted as legal leaders and senior managers in Big 4 and key web3 consulting firms and have a solid track record of international engagements with a personal network of trusted law firms all around the world. In addition, Prof. Aurélien Rocher can bring his solid academic expertise and mobilises a large number of publications in leading law reviews and scientific blogs in France, Switzerland, China, Canada, the UK (Oxford) and the US (Harvard).
Experienced Project Partner: Led by Patrick Rayermann, Tim Brückmann, Dennis Mittmann and a team of industry experts, Docufi3d/BlockSign.io combines deep knowledge in compliance, IT security, and blockchain technology to deliver secure, compliant e-signature solutions, ensuring high trust and accountability. The team and company has a proven track record of delivering the milestones defined in past Catalyst proposals and satisfying customer’s expectations. In addition, they will support the legal experts by providing technical insights.