First Cardano Research Library with On-chain verification

[Proposal setup] Proposal title

Please provide your proposal title

First Cardano Research Library with On-chain verification

[Proposal Summary] Budget Information

Enter the amount of funding you are requesting in ADA

91760

[Proposal Summary] Time

Please specify how many months you expect your project to last

7

[Proposal Summary] Translation Information

Please indicate if your proposal has been auto-translated

Yes

Original Language

vi

[Proposal Summary] Problem Statement

What is the problem you want to solve?

The Cardano ecosystem is highly innovative, but knowledge remains fragmented. Without a centralized library of verified on-chain data, searching and validating information is difficult.

[Proposal Summary] Supporting Documentation

Supporting links

• https://spidex.ag
,
• https://app.spidex.ag/
,
• https://spidex-ai.gitbook.io/spidex-ai-docs
,
• https://x.com/Spidex_ag
,
• https://discord.com/invite/xxxrzcwNfB

[Proposal Summary] Project Dependencies

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

Yes

Describe any dependencies or write 'No dependencies'

The project relies on Cardano node & explorer APIs, Catalyst governance data from GitHub, DeFi analytics APIs (DefiLlama, DEX), and third-party AI frameworks.

[Proposal Summary] Project Open Source

Will your project's outputs be fully open source?

No

License and Additional Information

Currently, we have not made the source code public due to our published Privacy Policy and commitments with stakeholders such as freelancers, job applicants, and partners.

However, we are committed to transparency and will open-source several key components, including: Dataset Schema, API Interface Samples, Indexing Pipeline (sample version), Documentation.

This ensures the community can verify, integrate, and reuse the data, while the AI core and security layers remain protected.

[Theme Selection] Theme

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

AI

[Campaign Category] Category Questions

Describe what makes your idea innovative compared to what has been previously funded (whether by you or others).

• The first AI-native research library for the Cardano ecosystem with on-chain data verification.
• Creates a permanent AI-indexed repository to unify fragmented project, governance, and historical data.
• Combines real-time indexing of Cardano transactions, Catalyst proposals, and project APIs with AI for de-duplication, labeling, and summarization.
• Applies a layered design with on-chain storage for immutability and open-source mirrors for fast access.
• Enables natural language search and mapping of projects, governance, and events—capabilities missing in past initiatives.

Describe what your prototype or MVP will demonstrate, and where it can be accessed.

• A dApp On-chain Research Library that operates by indexing at least 500 Cardano projects and 1,000 governance proposals in its first version.
• Project profiles, proposals, and governance events are AI-summarized and searchable via natural language queries.
• Public access is available at https://app.spidex.ag (web application) and via a public API for developers.
• On-chain metadata of projects and governance is stored on-chain and verifiable through the Cardano explorer.
• Demonstrates a relationship map of projects, proposals, and on-chain events.

Describe realistic measures of success, ideally with on-chain metrics.

• Indexed data: ≥ 500 projects and ≥ 1,000 governance proposals stored immutably on-chain within the first year.
• Users: 5,000 unique monthly visitors by the end of month 12.
• Research queries: ≥ 5,000 successful AI searches within the first 6 months.
• Developer integrations: ≥ 10 third-party projects using the public API.
• Community engagement: ≥ 1,000 registered and active users on the library.
• On-chain data and public API logs are verifiable to demonstrate growth and usage.
• Transparent monthly progress reports published on GitHub and the Cardano Forum.

[Your Project and Solution] Solution

Please describe your proposed solution and how it addresses the problem

A. Market Context & Research Insights

Cardano has developed into one of the most academically rigorous blockchain ecosystems, with a growing network of developers, governance participants, and researchers. Independent analytics and official governance data indicate:

• Active projects: Over 2,000+ projects are active or have been funded. (Source: Catalyst)
• Governance proposals: Approximately 9,950 proposals submitted through Project Catalyst (Source:Project Catalyst GitHub – Proposal Data Fund 2 - Fund 13)
• Total Value Locked (TVL): Over $1.6 billion in Cardano DeFi protocols. (Source: DefiLlama; Cardano Forum)
• Developer community: Thousands of contributors involved in wallets, smart contracts, SDKs, and analytics tools. (Source: Developer Report – Cardano Ecosystem)
• Unique technical stack: Extended UTXO, Plutus, and native tokens distinguish Cardano from account-based blockchains, adding complexity for participation. (Source: IOHK)

B. Problem

Despite these impressive numbers, significant gaps remain in data availability and transparency. From this, three main issues affect accessibility and usability of Cardano DeFi data:

1. Fragmented Ecosystem Knowledge & Lack of Permanent Aggregation

• Data about projects, governance activities, and development history is scattered across multiple platforms: GitHub, Cardano Forum, Twitter/X, project websites, academic reports, explorers.
• Many sources are temporary: dashboards expire when projects end, domains are not renewed, and articles can be archived or deleted.
• According to Cardano Cube and Essential Cardano Map, over 1,300 projects exist, but no permanent, centralized repository consolidates this information. (Source: Cardano Cube Ecosystem Map; Crypto Economy)

1. Difficulty in Querying, Verifying, and Accessing Information

• New users spend weeks searching and aggregating data from fragmented sources.
• Off-chain information is easily altered or deleted without leaving traces, making verification difficult.
• Governance data (e.g., ~5,000 Catalyst proposals) is not indexed or stored on-chain, leaving analysis and research largely manual and inefficient. (Source: Project Catalyst GitHub – Proposal Data)

1. Risk of Historical Memory Loss & Reduced Transparency

• Without on-chain storage of governance data, project histories, and technical metrics, the community depends on centralized sources, which are vulnerable to loss or censorship.
• Lack of long-term transparency may reduce trust in governance and slow innovation.
• Although Cardano’s TVL is $1.6B+, there is a lack of long-term on-chain analytics tools to evaluate trends and project impact on the ecosystem.(Source: DefiLlama; Cardano Forum)

C. Solution: Spidex AI – On-chain Research Library

To address these three challenges, we propose Spidex AI – Onchain Research Library for Cardano, functioning as a permanent AI-indexed repository of ecosystem data. Our approach consists of three main layers:

1. Layer 1 – Data Collection & Verification

• Real-time indexing of on-chain transactions, governance proposals, dApp metrics, and project milestones.
• Integration of data from Project Catalyst, Cardano explorers, and project APIs.
• AI automatically checks and labels duplicate, outdated, or conflicting data.

1. Layer 2 – On-chain Storage & Accessibility

• Store project profiles, research data, and governance information directly on-chain to ensure immutability.
• Use data compression and metadata techniques to optimize update costs.
• Multi-layer architecture combining on-chain storage with open-source mirrors ensures fast access while preserving original on-chain records.

1. Layer 3 – AI-Enhanced User Interaction

• Enable natural language search and summarization for any project, protocol, or governance proposal.
• Generate relationship maps linking projects, governance votes, and on-chain events.
• Provide exportable datasets for academic researchers and developer teams.

Spidex AI – On-chain Research Library will bridge critical gaps in the Cardano ecosystem by providing a permanent, AI-indexed, and on-chain repository of project and governance data. By consolidating fragmented information, enabling natural language queries, and visualizing relationships across projects and governance events, Spidex AI empowers developers, researchers, and community members to make data-driven decisions with confidence.

Through transparent metrics, verifiable on-chain storage, and open access via web, SDK and API, Spidex AI strengthens ecosystem transparency, trust, and long-term innovation, ensuring that the growth of Cardano’s DeFi ecosystem is fully supported by reliable and accessible knowledge.

D. IMPLEMENTATION ROADMAP

To ensure effective execution, we have defined four main phases for the project:

Within the scope of this proposal, we will focus from Milestone 1 (Details please view in the Implementation Plan).

(More Details: Milestone Overview)

E. Statement of Milestones (SOM) Preparation

In line with Catalyst Fund 14 guidelines, our Statement of Milestones (SOM) has been carefully prepared in advance with input and support from Cardano Ambassador Mrs. Ha. This approach brings three key benefits:

• Transparency & Clarity – The roadmap is fully aligned with Catalyst standards, ensuring that all stakeholders can easily follow and verify our plan.
• Ease of Review – Community Reviewers (CRs) can quickly evaluate deliverables, timelines, and budget allocations for each milestone.
• Performance Assurance – For every milestone, the projected completion rate is consistently higher than the corresponding budget percentage, highlighting both our efficiency and accountability.

(More Details: SOM)

With this structured and transparent framework, we are confident in delivering high-quality results on schedule, while building trust with the Catalyst community and the broader Cardano ecosystem.

[Your Project and Solution] Impact

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

The On-chain Research Library is designed to become a permanent knowledge repository, AI-indexed for the Cardano ecosystem – enhancing transparency, accessibility, and decision-making capabilities for all stakeholders.

1. For Users

• Lower learning barriers: Organized and easily searchable knowledge library.
• Transparent and accurate information: Supports financial decision-making and governance participation.
• Easier exploration with AI tools: Smart search, summarization, and cross-linking.

1. For Developers & Researchers

• Permanent, verifiable on-chain data: Supports research and product development.
• Accurate and sustainable analysis: Facilitates content creation, reporting, and analytics.
• Extensible platform: Enables testing of AI tools, APIs, or educational applications on Cardano data.

1. For the Entire Cardano Ecosystem

• Ecosystem transparency: Governance history, proposals, and project data are always accessible.
• Sustainability: Ensures the Cardano knowledge repository remains continuously available for 5–10 years, building trust in the data.
• Scalability: Architecture can support cross-chain research or integration with other blockchains, positioning Cardano as a pioneer in on-chain research standardization.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Indexed projects & governance profiles: At least 500 projects and 1,000 governance proposals within the first year.
• AI-handled research queries: 5,000 successful searches within the first 6 months.
• Ecosystem reach: 5,000 unique monthly visitors by the end of month 12.
• Developer integration: At least 10 third-party projects using the public API to access ecosystem data.
• Community engagement: 1,000+ registered and active users on the library.

Verification of KPI Achievement

• Publicly accessible on-chain data and API logs (open metrics).
• Data from Google Analytics and blockchain explorers demonstrating growth in queries, stored transactions, and unique wallet addresses.
• Transparent monthly reports published on Spidex AI’s GitHub and shared on the Cardano Forum.

Onchain Library Demo

The following illustration is a demo of the on-chain research library. The final version will be further developed and optimized to ensure a seamless and user-friendly experience.

Illustration: Cardano On-chain Research Library Demo

[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?

1. Strengths & Professional Expertise

• AI & Machine Learning: Proficient in building NLP models, semantic search, and data summarization, with hands-on experience from AI chatbots deployed for Spidex AI.
• Blockchain Development: Experienced in collecting, processing, and indexing on-chain data from Cardano Explorer, Catalyst GitHub, DefiLlama API, and developing smart contracts to store metadata on Cardano.
• DeFi Product Development: Operated AI-first products serving the Cardano community, demonstrating capability to integrate AI with blockchain data and deliver solutions to end-users.

1. Team Members

• Project Lead / Product Manager: 6+ years managing tech products, coordinating timelines and budgets, and ensuring quality standards.
• Blockchain Developers: 4+ years developing dApps, smart contracts, and integrating Cardano data.
• Data Engineers: 5+ years building large-scale data pipelines, processing on-chain and off-chain data.
• AI Engineers: 5+ years deploying NLP, semantic search, and AI knowledge graphs.
• UI/UX Designers: 4+ years creating branding, UI/UX, and marketing visuals for blockchain, AI, and tech products.
• Operations & Marketing Managers: Experienced in building the Cardano community, conducting AMAs, communications, and user onboarding.

1. Transparent Management Process

• Clear Accountability: Project Lead oversees the project; Blockchain Lead manages contracts and data pipelines; AI Lead ensures quality; all processes include cross-monitoring to minimize errors.
• Monitoring Process: Each milestone comes with specific outputs, clear acceptance criteria, and proof of completion (GitHub repo, demo video, API logs).
• Public Reporting: Transparent monthly reports published on GitHub and Cardano Forum, covering development progress, testing, and budget allocation.

1. Risk & Mitigation Plan

Building Spidex AI on Cardano involves certain risks related to data, infrastructure, and AI performance. Our Risk Plan identifies these challenges in advance and sets clear measures to minimize disruption while ensuring system reliability.

(More Details: Risk and Mitigration

With an experienced team, transparent management processes, and prior feasibility testing, Spidex AI is fully capable of deploying the On-chain Research Library on schedule, ensuring high quality, and delivering sustainable value to the Cardano ecosystem.

[Milestones] Project Milestones

Milestone Title

Data Collection & Indexing Engine

Milestone Outputs

• Build a data pipeline to collect on-chain data from Cardano Explorer, Catalyst GitHub, and DefiLlama API.
• Collect and standardize the Catalyst proposals dataset.
• AI tagging to classify data (project type, proposal status, timestamps).
• Internal API for querying raw data.

Acceptance Criteria

• Pipeline runs successfully and synchronizes data from ≥3 designated sources.
• Dataset contains complete metadata, no duplicates, covering ≥200 projects and ≥500 proposals.
• AI tagging achieves ≥90% accuracy against a test set.
• Internal API returns accurate results with <1 second response time for basic queries.

Evidence of Completion

• GitHub repo link (public sample of the pipeline) and data run logs.
• Sample CSV/JSON dataset publicly available on GitHub.
• AI tagging accuracy report.
• Demo video of API queries showing results.

Delivery Month

2

Cost

27528

Progress

30 %

Milestone Title

On-Chain Storage & Smart Contracts

Milestone Outputs

• Develop smart contracts to store project metadata and governance proposals.
• Data compression and hashing mechanisms to optimize on-chain storage costs.
• Deploy contracts on Cardano testnet and test data retrieval.
• Technical documentation for smart contracts and API integration.

Acceptance Criteria

• Smart contracts successfully deployed on testnet, able to store and retrieve ≥100 records.
• Storage cost per record reduced by ≥30% compared to raw metadata.
• API for retrieving data from smart contracts works accurately with <2 seconds response time.
• Technical documentation is clear, including deployment instructions for developers.

Evidence of Completion

• Testnet transaction link for data storage.
• GitHub repo (public interface of the contract).
• Demo video of storing and retrieving data from testnet.
• GitBook documentation link for smart contracts and API.

Delivery Month

4

Cost

27528

Progress

60 %

Milestone Title

AI Search & Visualization

Milestone Outputs

• Integrate NLP search for natural language query capabilities.
• AI summarization to condense project or proposal information.
• Graph visualization showing relationships between projects, proposals, and on-chain events.
• Dashboard UI/UX displaying search results and relationship graphs.

Acceptance Criteria

• NLP search achieves ≥90% accuracy against a test question set.
• Summarization retains ≥80% of key information according to a sample evaluation set.
• Graph visualization displays ≥500 projects and ≥1,000 proposals.
• Dashboard responds in <2 seconds for queries or graph rendering.

Evidence of Completion

• Demo video of the dashboard operating on testnet/mainnet beta.
• Accuracy reports for NLP search and summarization.
• Screenshots of graph visualization with real data.
• Dashboard demo link for reviewers.

Delivery Month

6

Cost

18352

Progress

80 %

Milestone Title

Public Launch & Close-Out

Milestone Outputs

• Deploy the On-chain Research Library on Cardano mainnet.
• Open public API access with usage limits for security.
• Publish GitBook documentation (API guide, smart contract docs, dataset schema).
• Community impact report after 1 month of operation.

Acceptance Criteria

• Mainnet operates stably with ≥99% uptime in the first month.
• ≥500 API queries from real users in the first month.
• Complete documentation confirmed by at least 5 developers successfully using it.
• Impact report includes usage statistics, community feedback, and number of indexed projects.

Evidence of Completion

• API logs & Google Analytics showing query counts.
• Public GitBook documentation link.
• Public community impact report on Cardano Forum.
• Demo video showcasing mainnet and library usage.

Delivery Month

7

Cost

18352

Progress

100 %

[Final Pitch] Budget & Costs

Please provide a cost breakdown of the proposed work and resources

Total budget proposed in this proposal: 91760 ADA

(2% risk management of over total budget)

Budget rate: ADA = 0.80, referenced as of the proposal submission date (August 11, 2025).

This rate is not based on the spot market price, but rather calculated from the 6-month average, determined by taking (highest ADA price + lowest ADA price) / 2.

(More Details: Budget Calculation)

1.Budget allocation

• 62% for product development
• 36% for personnel expense
• 2% for Risk management

2. Personnel expenses

With the desire to have the opportunity to contribute to supporting Cardano, Catalyst to grow stronger, we will strive to work with a salary 36-57% lower than the average salary in the market. (please see salary benchmarking below)

[Final Pitch] Value for Money

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

The project demonstrates strong cost efficiency by maintaining 36%–57% savings on personnel costs compared to the market rate in Vietnam. This ensures that the team can deliver high-quality work while optimizing the use of funds from the Cardano ecosystem.

(More Details: Salary benchmarking

Beyond cost savings, the On-chain Research Library delivers long-term value through:

• Permanent Knowledge Storage: Project data, governance history, and research are stored immutably on-chain, preventing data loss and censorship.
• Transparency & Easy Access: Reduces research time from hours to seconds through AI-powered search and standardized datasets.
• Reusability & Scalability: Infrastructure, smart contracts, and APIs can be leveraged by other projects, saving costs across the ecosystem.
• Community Impact: Empowers developers, researchers, educators, and newcomers with reliable tools and data.
• Cost Efficiency: With approximately 91,760 ADA, the project delivers a long-term on-chain data infrastructure for the entire community, offering low maintenance costs and high utility value.

[Required Acknowledgements] Consent & Confirmation

Terms and Conditions:

Yes