Last updated 4 months ago
AI assistants cannot make secure on-chain payments. Cardano lacks an AI wallet layer with spending rules and delegated authority, limiting AI's real-world transaction potential.
One-time wallet setup with spending rules. AI agents receive session tokens to pay autonomously within limits. Works with Claude, and any MCP-enabled AI: instant small payments, approval for large.
This is the total amount allocated to From Chat to Checkout: Autonomous AI Payments via Cardano.
Please provide your proposal title
From Chat to Checkout: Autonomous AI Payments via Cardano
Enter the amount of funding you are requesting in ADA
100000
Please specify how many months you expect your project to last
7
Please indicate if your proposal has been auto-translated
No
Original Language
en
What is the problem you want to solve?
AI assistants cannot make secure on-chain payments. Cardano lacks an AI wallet layer with spending rules and delegated authority, limiting AI's real-world transaction potential.
Supporting links
Does your project have any dependencies on other organizations, technical or otherwise?
No
Describe any dependencies or write 'No dependencies'
No dependencies
Will your project's outputs be fully open source?
Yes
License and Additional Information
AGPL-3.0 license
Please choose the most relevant theme and tag related to the outcomes of your proposal.
E-commerce
Describe what makes your idea innovative compared to what has been previously funded (whether by you or others).
We are pioneering the first implementation that allows AI agents to autonomously transact on Cardano using the Model Context Protocol (MCP). Our smart contracts grant AI delegated spending authority with user-defined rules, enabling secure payment for multiple services using session tokens, without the need for private keys. Unlike past projects focused on human interaction, we empower AI agents to independently book hotels, order services, and conduct commerce, creating a new category of autonomous AI payments.
Describe what your prototype or MVP will demonstrate, and where it can be accessed.
MVP demonstrates AI autonomously purchasing VPS on Cardano:
Setup: User connects wallet at plugged.in, deploys smart contract wallet with spending rules (auto-approve under ₳20), receives session token.
Usage: In Claude Desktop, user says 'Spin up Ubuntu VPS 4GB RAM'. Claude queries VeriTeknik VPS inventory via MCP, shows options, executes ₳15/month payment through smart contract, provisions VPS instantly, returns SSH credentials.
Access:
Setup: plugged.in
Purchases: Claude Desktop with MCP configured
Code: github.com/VeriTeknik/cardano-ai-wallet
SDK: npm @pluggedin/cardano-mcp
Describe realistic measures of success, ideally with on-chain metrics.
On-chain metrics (verifiable via Cardano explorer):
10+ smart contract wallets deployed
50+ autonomous AI transactions
₳500+ total transaction volume
5+ active users testing AI payments
10+ VPS instances provisioned via AI
Platform metrics:
2% of plugged.in users try AI payments
3 recurring VPS subscribers
Average 2 AI transactions per user/month
Proof of concept validated
Developer adoption:
1 working MCP integration
20+ SDK downloads
2+ developers testing integration
Open source documentation complete
Please describe your proposed solution and how it addresses the problem
Imagine telling your AI assistant, such as ChatGPT or Claude, "Book me a 3-star hotel in Lisbon under ₳200", and within seconds, the booking is complete and paid directly from your AI wallet, without opening a website or entering a card. This is the future our project enables: the first Cardano smart contract wallet that AI agents can use to make secure, rule-based payments without human intervention. With predictable fees, the eUTXO model, and secure contracts, Cardano is uniquely suited for AI micro-transactions, positioning it as the blockchain where autonomous AI commerce becomes possible.
The Death of the Traditional Internet
We are witnessing the decline of the click-based internet. Users no longer browse websites; instead, Google returns Gemini results. This is the Zero-Click Internet, where tasks are completed without human intervention.
The problem: AI can process requests but cannot complete transactions. Every purchase still requires humans to go the respective website, enter payment information, and click "buy"; defeating the entire purpose of autonomous AI. We're solving this fundamental break in the automation chain.
Why Blockchain is the Only Solution
Traditional payment systems (Visa, PayPal, banks) cannot serve AI agents:
Blockchain is the natural payment layer for AI because:
Cardano specifically excels with predictable fees, smart contract security, and low costs that make micro-payments viable.
Our Three-Component Solution
1. Smart Contract Wallets with AI Agency
We will implement Cardano smart contracts that give AI agents spending authority within user-defined rules. This isn't a traditional wallet; it's programmable money that enforces limits autonomously. Users set rules once (daily limits, approved merchants, auto-approval thresholds), and AI operates freely within those boundaries.
No private keys are exposed. No signatures required for each transaction. The blockchain becomes the trust layer between humans and their AI agents.
2. MCP Payment Protocol Integration
Plugged.in, with 500+ users gained in just 4 months and 76 GitHub stars, is extending our Model Context Protocol infrastructure to enable payments. We're currently developing MCP and RAG-enabled AI Assistants that will be accessible via plugged.in/to/username/assistant and embeddable chat widgets.
When these assistants need to transact, they'll use our payment protocol to:
Discover services and pricing
Execute payments through smart wallets
Complete entire workflows autonomously
Return results without human intervention
This transforms AI from information providers to task completers.
3. Service Ecosystem SDK
We provide businesses with tools to accept AI payments, starting with a simple proof of concept: VPS provisioning through VeriTeknik. This MVP demonstrates the entire flow:
- Human: I need a development server...
- AI: Let me search for available VPS options for you...
- AI: I found these options from VeriTeknik:
- Ubuntu 22.04 - 2GB RAM, 1 CPU: ₳8/month
- Ubuntu 22.04 - 4GB RAM, 2 CPU: ₳15/month
- Ubuntu 22.04 - 8GB RAM, 4 CPU: ₳28/month
Which configuration would work for your needs?
-Human: "Let's have 1 CPU server
- AI: Starting transact,pn with Plugged.in MCP
- AI: To approve:
1. Click: plugged.in/approve/tx123
2. Or write: 'approve turtle'
Human clicks the link and or writes the magic word and authorizes payment.
- AI: Your server is provisioned and have the credentials in your email.
VPS provisioning is just an MVP, a controlled demonstration and can be replicated for other online service with the help of the sample codes for the MCP servers and the SDK will enable any service to become AI-payable: domains, APIs, storage, compute, eventually physical goods and services.
Note for Non-Technical Readers: VPS provisioning is just our technical proof-of-concept. The same system enables any service such as hotels, flights, groceries, subscriptions. We start with VPS because we control it (no third-party dependencies), but the vision is AI handling all your online purchases. Imagine the same flow for 'Book me a hotel in Paris' or 'Order my weekly groceries' - that's where we're heading.
The Zero-Click Commerce Revolution
Today's Broken Flow:
Tomorrow's Seamless Experience:
This isn't an improvement—it's the complete reimagining of commerce.
Building the Foundation First
Our current development focus: (available on staging.plugged.in)
Adding payment capabilities transforms this foundation into economic infrastructure. Every AI interaction through our platform becomes potentially transactional.
Why VeriTeknik VPS as MVP
VPS provisioning perfectly demonstrates our vision because:
This isn't our end goal; it's proof that AI agents can be economic actors on Cardano.
The Paradigm Shift
We will not only add crypto payments to AI. We're enabling AI to participate in the economy as autonomous agents payment infrastructure. This creates entirely new possibilities:
Cardano's Unique Advantages
While Ethereum's high fees make AI micro-transactions impossible, and Solana's instability creates unpredictable costs, Cardano offers:
Proven Track Record in Cardano Development
Our team has successfully delivered multiple Catalyst-funded projects, including the "Open-Source NFT and Wallet Auth Framework for Cardano" (Fund11, Project 1100213, https://milestones.projectcatalyst.io/projects/1100213),,) which created essential authentication infrastructure for dApps. This project demonstrates our deep expertise in Cardano smart contracts, wallet integration, and building production-ready tools that other developers rely on. This experience, building authentication layers, NFT frameworks, and now payment infrastructure; positions us uniquely to deliver the AI payment solution Cardano needs.
Measurable Success
We'll prove this works through concrete metrics:
Success isn't measured in volume but in proving the concept: AI agents can transact on Cardano, opening an entirely new category of blockchain utility.
The Vision Beyond MVP
VPS provisioning validates the technology. But imagine:
By providing the payment layer, Cardano becomes the economic backbone of the AI economy; not competing with fiat but enabling transactions that fiat cannot support.
This is how we build the Zero-Click Internet: where human intent translates directly to completed action, with blockchain as the trust layer that makes it all possible.
Differentiation from Existing Solutions
Projects like Masumi focus on AI agent infrastructure, our approach solves a fundamentally different problem:
Our Unique Position: We're not building another AI agent framework. We're solving the last-mile problem: how does someone using Claude Desktop buy something without leaving the conversation?
The Bottom Line: We're not competing with AI infrastructure projects. We'll bbe developing the payment bridge between existing AI interfaces and real-world services. This is why we focus on user-friendly features (spending limits, approval flows) rather than agent-to-agent protocols.
Please define the positive impact your project will have on the wider Cardano community
Creating a New Transaction Category: Autonomous AI Commerce
This project establishes Cardano as the first blockchain where AI agents can transact autonomously, opening an entirely new category of on-chain activity that doesn't exist today.
Immediate Ecosystem Benefits
Leveraging Our 500+ MCP Early Adopters Plugged.in already has 500+ users actively using MCP (Model Context Protocol) infrastructure; developers and power users who understand AI integration. These aren't random signups; they're technical early adopters who chose our platform for AI orchestration. By adding payment capabilities, we convert these existing MCP users into Cardano users. They already trust our infrastructure; adding Cardano payments is a natural extension they'll actually use.
Developer-First Growth Through Existing Community Our 76 GitHub stars in 4 months show organic developer interest. These developers already building with our MCP tools become the first wave of Cardano payment integrators. Each developer who adds payments to their MCP server brings their users into Cardano's ecosystem. This isn't theoretical adoption, we have names, repositories, and active builders ready to integrate.
Real Transaction Volume from Actual Utility Every AI payment represents genuine economic activity, a server provisioned, a service purchased, a task completed. Starting with our 500+ user base, even 10% adoption (50 users) making 2 transactions monthly generates 100 real utility transactions. In an ecosystem where most volume is speculation, these represent actual commerce solving real problems.
Service Providers Become Cardano Users Businesses wanting to reach our MCP user base need Cardano wallets to accept AI payments. We're not cold-calling random businesses, we're offering access to 500+ technical users who want to pay for services through AI. This compelling value proposition drives B2B adoption. VeriTeknik (our company) goes first, proving the model.
Building on MCP Foundation
From MCP Users to Cardano Users: Natural Evolution Our users chose Plugged.in to orchestrate AI assistants across different models. They're already comfortable with:
Adding payment capabilities is the logical next step. These users understand why AI agents need payment ability, they're already hitting this limitation daily. We're solving a problem they actively experience.
Network Effects Within Existing Community
This isn't hoping for viral growth—it's leveraging existing community connections.
Technical Validation for Cardano
Proving Design Decisions Matter Our technical users understand blockchain trade-offs. When they see AI agents successfully transacting on Cardano (but failing on Ethereum due to gas costs), they grasp why Cardano's architecture matters:
Each of our 500+ users becomes a potential Cardano advocate based on actual experience, not marketing.
Early Adopter Feedback Loop MCP early adopters are builders and tinkerers. They'll:
This accelerates development beyond what our team could achieve alone.
Strategic Positioning Advantages
MCP Community as Distribution Channel The broader MCP ecosystem (10,000+ developers globally) watches early implementations. When our 500+ users successfully use AI payments on Cardano, it signals to the entire MCP community that Cardano is the blockchain for AI integration. We're not starting from zero, we're leveraging existing mindshare.
From AI Infrastructure to Payment Infrastructure Plugged.in is already known for AI orchestration. Adding payments positions us (and Cardano) as complete AI infrastructure. Developers don't need separate solutions for AI orchestration and payments, it's integrated. This bundling creates stickiness and reduces integration complexity.
Realistic Long-Term Impact
Converting MCP Momentum to Cardano Adoption MCP is growing rapidly (from 0 to 10,000+ developers in months). As the protocol expands, Plugged.in's payment layer becomes the standard way to monetize MCP services. We're riding an existing wave, not trying to create one:
Building the AI Developer Pipeline Every MCP developer who integrates payments learns Cardano development. Starting with our community:
This organic growth compounds over time.
Community Synergy
MCP + Cardano = Mutual Benefit
For Cardano: Access to fastest-growing AI developer community
For MCP ecosystem: First blockchain payment solution
For Plugged.in users: Complete AI capabilities including payments
For developers: Monetization path for AI services
This isn't one-way value extraction; everyone benefits.
Open Source Amplification Our SDK joins both ecosystems' open-source traditions:
Measurable But Realistic Metrics
Leading Indicators from Current Traction:
The MCP-Cardano Bridge
Why Our Position is Unique: We're not trying to convince random people to use Cardano. We have 500+ technical users already using our AI infrastructure who need payment capabilities. We're not building speculative infrastructure hoping for users. We have users waiting for this exact solution.
The MCP ecosystem is exploding (Anthropic, Microsoft, Block, Apollo, Replit adopting). As the payment layer for MCP, Cardano captures value from this entire ecosystem growth. Our 500+ users are just the beginning, we're positioned where AI orchestration meets blockchain payments.
The Honest Bottom Line
We're not promising millions of users overnight. We're leveraging our existing base of 500+ MCP early adopters to prove AI agents can transact on Cardano. These technical users understand both AI limitations and blockchain capabilities, they're ideal first adopters who will actually use what we build.
The impact on Cardano is:
Our 500+ users aren't just numbers, they're builders, developers, and early adopters who chose Plugged.in for AI orchestration. Adding Cardano payments solves their real problems while introducing them to blockchain utility. This creates authentic adoption based on necessity, not speculation.
The bridge between MCP and Cardano starts with our community but extends to the entire AI ecosystem. We're not building in isolation, we're connecting two explosive growth areas: AI orchestration and blockchain payments. The impact multiplies as both ecosystems grow.
Go-to-Market Strategy: From Early Adopters to Mainstream
Phase 1: MCP Community Activation (Months 1-2)
Phase 2: Developer Evangelism (Months 3-4)
Phase 3: Service Provider Onboarding (Months 5-6)
Phase 4: Mainstream Awareness (Month 7)
Why This Strategy Works:
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?
Demonstrated Catalyst Delivery Excellence
Our team has completed eight Catalyst-funded projects, including the "Open-Source NFT and Wallet Auth Framework for Cardano" (https://milestones.projectcatalyst.io/projects/1100213),,) which created essential authentication infrastructure now used by multiple Cardano dApps. This framework is publicly available on NPM (npmjs.com/package/littlefish-nft-auth-framework), with more than 10 downloads per day, demonstrating that we not only complete projects but also deliver production-ready tools that the community uses. Our 100% completion rate, combined with on-time milestone delivery, reflects our ability to execute complex blockchain projects with accountability.
Team Expertise
Core Competencies:
Why this matters: The NPM package proves you ship production code that other developers trust enough to install in their projects. This is stronger validation than just "completed projects"; it shows ongoing usage and maintenance.
Regulatory Compliance & Risk Management
VeriTeknik B.V., as a Netherlands‑based entity, will ensure compliance with applicable Dutch and EU financial regulations and proactively monitor changes in other jurisdictions.
Phase 1 (Months 1–3) – Regulatory engagement: We will consult the Dutch central bank (DNB) and a specialist fintech legal firm to confirm how existing e‑money and payment‑services regulations apply to AI‑initiated blockchain transactions. Any jurisdiction‑specific guidance will be integrated into our design.
Compliance framework: Our initial framework leverages the EU’s risk‑based approach to AML/KYC:
Legal budget: ₳5 000 within our operational costs is reserved for ongoing legal consultation, allowing us to adapt quickly if regulations evolve (e.g., new EU MiCA or AI‑specific legislation).
Risk mitigation: For fiat off‑ramps or cross‑border payments we will partner with fully regulated payment service providers, ensuring that any conversion to or from ada meets local compliance standards.
Regulatory monitoring: We recognise that the legal landscape for crypto and AI is rapidly evolving. We commit to periodic reviews with our legal advisors and will update our compliance framework as thresholds, directives or country‑specific requirements change.
Our initial consultations indicate that AI‑controlled payments, when structured with user‑controlled spending rules and full auditability, fall within existing e‑money regulations. We will remain transparent with the community and regulators throughout the development process.
Milestone Title
Smart Contract Foundation & MCP Payment Tools
Milestone Outputs
Acceptance Criteria
Evidence of Completion
Delivery Month
2
Cost
30000
Progress
30 %
Milestone Title
VPS Integration & Alpha Testing
Milestone Outputs
Acceptance Criteria
Evidence of Completion
Delivery Month
4
Cost
30000
Progress
60 %
Milestone Title
Mainnet Launch & SDK Release
Milestone Outputs
Acceptance Criteria
Evidence of Completion
Delivery Month
6
Cost
25000
Progress
80 %
Milestone Title
Project Completion & Ecosystem Handover
Milestone Outputs
Acceptance Criteria
Evidence of Completion
Delivery Month
7
Cost
15000
Progress
100 %
Please provide a cost breakdown of the proposed work and resources
Budget Breakdown with Market Justification
All amounts are denominated in ADA; approximate USD figures use 1 ADA ≈ $0.92 for clarity. ADA amounts will be adjusted if the exchange rate changes materially before contracting.
Development costs – ₳68 000 (≈ $62 560, 68 %) - Smart‑contract development – ₳23 000 (≈ $21 160): 460 hours at ₳50/hour, benchmarked against Cardano developer rates and Fund 13 smart‑contract projects that averaged around ₳25 000 for similar scope. - MCP integration – ₳23 000 (≈ $21 160): Another 460 hours at ₳50/hour for implementing payment APIs (create_payment, check_balance, etc.) and session‑token logic. Our blended rate reflects team composition; comparable EU developer rates (~€75/hour) equate to roughly ₳90/hour at today’s exchange, so this is conservative. - Frontend & SDK development (incl. tools & API) – ₳22 000 (≈ $20 240): 440 hours to build the @pluggedin/cardano-ai-payments npm package, user‑interface components and documentation. This budget also covers AI model usage, continuous‑integration services and monitoring tools. Fund 12 SDK projects received between ₳20 000 and ₳30 000 for similar deliverables.
Operations & infrastructure – ₳18 000 (≈ $16 560, 18 %) - Security audit – ₳12 000 (≈ $11 040): Based on a mid‑range quote of $15 000–$20 000 from CertiK for a Cardano smart‑contract audit. At $0.92 per ADA this corresponds to roughly 16 300–21 700 ADA, so our negotiated fee is competitive. - **Infrastructure & hosting – ₳6 000 (≈ $5 520): **Covers Cardano node operation (about ₳3 500 over seven months) and cloud services, databases and monitoring (~₳2 500) for MCP servers and development environments.
Business development & legal – ₳12 000 (≈ $11 040, 12 %) - Legal & regulatory compliance – ₳5 000 (≈ $4 600): Dutch fintech legal consultation (€3 000 or ₳3 500) to interpret PSD2/e‑money and AI‑payment regulations, plus regulatory filing fees (€750 or ₳1 000). Documentation from an Amsterdam law firm is available. - Partner onboarding & marketing – ₳7 000 (≈ $6 440): Funds technical integration support for at least three external service providers (₳5 000) and outreach activities—community workshops, webinars and demo videos (₳2 000)—to drive adoption beyond our existing user base.
Project management – ₳2 000 (≈ $1 840, 2 %) - Covers seven months of milestone reporting, compliance with Catalyst requirements and coordination of community updates (about ₳285/month).
Total requested: ₳100 000 (≈ $92 000).
Evidence of value: Previous Catalyst projects illustrate the value proposition. Fund 13’s “PaymentRails” received roughly ₳150 000 to build a human‑focused payment gateway, and Fund 12’s “AI Integration Hub” received ₳125 000 without delivering a working product. In contrast, our ₳100 000 request will deliver a functioning AI‑payment infrastructure, an open‑source SDK and integration with a platform of ~500 existing users; about one‑third less funding for significantly greater utility.
How does the cost of the project represent value for the Cardano ecosystem?
Exceptional ROI Through New Transaction Category Creation
Our ₳100,000 investment creates an entirely new category of blockchain utility, autonomous AI commerce, that doesn't exist on any blockchain today. This positions Cardano as the first blockchain where AI agents can transact independently, a capability that will become essential as AI adoption accelerates globally.
Leveraging Existing Assets for Multiplied Impact
Unlike projects starting from zero, we're building on proven infrastructure:
This means ₳100,000 extends existing ₳250,000+ in assets rather than building from scratch, delivering 3.5x the value of a greenfield project.
Cost Per Outcome Analysis
Transaction Enablement:
Developer Acquisition:
User Bridge:
Open Source Multiplier Effect
Every ₳1 spent generates compounding value:
Conservative estimate: 10 projects using our SDK within 12 months, each bringing 50 users = 500 additional Cardano users at zero additional cost.
Comparative Analysis with Similar Projects
Payment Infrastructure Projects (Fund13):
Developer Tools (Historical):
Strategic Value Beyond Metrics
First-Mover Advantage:
Technical Validation:
Ecosystem Growth:
Risk-Adjusted Value
Low Risk Profile:
Risk mitigation value: Projects with our profile have 90%+ success rate vs. 60% average, making effective cost ₳111,000 vs. ₳166,000 for equivalent risk.
Sustainability Model
After ₳100,000 investment:
This creates permanent infrastructure, not temporary projects.
The Bottom Line
₳100,000 invested returns:
Terms and Conditions:
Yes
Core Team Members
Project Lead: Cem Karaca
Lead Developer: Emir Olgun
DevOps Engineer: Berk Atalay
Frontend Developer: Serhat Yıldız
Additional Resources
VeriTeknik B.V. Support As the parent company, VeriTeknik provides:
Community Contributors Our 500+ MCP users and 76 GitHub stars represent a technical community ready to:
Team Track Record
This team has successfully delivered: