InfoAction/GovAction as a Service

[Proposal setup] Proposal title

Please provide your proposal title

InfoAction/GovAction as a Service

[Proposal Summary] Budget Information

Enter the amount of funding you are requesting in ADA

100000

[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 requires 100k ADA to submit a governance or info action, locking funds for 6 epochs. This high entry barrier prevents broader participation and discourages on-chain governance activity.

[Proposal Summary] Supporting Documentation

Supporting links

• https://drive.google.com/file/d/1jWJYTaj4TxGtAfciErF5v0dDBV6SkhnU/view?usp=sharing
,
• https://drive.google.com/file/d/1vdK2kFhWaToMc8GEZ1rnQqpCmAMTYaw0/view?usp=sharing

[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

The platform will be fully open source, with all code, smart contracts, and front-end logic published under an MIT license. Developers can fork the codebase, deploy local instances, or contribute improvements. Governance actions are transparently anchored on-chain using verifiable metadata standards. A modular architecture allows community-run fronting services, integrating decentralized escrow, analytics, and multi-signer verification for proposal integrity.

[Theme Selection] Theme

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

Governance

[Campaign Category] Category Questions

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

This is the first open-source platform on Cardano to eliminate the 100k ADA deposit barrier for submitting governance and info actions. It enables anyone to front deposits via smart contract escrow, with automatic repayment of lost staking rewards plus a service fee. The system integrates anchor metadata, immutable proposal records, and public dashboards—unlocking inclusive, decentralized access to Cardano’s on-chain governance process.

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

The MVP will deliver a functional web dApp where users can submit Cardano governance or info actions without needing to lock 100k ADA themselves. It includes proposal submission, metadata anchoring, smart contract-based escrow for deposit handling, and repayment tracking. The platform will be accessible at a public URL, hosted on a decentralized-friendly stack, with full code and contracts open-sourced on GitHub.

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

We expect 8–10 Info/Gov Action submissions in Year 1, onboarding 1–2 additional teams to front deposits. With ~50 actions submitted on Cardano in 2025, we aim to boost activity by 15–20%, indirectly increasing DRep, SPO, and Committee participation. The platform empowers communities and committees to submit meaningful governance changes, helping decentralize control and enhance Cardano’s self-governance capacity.

[Your Project and Solution] Solution

Please describe your proposed solution and how it addresses the problem

The Governance Deposit Service (GDS) directly removes the capital barrier created by CIP-1694. Instead of requiring proposers to personally lock 100,000 ADA for each Governance Action (GovAction) or Informational Action (InfoAction), the service fronts this deposit from a shared pool of ADA. Proposers only repay the staking rewards lost during the six-epoch lock period plus a small service fee, ensuring depositors are compensated fairly while proposers avoid the liquidity burden.

This model guarantees both inclusivity for governance participants and sustainability for deposit providers, with all enforcement handled on-chain through smart contracts.

How the Platform Works

Proposal Submission

A user completes a CIP-1694-compliant governance form via the platform’s web dApp.

The system validates formatting, generates metadata, and ensures compliance with CIP-1694 standards.

Metadata Anchoring

Metadata is hashed and pinned to IPFS.

The IPFS CID and metadata hash are embedded in the on-chain registration, guaranteeing immutability and verifiability.

Deposit Fronting

Instead of locking their own ADA, the proposer selects the platform’s deposit pool to front the 100,000 ADA.

The pool initially consists of the ADA seeded by this proposal, but future iterations will allow DAOs, committees, or individuals to contribute additional capital.

Smart Contract Escrow (Aiken)

A smart contract locks the 100,000 ADA deposit on behalf of the proposer.

Funds remain locked for six epochs (~30 days).

If the governance action is not accepted for a vote, the contract automatically refunds the deposit to the pool.

Repayment Enforcement

At the end of the lock period, the smart contract requires the proposer to repay:

The lost staking rewards (calculated using a published APR parameter).

The service fee (flat or percentage-based).

Only once this repayment is made does the contract release the 100k ADA back to the depositor pool.

Governance Participation

The proposal is officially submitted on-chain, visible in Cardano governance dashboards and explorers.

All transactions (deposit lock, metadata anchoring, repayment) are fully traceable on-chain.

Key Features

Barrier Removal: Enables community members, contributors, and committees to participate in governance without needing to lock 100k ADA.

Fair Compensation: Depositors are reimbursed securely for the staking rewards they forgo, plus a small service fee.

Open-Source Infrastructure: Entire codebase (React dApp, Node.js backend, Aiken contracts, metadata templates) is released under the MIT license, allowing reuse and adaptation.

Scalability: The model can expand as more depositors contribute liquidity, enabling higher capacity for concurrent proposals.

Transparency: Every step is enforced on-chain and verifiable through governance explorers and dashboards.

This solution ensures inclusive governance participation while preserving the integrity of CIP-1694 rules and maintaining a fair economic balance between proposers and depositors.

[Your Project and Solution] Impact

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

This proposal directly addresses a key limitation in Cardano’s on-chain governance under CIP-1694: the requirement to lock 100,000 ADA to submit a GovAction or InfoAction. By deploying a platform that fronts this deposit on behalf of others, this proposal expands access to governance for stakeholders who otherwise lack the liquidity or risk tolerance to participate.

Increased On-Chain Governance Activity

In 2025, fewer than 50 GovActions and InfoActions were submitted across the entire Cardano network. This proposal aims to increase that activity by an estimated 15–20% within the first year of operation. By removing capital lock-up as a barrier, it enables more proposals to reach the chain—particularly from ecosystem contributors, technical experts, committees, and community members who bring value but lack direct access to idle capital.

Broader Community Participation

The platform is expected to support at least 8–10 governance or informational actions during the first year. It will also serve as an onboarding mechanism for 1–2 additional deposit-fronting teams who will replicate or build upon the open-source infrastructure. These contributors may include community groups, DAOs, or governance working groups that wish to help scale the service.

This reduces dependence on centralized teams or institutions to initiate changes to Cardano protocol parameters, constitutional articles, or treasury actions—unlocking governance power for the broader community.

Empowering DReps, SPOs, and Committees

By increasing the number of proposals entering the system, the platform supports greater activity from Delegated Representatives (DReps), Stake Pool Operators (SPOs), and Constitutional Committees (CCs), who are responsible for reviewing and voting on governance actions. This increases the volume, diversity, and relevance of actions under consideration, making DRep participation more meaningful and increasing voter engagement across the ecosystem.

Decentralization of Submission Power

Currently, governance action submission is limited to high-ADA holders or institutions willing to forgo staking rewards. This proposal decentralizes that capability by separating capital provision from proposal authorship. As a result, small teams and subject matter experts—who may not hold significant ADA—can still participate meaningfully in shaping the future of the protocol.

This directly advances the objectives of decentralized governance by lowering systemic barriers and supporting a more inclusive, community-led proposal ecosystem.

Foundation for Ecosystem Expansion

All code will be open-sourced under the MIT license, enabling:

Forks for regionally governed DAOs or local governance bodies

Deposit-as-a-service tooling for new Cardano governance products

Integration with governance dashboards, wallets, and delegate platforms

This creates long-term compounding value by seeding infrastructure that can grow beyond its initial 100,000 ADA pool, potentially integrating with liquid staking, DRep ranking tools, and community-formed working groups.

[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?

This project is led by a multidisciplinary team with experience in Cardano governance, smart contract development, and legal compliance. The team includes José Velázquez, Nestor Rodriguez, and Felix Peña Melgarejo.

José Velázquez

Role: Project Lead – Platform Architecture

José has led multiple funded Catalyst proposals (Funds 7, 8, 12) focused on governance, transparency, and ecosystem tooling. He will oversee platform design, governance alignment with CIP-1694, and stakeholder coordination.

Nestor Rodriguez

Role: Legal Advisor

With over six years of legal experience, Nestor specializes in governance frameworks and blockchain regulation. He will ensure that the platform's governance workflows and user agreements align with CIP-1694 and on-chain submission rules.

Felix Peña Melgarejo

Role: Technical Lead – Smart Contracts

Felix brings over 10 years of experience in blockchain development. He will handle Aiken-based smart contract development, including escrow logic, deposit enforcement, and wallet integrations.

[Milestones] Project Milestones

Milestone Title

Milestone 1: Platform & Smart Contract Architecture

Milestone Outputs

Output:

Completed design of the platform architecture, smart contract escrow flow, and metadata compliance logic per CIP-1694. Includes component responsibilities for frontend, backend, Aiken smart contracts, and anchor metadata handling.

Acceptance Criteria

Acceptance Criteria:

The system design is reviewed internally and externally, confirming alignment with governance standards. All specifications are validated, structured for implementation, and published in version-controlled format for the open-source repository.

Evidence of Completion

Evidence of Completion:

Architecture diagram and escrow logic specification uploaded to GitHub with a versioned tag. A separate PDF will summarize governance flow, deposit lifecycle, metadata anchoring, and technical roles across all system components.

Delivery Month

1

Cost

30000

Progress

30 %

Milestone Title

Milestone 2: MVP Development and Testnet Deployment

Milestone Outputs

Output:

Development and deployment of a working MVP on Cardano testnet with frontend UI for submission, backend for metadata generation and storage, wallet integration, and fully operational Aiken contracts simulating deposit and repayment cycles.

Acceptance Criteria

Acceptance Criteria:

User submits a test proposal with metadata hash stored via IPFS. The 100k ADA deposit is simulated via smart contract, and the escrow logic is successfully enforced through mock repayment simulation using testnet ADA and system triggers.

Evidence of Completion

Evidence of Completion:

Testnet transaction hash, metadata link, screenshots of the user interface, and a recorded video walkthrough of the test scenario. GitHub commits showing testnet-specific contract logic and user flow behavior will also be documented.

Delivery Month

2

Cost

30000

Progress

60 %

Milestone Title

Milestone 3: Mainnet Deployment and Documentation Release

Milestone Outputs

Output:

Launch of the fully functional platform on Cardano mainnet, with final Aiken smart contracts deployed, UI live, user instructions published, and open-source codebase released with licensing and contribution guidelines for future developers.

Acceptance Criteria

Acceptance Criteria:

Contracts deployed and verified on mainnet, frontend tested and live, and platform is available for public use. Documentation includes onboarding instructions, metadata templates, and clear guidance for depositors and submitters.

Evidence of Completion

Evidence of Completion:

Mainnet contract addresses posted publicly, platform URL provided, and GitHub release includes complete codebase, install instructions, developer notes, and published onboarding documentation in both markdown and PDF formats.

Delivery Month

3

Cost

30000

Progress

90 %

Milestone Title

Milestone 4: First Governance Submission, Close-Out Report & Video

Milestone Outputs

Output:

First real InfoAction or GovAction is submitted using the platform with the 100,000 ADA pool funded by this proposal. Final report and a professionally produced video walkthrough will be released to explain the platform, impact, and usage.

Acceptance Criteria

Acceptance Criteria:

The on-chain governance action is completed via the platform’s fronted deposit. Report includes project impact, user feedback, governance metrics, and next steps. Video covers platform utility, escrow function, and CIP-1694 compliance.

Evidence of Completion

Evidence of Completion:

Mainnet transaction hash confirming submission, final report (PDF) uploaded to GitHub, and public video walkthrough published to YouTube or IPFS showing platform usage, architecture, governance relevance, and future development plans.

Delivery Month

4

Cost

10000

Progress

100 %

[Final Pitch] Budget & Costs

Please provide a cost breakdown of the proposed work and resources

.

Testing, deployment, and ongoing maintenance.

Documentation, close-out reporting, and a final public video.

No funds will be used for team compensation, marketing, travel, or overhead. All project funds are strictly allocated to the deposit pool.

Transparency & Tracking

All project funds will be monitored and reported through Reeve:

https://cardano-foundation.app.reeve.technology/reports

This ensures end-to-end transparency and allows the community to verify how the pool is used, how often it is recycled, and how governance participation is being enabled.Budget Allocation

Deposit Pool – 100,000 ADA (100%)

The full 100,000 ADA will be allocated to a dedicated deposit pool used to front the required on-chain deposit for GovAction and InfoAction submissions under CIP-1694. This ensures that individuals, community members, and working groups who lack the liquidity to front 100,000 ADA can still meaningfully participate in Cardano governance.

The deposit pool will be deployed through a smart contract escrow system and recycled across multiple submissions as the ADA is returned after each 6-epoch lock period. This maximizes long-term utility of the funds and creates a sustainable governance participation tool.

Development Commitment (0 ADA)

The project team—José Velázquez, Nestor Rodriguez, and Felix Peña Melgarejo—has committed to delivering the entire MVP, smart contract infrastructure, legal review, and documentation free of charge. This includes:

Platform design and architecture

Smart contract development (Aiken)

Legal compliance with CIP-1694 and user terms

Frontend and backend implementation

Testing, deployment, and maintenance

Documentation, close-out report, and public video

No funds from this proposal will be used for team compensation, marketing, travel, or overhead.

[Final Pitch] Value for Money

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

This proposal offers exceptional value for money by delivering a fully operational governance utility on Cardano with zero development cost to the treasury. The entire 100,000 ADA requested will be used to directly front deposits for on-chain GovAction and InfoAction submissions under CIP-1694. All platform design, smart contract development, legal review, testing, deployment, documentation, and community reporting will be contributed voluntarily by the project team.

This means:

100% of funds go to utility: Every ADA supports real on-chain governance actions.

No overhead, salaries, or admin costs: The team will not draw any compensation from this proposal.

Reusability: The 100,000 ADA will be recycled across multiple proposals, maximizing long-term utility and minimizing governance barriers.

Open-source infrastructure: The platform, smart contracts, and submission logic will be released under an MIT license, enabling replication, forking, and long-term ecosystem value.

By eliminating the 100,000 ADA capital lock-up as a barrier to entry, this platform will enable new governance contributors—including DRePs, SPOs, working groups, and independent developers—to actively shape protocol evolution. This represents a high-impact, low-cost contribution to decentralized governance that will continue generating returns beyond the proposal timeline.

[Required Acknowledgements] Consent & Confirmation

Terms and Conditions:

Yes