MLabs + Cardano Racers Team Up for Hydra Powered Gaming

[Proposal setup] Proposal title

Please provide your proposal title

MLabs + Cardano Racers Team Up for Hydra Powered Gaming

[Proposal Summary] Budget Information

Enter the amount of funding you are requesting in ADA

83000

[Proposal Summary] Time

Please specify how many months you expect your project to last

12

[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?

Blockchain gaming faces high fees, slow speeds, and scalability issues. Players seek fast, fair experiences, while Cardano needs real-world use cases to drive adoption, wallet growth, and transactions

[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

Currently not open sourced. All code that is developed through this funding will be GNU General Public License

[Theme Selection] Theme

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

GameFi

[Campaign Category] Category Questions

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

Cardano Racers is the first Hydra-powered real-time multiplayer game on mainnet. Unlike prior funded games relying on centralized servers or turn-based logic, all in-race actions are processed on Hydra for instant, fair, low-cost play. The project adds cross-chain NFT imports, driving adoption beyond Cardano, and releases open-source Hydra gaming tools for ecosystem reuse. This creates measurable impact on wallets, DAUs, and transactions while showcasing Hydra’s real-world scalability.

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

The MVP will demonstrate Hydra-powered real-time racing with wallet login, NFT vehicle selection, live multiplayer gameplay, and automatic prize pool distribution. It will validate Hydra’s scalability, near-zero fees, and on-chain fairness by committing race results to Cardano mainnet. The prototype will be accessible through a public web-based client connected to testnet wallets, with open community tournaments for early user feedback.

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

Realistic success measures include on-chain metrics such as unique wallet connections via CIP-30 (new user adoption), number of Hydra head race sessions executed, frequency and size of prize pool payouts through smart contracts, and total transactions committed back to Cardano mainnet. Additional indicators are daily active users, race participation growth, and distribution of open-source Hydra gaming code reused by other developers in the ecosystem.

[Your Project and Solution] Solution

Please describe your proposed solution and how it addresses the problem

Cardano Racers solves the problems of high fees, latency, and poor scalability in blockchain gaming by running all gameplay inside Hydra heads. Players connect a wallet, select/import NFT vehicles, and race in real-time with low entry fees. Hydra processes in-race actions at 1M+ TPS with near-zero cost, ensuring smooth, fair play. Final results and rewards are committed to Cardano mainnet via smart contracts, guaranteeing security and transparency. This delivers a fast, low-cost, trustless gaming experience while showcasing Hydra’s real-world potential.

[Your Project and Solution] Impact

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

Cardano Racers drives adoption by creating measurable growth in wallet connections, daily active users, and transaction volume, directly strengthening network activity. It showcases Hydra as a live, scalable solution, proving Cardano can support mainstream, real-time applications. Open-source Hydra gaming and NFT integration code will be shared, enabling other developers to build faster on Cardano. The project also engages the community through tournaments, forums, and feedback loops, aligning game evolution with user needs and strengthening Cardano’s ecosystem.

[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?

Our team combines proven Cardano and Web3 expertise with experienced full-stack developers. MLabs, a leading Cardano consultancy, provides Hydra and smart contract architecture, ensuring technical robustness. Development is milestone-based with transparent reporting, budget tracking, and community updates to maintain accountability. Feasibility will be validated through a Hydra-powered MVP on testnet, benchmarking throughput, user testing live races, and confirming seamless wallet integration and prize distribution before mainnet launch.

[Milestones] Project Milestones

Milestone Title

MVP & Testing

Milestone Outputs

The first milestone focuses on building a functional Hydra-powered prototype that demonstrates the game’s core mechanics. This includes wallet login via CIP-30, NFT vehicle import/selection, real-time multiplayer racing, and automated prize pool smart contracts. The MVP will be deployed on testnet to validate Hydra’s throughput and near-zero fees while recording performance benchmarks. User testing sessions will be run to collect detailed feedback on gameplay, stability, and overall user experience. This milestone proves the technical feasibility of Hydra-powered racing before scaling further.

Acceptance Criteria

The MVP must demonstrate a working Hydra-powered prototype where players can connect a Cardano wallet via CIP-30, select or import an NFT vehicle, and participate in multiplayer races on testnet. All in-race actions (acceleration, collisions, lap completion) should be processed inside a Hydra head, with benchmark data proving high throughput and near-zero latency. Smart contracts must simulate prize pool distribution to confirm trustless payout logic. Clear documentation of Hydra performance testing is required.

Evidence of Completion

Public testnet link to playable demo, benchmark performance report, and a published summary of player testing feedback confirming gameplay stability.

Delivery Month

6

Cost

41500

Progress

50 %

Milestone Title

Community Engagement

Milestone Outputs

The second milestone involves onboarding the Cardano community through testnet tournaments and outreach initiatives. Trial races will be hosted where players can join with minimal barriers, test the game flow, and experience Hydra’s instant performance. Feedback channels will be created across Cardano forums, Discord, and social media to capture community insights, suggestions, and bug reports. Engagement metrics such as number of test participants, race completions, and feedback submissions will be tracked. This milestone ensures the project is aligned with community expectations and builds early momentum.

Acceptance Criteria

Trial tournaments must be hosted on testnet with active player participation. Players should be able to join races seamlessly, submit feedback, and experience Hydra’s near-instant performance. Engagement will be measured by the number of unique wallets connected, races completed, and community interactions across Cardano forums, Discord, and surveys. This milestone is considered successful when the project demonstrates measurable adoption indicators and collects actionable feedback to refine gameplay and user experience.

Evidence of Completion

Screenshots and recordings of live tournaments, detailed community feedback reports, survey results, and statistical summaries of user adoption including DAU and wallet connections.

Delivery Month

7

Cost

16600

Progress

70 %

Milestone Title

Refinement

Milestone Outputs

Based on MVP and community input, the third milestone focuses on refining the game for production readiness. UI/UX improvements will be implemented for smoother navigation, clear wallet interactions, and a polished racing interface. Hydra integration will be optimized to handle larger player volumes with consistent performance. Cross-chain NFT imports will be added, allowing players to bring vehicles from outside ecosystems, widening the adoption funnel. Extensive QA testing, bug fixes, and performance enhancements will prepare the system for a reliable, enjoyable mainnet launch experience.

Acceptance Criteria

The refinement milestone requires implementation of UI/UX improvements for smoother navigation, enhanced wallet connection flows, and an upgraded racing interface. Hydra performance must be optimized for consistent results across larger player volumes. Cross-chain NFT import functionality must be added, allowing vehicles from external ecosystems to participate in races. Extensive QA testing and bug fixes are mandatory, with documented results showing improved performance, reduced errors, and high user satisfaction indicators.

Evidence of Completion

Updated public code repository, QA testing documentation, bug fix logs, and video demonstrations clearly showing new UI/UX flows, Hydra optimizations, and successful NFT imports.

Delivery Month

11

Cost

14400

Progress

90 %

Milestone Title

Mainnet Launch

Milestone Outputs

The final milestone is the full deployment of Cardano Racers on Cardano mainnet. This includes releasing the production version of the game, publishing a detailed project report with technical benchmarks, and creating a promotional video to showcase Hydra’s capabilities. The first official tournament will be hosted with real ADA prize pools distributed automatically via smart contracts, proving trustless prize payouts at scale. This milestone demonstrates Hydra as a mainstream application enabler, driving wallet adoption, daily activity, and transaction growth across the ecosystem.

Acceptance Criteria

The final milestone requires deployment of Cardano Racers on mainnet with full functionality, including wallet login, NFT vehicle support, real-time racing, and automated prize pool payouts. At least one official tournament must be hosted with prize pools distributed trustlessly through smart contracts. A comprehensive project report with technical benchmarks and outcomes must be published along with a promotional video. Success is measured by verifiable on-chain transactions proving real payouts, player participation, and Hydra scalability in production.

Evidence of Completion

Public mainnet deployment link, verifiable on-chain transaction hashes of prize distributions, published final project report, and an official promotional video released to the Cardano community.

Delivery Month

12

Cost

10500

Progress

100 %

[Final Pitch] Budget & Costs

Please provide a cost breakdown of the proposed work and resources

Budget Breakdown – 83,000 ADA

Milestone Allocation

MVP & Testing (Month 6): 41,500 ADA (50%)

Community Engagement (Month 7): 16,600 ADA (20%)

Refinement (Month 11): 14,400 ADA (17%)

Mainnet Launch (Month 12): 10,500 ADA (13%)

Total: 83,000 ADA

Resource Allocation

Blockchain Development (Hydra & Smart Contracts – MLabs & Niel Rutledge): 32,000 ADA

Hydra head integration, smart contract design, prize pool logic, audits, and architecture oversight.

Full-Stack Development (Dean Blackwood): 18,000 ADA

Game mechanics, wallet/NFT interoperability, and front-to-back system integration.

Front-End Development (Urvish Patel): 10,500 ADA

React/Next.js racing UI, wallet/API integration, and multiplayer lobby.

Back-End Development (Palak Patel): 10,500 ADA

Node/Express services, database schemas, Hydra-to-client data handling.

Community Engagement & Outreach (tournaments, feedback loops, promotional video): 12,000 ADA

Community tournaments, feedback collection, social media campaigns, and promotional video production.

Total: 83,000 ADA

[Final Pitch] Value for Money

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

The 83,000 ADA budget delivers high value to the Cardano ecosystem by funding the first Hydra-powered, real-time multiplayer game on mainnet. This project is not only entertainment but also a live showcase of Hydra scalability, proving Cardano can support mainstream, high-throughput applications.

Every ADA spent creates ecosystem benefits:

Wallet Adoption: Costs directly drive new CIP-30 wallet connections and daily active users.

Transaction Growth: Prize pool payouts and Hydra-to-mainnet commitments generate measurable on-chain activity.

Open-Source Reuse: Hydra gaming and NFT interoperability code will be released for developers, reducing future project costs.

Community Engagement: Funds support tournaments, outreach, and media content that bring new users into Cardano.

In short, the budget is not just for one game—it seeds scalable tooling, adoption metrics, and Hydra validation that benefit the entire ecosystem.

[Required Acknowledgements] Consent & Confirmation

Terms and Conditions:

Yes