UNIKRON – an intent-based meta-DEX aggregator

[Proposal setup] Proposal title

Please provide your proposal title

UNIKRON – an intent-based meta-DEX aggregator

[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

5

[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 DeFi lacks aggregators with MEV-resistant execution, leaving users exposed to front-running and limiting ecosystem competitiveness versus EVM and Solana.

[Proposal Summary] Supporting Documentation

Supporting links

• https://unikron-swap-eta.vercel.app/

[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 we have no dependencies

[Proposal Summary] Project Open Source

Will your project's outputs be fully open source?

Yes

License and Additional Information

UNIKRON (Cardano Edition) will be released under the GNU Affero General Public License v3 (AGPLv3). This ensures all smart contracts, protocol logic, and supporting services remain open-source and accessible to the community, even when deployed as network applications. This license choice prevents proprietary forks while fostering collaboration, transparency, and long-term sustainability for the Cardano DeFi ecosystem.

[Theme Selection] Theme

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

DeFi

[Campaign Category] Category Questions

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

UNIKRON introduces the first intent-based, MEV-resistant meta-DEX aggregator on Cardano. Unlike existing aggregators, it employs a commit–reveal architecture to protect traders from front-running while ensuring fair execution. Its modular design enables integration across Cardano DEXs and future cross-chain liquidity bridges, bringing advanced DeFi security patterns from EVM/Solana into the Cardano ecosystem. This fusion of MEV defense, cross-chain routing, and open governance sets UNIKRON apart as a next-generation DeFi protocol.

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

The MVP will demonstrate a working Cardano-based meta-DEX aggregator with MEV-resistant commit–reveal execution. Users will connect a Cardano wallet, preview swap routes across integrated DEXs, and securely commit and reveal trade intents. The prototype will validate intent hashing, expiry checks, and fee distribution on Plutus smart contracts. A functional frontend will showcase trade flows and confirmations, proving feasibility of intent-based aggregation on Cardano while laying the foundation for cross-chain expansion.

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

Success will be measured by on-chain metrics such as number of executed intents, volume of swaps routed, MEV-protected transactions completed, and fees distributed to liquidity stakers, treasury, and MEV bounty pool. Additional indicators include user adoption (unique wallets using the protocol), uptime of smart contracts, and successful integration with at least two major Cardano DEXs. These verifiable, on-chain metrics ensure transparent tracking of growth, security, and real-world DeFi impact.

[Your Project and Solution] Solution

Please describe your proposed solution and how it addresses the problem

UNIKRON (Cardano Edition) is a cross-chain, MEV-resistant meta-DEX aggregator designed to address key challenges in the Cardano DeFi ecosystem. Its unique architecture integrates multiple Cardano-based decentralized exchanges (DEXs) with cross-chain liquidity aggregation, securing transactions against front-running and sandwich attacks via a commit–reveal architecture.

1. Intra**-Chain Liquidity Aggregation**

UNIKRON solves this problem by providing a unified interface that aggregates liquidity across Cardano DEXs, such as Minswap, SundaeSwap, WingRiders, and more. Through integration with LayerZero and other cross-chain messaging protocols (as per our roadmap), UNIKRON will allow Cardano users to access liquidity from both EVM and Solana ecosystems.

The protocol ensures that users always get the best price for their swaps, combining liquidity from all integrated DEXs to ensure optimal execution and minimize slippage.

2. MEV-Resistant Architecture

Miner Extractable Value (MEV) is a major problem in many DeFi protocols. Front-running, sandwiching, and other manipulative tactics can lead to unfair trading conditions. UNIKRON uses a commit–reveal protocol to ensure MEV resistance.

When a user initiates a trade, they create an off-chain intent that includes trade details (tokens, amounts, slippage) but not the full execution data. This intent is then hashed and committed to the blockchain. The commit phase only records the hash, protecting the user’s trade details from malicious actors.

Once the hash is committed, the user (or a relayer) can reveal the intent at a later time, at which point the full trade details are validated on-chain. This two-step process prevents MEV bots from front-running or sandwiching the trade because the trade parameters are hidden during the commit phase.

The commit-reveal process also enables secure intent execution, ensuring that the trade can only be completed when the committed hash matches the revealed intent, making the entire process resistant to manipulation.

3. Modular Fee Distribution

UNIKRON introduces a novel modular fee distribution model, which ensures that the economic incentives for all participants in the Cardano DeFi ecosystem are aligned. The protocol collects a 0.10% fee on each swap and splits it as follows:

• 50% to liquidity stakers: This incentivizes users to provide liquidity to the DEXs integrated within UNIKRON, ensuring deep and competitive pools.

• 30% to the protocol treasury: This ensures that UNIKRON has sufficient funds for future development, security audits, marketing, and other ecosystem-supporting activities.

• 20% to the MEV bounty pool: This encourages participants to help reveal trades, contributing to the MEV protection system, and rewards them for ensuring fair execution.

This fee structure not only rewards liquidity providers but also fosters a sustainable ecosystem where the protocol, users, and MEV guardians all benefit.

4. Technical Architecture

The architecture of UNIKRON (Cardano Edition) is designed to be scalable, secure, and adaptable to future DeFi innovations:

Smart Contracts (Plutus V3)

The heart of the protocol is built on Cardano’s Plutus V3 smart contracts, which handle key functions:

• Commitment and Reveal Mechanism: Storing and verifying trade intents through the commit-reveal flow.

• Trade Execution: Once the intent is revealed and verified, the swap is executed using the best price path across integrated DEXs.

• Fee Distribution: Implementing the modular fee split to incentivize liquidity providers and reward MEV protection.

• Upgradeable Smart Contracts: The protocol is designed to allow for upgrades and improvements, ensuring that the system can evolve in response to new security threats or innovations.

Frontend (React/Next.js)

The user interface will be built using React/Next.js, providing a smooth, intuitive experience for Cardano users. Key features include:

• Chain Selector: Allowing users to choose between Cardano, EVM, or Solana networks.

• Wallet Integration: Supporting Cardano wallets like Nami, Eternl, and Lace.

• Trade Preview and Execution: Users can view their trade routes, slippage tolerance, and fees before committing and revealing their swaps.

• Transaction Status: Real-time tracking of trade status, including commit, reveal, and execution phases.

Backend (Node.js/TypeScript)

The backend will handle route discovery, intent serialization, and commit-reveal orchestration. It will also:

• Fetch optimal routes from Cardano DEXs and external liquidity sources.

• Serve API endpoints to facilitate trade intent generation, signature verification, and execution.

• Store trade history for auditability and transparency.

Cross-Chain Interoperability (Future)

The future roadmap for UNIKRON includes extending its cross-chain functionality. Initially, the protocol will aggregate liquidity from Cardano DEXs. Later, it will integrate cross-chain solutions like LayerZero for seamless liquidity movement between Cardano and other chains like EVM and Solana. This will unlock new liquidity pools, ensuring the Cardano ecosystem can compete with the fast-growing DeFi markets of other blockchains.

5. User Flow

The user experience is streamlined to provide a frictionless trade process, ensuring that both novice and experienced traders can use the platform effectively. Here’s a step-by-step breakdown of how users will interact with UNIKRON:

1. Connect Wallet: Users connect their Cardano wallet (e.g., Nami or Eternl) to the frontend.

2. Select Tokens & Amount: Users choose the tokens they wish to swap and the amount they want to trade.

3. Fetch Route: The system queries integrated DEXs for the best price.

4. Commit Swap: Users confirm the swap details, committing only the hash of the intent to the blockchain.

5. Reveal Swap: After a short period, the user or relayer reveals the full intent, which is verified and executed on-chain.

6. Track Status: Users can track the status of their transaction, from commitment to execution.

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6. Addressing the Problem

UNIKRON addresses several key problems in Cardano’s DeFi ecosystem:

• DeFi Fragmentation: By aggregating liquidity across Cardano DEXs, UNIKRON provides users with better pricing and lower slippage, improving liquidity across the network.

• MEV Exploitation: The commit-reveal architecture ensures that trades are protected from front-running and sandwich attacks, providing fairer and more secure trading for users.

• Limited Cross-Chain Compatibility: By laying the groundwork for cross-chain liquidity aggregation, UNIKRON will soon enable users to trade assets across multiple ecosystems (Cardano, EVM, Solana), increasing the reach of Cardano’s DeFi ecosystem.

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Conclusion

UNIKRON (Cardano Edition) represents an innovative solution for Cardano’s DeFi ecosystem by introducing a secure, cross-chain, MEV-resistant meta-DEX aggregator. It solves major issues such as liquidity fragmentation, front-running risks, and lack of cross-chain functionality. The protocol’s use of commit-reveal MEV protection, modular fee distribution, and integration with Cardano’s smart contract ecosystem positions it as the first Cardano-native MEV-resistant DeFi protocol, with future scalability to enable seamless cross-chain interactions.

[Your Project and Solution] Impact

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

Positive Impact on the Community

UNIKRON (Cardano Edition) will have a profound, long-lasting impact on the wider Cardano community by addressing critical pain points in the DeFi ecosystem and contributing to Cardano's position as a leader in decentralized finance. The project will bring the following benefits:

1. Enhanced DeFi Liquidity:By aggregating liquidity from multiple DEXs, UNIKRON will improve the overall liquidity on Cardano, leading to better trade execution and lower slippage for users. This will attract more traders, liquidity providers, and developers to the Cardano DeFi ecosystem, driving growth.
2. Fairer Trading with MEV Protection:The commit-reveal architecture protects Cardano traders from front-running and sandwich attacks—two common issues in centralized and decentralized exchanges. By addressing these problems, UNIKRON ensures fairer and more secure trading, fostering trust in Cardano’s DeFi infrastructure and encouraging wider adoption.
3. Increased Cross-Chain Connectivity:UNIKRON’s future cross-chain capabilities will bridge liquidity from EVM and Solana ecosystems to Cardano. This will bring new users and more liquidity to Cardano, establishing it as a key player in the larger multi-chain DeFi ecosystem. Cross-chain integration ensures that Cardano DeFi can compete on an equal footing with other ecosystems, which could result in increased activity and innovation within the Cardano ecosystem.
4. Economic Benefits through Fee Distribution:The modular fee distribution model provides incentives not just for liquidity providers but also for MEV bounty pool participants, ensuring that the entire Cardano DeFi ecosystem benefits. By sharing fees among various participants, UNIKRON will foster a more inclusive and sustainable ecosystem, where users, developers, and stakers alike contribute to and benefit from its success.
5. Community Empowerment through Open-Source Development:As an AGPLv3 open-source project, UNIKRON will empower the community to contribute, extend, and adapt the platform for their needs. This openness ensures that innovation remains decentralized, giving developers on Cardano the ability to build on top of UNIKRON and drive the evolution of DeFi without restrictions. This openness also ensures that the project can be audited, ensuring its transparency and trustworthiness.
6. Educational Value and Collaboration:The introduction of advanced concepts like commit-reveal protocols and modular fee distribution will serve as an educational opportunity for the Cardano community. By engaging the community in discussions around these innovative techniques, UNIKRON will promote knowledge sharing and create a collaborative environment where community members can learn and grow together.
7. Long-Term DeFi Sustainability on Cardano:UNIKRON will serve as a foundational building block for sustainable, fair, and scalable DeFi on Cardano. Its focus on security, transparency, and fair execution will set high standards for future projects, making Cardano a more attractive ecosystem for investors, developers, and users interested in decentralized finance.
8. Governance and Community Ownership:The decentralized governance model integrated into UNIKRON will give Cardano community members a say in how the platform evolves. By engaging the Cardano community in decision-making, UNIKRON ensures that the platform remains community-driven, with feedback loops that reflect the values and needs of the 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?

Capability to Deliver with High Trust & Accountability

UNIKRON (Cardano Edition) ensures trust and accountability through:

1. Experienced Team: Our team has a strong background in cross-chain DeFi, smart contract development, and blockchain security.

2. Open-Source Development: The project is licensed under AGPLv3, promoting transparency and community review.

3. Third-Party Audits: We will conduct smart contract audits with reputable firms to ensure security.

4. Formal Verification: We will explore formal verification for critical components, ensuring correctness.

5. Decentralized Governance: Community-driven decisions ensure long-term sustainability.

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Feasibility Validation Approach

We will validate UNIKRON’s feasibility through:

1. Prototype Testing: An MVP will be deployed on Cardano’s testnet to simulate trades and validate the commit-reveal flow.

2. Internal Testing: We will test smart contracts and user flows to ensure correctness, performance, and security.

3. User Feedback: Early user testing and feedback from both technical and non-technical users will guide improvements.

4. Real-Time Monitoring: Post-launch analytics will monitor trade success, liquidity, and performance metrics.

5. Partnerships: Collaborations with Cardano DEXs and DeFi projects will ensure real-world testing and liquidity integration.

[Milestones] Project Milestones

Milestone Title

Smart Contract & Protocol Development

Milestone Outputs

• Developed and deployed Plutus V3 smart contracts for commit-reveal MEV protection.
• Integrated Cardano DEXs (e.g., Minswap, WingRiders, sundaeswap) into liquidity routing.
• Completed smart contract audit.

Acceptance Criteria

• Smart contracts deployed on Cardano testnet and functional.
• MEV protection verified through commit-reveal tests.
• DEX liquidity routing integrated with at least 2 Cardano DEXs.
• Audit report with no critical issues.

Evidence of Completion

• GitHub repository with Plutus smart contract code and audit results.
• Testnet transaction logs showing successful MEV-protected swaps.
• Screenshots or video demo showing working smart contract interactions with DEXs.

Delivery Month

2

Cost

30000

Progress

30 %

Milestone Title

Frontend Development & User Testing

Milestone Outputs

• Built a React/Next.js frontend with wallet integration (Nami, Eternl, Lace).
• User flow for Connect wallet → Select tokens → Commit → Reveal implemented.
• Conducted user testing to gather feedback on UI/UX.

Acceptance Criteria

• Frontend deployed and fully functional on testnet.
• Wallet integration with Yoroi, Nami, Eternl, and Lace confirmed.
• User testing conducted with actionable feedback received and addressed from the community.

Evidence of Completion

• GitHub repository with frontend code.
• User testing reports and screenshots showing working frontend components.
• UI/UX improvements based on testing feedback.

Delivery Month

4

Cost

30000

Progress

60 %

Milestone Title

Full Protocol Testing & Audit

Milestone Outputs

• Comprehensive testing of commit-reveal flow, ensuring MEV protection works in real-world scenarios.
• Full smart contract and protocol audit (third-party).
• Front-end testing for seamless user interactions.

Acceptance Criteria

• Commit-reveal flow passes extensive testing on Cardano testnet.
• Audit reports provided with no critical vulnerabilities.
• Frontend fully tested, with functional wallet integration and trade flow.

Evidence of Completion

• Testnet transaction logs and successful commit-reveal executions.
• Audit report from a third-party firm confirming security and correctness.
• Testnet user feedback on front-end UX, with improvements applied.

Delivery Month

5

Cost

30000

Progress

90 %

Milestone Title

Mainnet Deployment & Initial Monitoring

Milestone Outputs

• Full deployment of UNIKRON on the Cardano mainnet.
• Monitoring and analytics tools set up to track performance and trade success.
• Initial community engagement and feedback with active outreach and workshops

Acceptance Criteria

• UNIKRON deployed on Cardano mainnet and fully functional.
• Real-time monitoring established for transaction success rates, liquidity, and fees.
• Community feedback gathered and initial changes or improvements based on feedback.

Evidence of Completion

• Mainnet transaction logs showing executed swaps.
• Performance monitoring dashboards with key metrics.
• Community feedback reports and usage data.

Delivery Month

5

Cost

10000

Progress

100 %

[Final Pitch] Budget & Costs

Please provide a cost breakdown of the proposed work and resources

Cost Breakdown for UNIKRON (Cardano Edition)

Total Funding Requested: 100,000 ADA

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Milestone 1: Smart Contract & Protocol Development

Cost: 20,000 ADA

• Development of Plutus V3 smart contracts:

  • Architecting and coding the commit-reveal MEV protection and fee distribution logic.

  • Testing and integrating with Cardano DEXs.

• Smart contract audit:

  • Third-party audit fees to ensure security and reliability.

Resources:

• Smart contract developers

• Security audit team

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Milestone 2: Frontend Development & User Testing

Cost: 30,000 ADA

• Frontend development:

  • Building the React/Next.js application for the UNIKRON user interface.

  • Wallet integration (Nami, Eternl, Lace).

  • Implementing the user flow: wallet connection → token selection → commit → reveal.

• User testing and UX improvements:

  • Collecting feedback from real users, testing interactions, and refining the UI/UX.

Resources:

• Frontend developers

• UX/UI designers

• User testing group

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Milestone 3: Full Protocol Testing & Audit

Cost: 30,000 ADA

• Commit-reveal flow testing:

  • Full testing of the commit-reveal mechanism for MEV protection.

  • Functional testing of the entire user flow on Cardano testnet.

• Third-party audit:

  • Comprehensive review of both smart contracts and the entire protocol.

  • Addressing any security concerns before moving to mainnet.

Resources:

• Blockchain testers

• Security audit firm

• Testing infrastructure

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Milestone 4: Mainnet Deployment & Initial Monitoring

Cost: 20,000 ADA

• Mainnet deployment:

  • Deploying UNIKRON on the Cardano mainnet.

  • Setting up real-time monitoring tools for trade success, performance, and fees.

• Community engagement and feedback:

  • Initial community outreach to gather feedback and iterate on any required improvements.

Resources:

• DevOps for deployment

• Monitoring tools (e.g., Grafana, Prometheus)

• Community managers

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Additional Costs (across all milestones):

• Project management and coordination:

  • Ongoing management of timelines, resources, and communication.

• Marketing and documentation:

  • Promoting the protocol within the Cardano community and preparing user guides, documentation, and tutorials.

[Final Pitch] Value for Money

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

1. Enhancing DeFi Liquidity & Trading Efficiency

The 20,000 ADA allocated for Smart Contract & Protocol Development will provide significant value to Cardano by integrating its DEXs into a unified liquidity pool. This will lead to:

• Increased liquidity, making Cardano’s DeFi more competitive with ecosystems like Ethereum and Solana.

• Optimized pricing and lower slippage for users, resulting in a better trading experience for both retail and institutional investors.

• Growth in trading volume, attracting more DeFi projects and users to Cardano.

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2. Improving DeFi Security & Trust

The 30,000 ADA allocated for Frontend Development & User Testing and Full Protocol Testing & Audit ensures MEV-resistant trading and transparent execution of transactions. This represents tremendous value by:

• Protecting users from MEV attacks (e.g., front-running and sandwich attacks), which ensures fair trading.

• Building trust in Cardano’s DeFi ecosystem, encouraging user adoption and attracting new DeFi projects to Cardano, knowing they can rely on a secure environment.

The third-party audit and extensive testing will also increase Cardano’s reputation as a secure platform for decentralized finance, which can drive more investment and ecosystem development.

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3. Fostering Innovation in the Cardano Ecosystem

The 30,000 ADA spent on testing, smart contract auditing, and front-end improvements brings in much-needed innovative practices to Cardano’s DeFi:

• Commit-reveal architecture is a novel feature that will showcase Cardano’s ability to implement cutting-edge solutions.

• The open-source nature of the protocol will encourage community contributions, making Cardano a hub of innovation.

This adds value by making Cardano’s DeFi ecosystem future-proof and capable of handling new features such as cross-chain liquidity aggregation (as planned for later phases).

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4. Expanding Cardano’s DeFi Reach with Mainnet Deployment

The 20,000 ADA allocated to Mainnet Deployment & Initial Monitoring will ensure that UNIKRON operates on the Cardano mainnet and helps boost Cardano’s DeFi infrastructure by:

• Bringing real-world liquidity and adoption to Cardano, driving more users and liquidity providers to the ecosystem.

• Mainnet success will be a key milestone in establishing Cardano as a leading DeFi platform, attracting external developers and DeFi applications to Cardano.

Furthermore, the monitoring tools will allow Cardano’s DeFi projects to be more scalable and efficient, ensuring continuous improvement.

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5. Long-Term Sustainability & Ecosystem Growth

The total project cost of 100,000 ADA is an investment in the Cardano ecosystem’s long-term growth by:

• Fostering collaboration and interoperability with other blockchains, making Cardano a more attractive platform for cross-chain DeFi innovations.

• Ensuring the sustainability of the Cardano DeFi ecosystem by building robust protocols that scale and attract new users and developers.

• Offering modular incentives, like fee distribution, that benefit Cardano’s liquidity providers and governance participants, leading to a more sustainable and community-driven DeFi ecosystem.

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Conclusion: Value to the Cardano Ecosystem

The cost breakdown of 100,000 ADA for UNIKRON (Cardano Edition) directly benefits the Cardano ecosystem by:

• Enhancing liquidity and optimizing trade efficiency, ensuring Cardano’s DeFi platform is competitive.

• Providing MEV protection and ensuring fairness and trust, which will attract more users and projects to Cardano.

• Fostering innovation and ensuring sustainable DeFi growth on Cardano with real-world deployments and community-driven features.

This proposal represents value for money, providing a secure, scalable, and innovative DeFi solution that will enhance Cardano’s global DeFi standing and establish it as a leader in blockchain-driven finance.

[Required Acknowledgements] Consent & Confirmation

Terms and Conditions:

Yes