UTXO-based NFT Marketplace for Micro-Communities

[Proposal setup] Proposal title

Please provide your proposal title

UTXO-based NFT Marketplace for Micro-Communities

[Proposal Summary] Budget Information

Enter the amount of funding you are requesting in ADA

75000

[Proposal Summary] Time

Please specify how many months you expect your project to last

7

[Proposal Summary] Problem Statement

What is the problem you want to solve?

Many small creators and local artists find it hard to use today’s NFT marketplaces. The platforms are often too expensive, too complex, made for big projects not for common people. We want to fix that

[Proposal Summary] Supporting Documentation

Supporting links

• https://github.com/unwrapsolutions/nft-marketplace-utxo
,
• https://unwrapsolutions.dev/

[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

Everything we build will be open source from the beginning. We’ll use the MIT License, which lets anyone freely use, modify, and build on top of the project. It’s simple, trusted, and encourages developers to join in without restrictions. All our code, smart contracts, and documentation will be shared on a public GitHub repo right from day one so the Cardano community can follow, use, and contribute.

[Theme Selection] Theme

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

NFT

[Campaign Category] Category Questions

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

Most NFT marketplaces on Cardano are built for big projects or general collectors, not for small creators or local communities. What makes our idea different is that we’re designing it specifically for small groups artists, musicians, and grassroots projects who usually don’t have a platform.

We're using the eUTXO model to reduce costs and keep everything decentralized, with full on-chain metadata. This lets users mint and sell NFTs without high fees or middlemen.

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

Our MVP will show a working NFT marketplace where users can mint, list, and buy NFTs on the Cardano testnet. It will support wallet connections (like Lace and Eternl), display NFT collections, and handle transactions using the extended UTXO model. The platform will have a clean interface and allow real community artists to try it out with test NFTs.

It will be fully open source and accessible through a live link shared with the Catalyst community. All the code and documentation will also be available in our public GitHub repository so others can review, test, and contribute from the start.

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

We’ll track on-chain metrics like the number of NFTs minted, NFTs traded, and unique wallet interactions. If 50+ NFTs are minted, 30+ trades happen, and at least 20 unique wallets use the platform in the first phase, that’s a strong signal we’re solving a real problem and bringing value to Cardano.

[Your Project and Solution] Solution

Please describe your proposed solution and how it addresses the problem

We’re building a simple and affordable NFT marketplace designed for everyday creators like local artists, grassroots communities, and small collectors who are often left out of the big, expensive platforms. Our goal is to create a tool that’s easy to use, mobile-friendly, and fully decentralized, so people can mint, list, and sell NFTs without needing any technical background.

This platform runs fully on Cardano’s extended UTXO model. That means users pay lower fees, keep full control of their NFTs, and benefit from faster, safer transactions. Our contracts will support batch operations so users can list or buy multiple NFTs at once, which keeps costs down even more.

We’ll also make sure everything works smoothly from the beginning, wallet connections, mobile access, and a clean user experience. On top of that, all NFTs will have their metadata stored directly on-chain using Cardano standards, so nothing gets lost or hidden behind third-party platforms.

By focusing on micro-communities, we’re solving a real need: giving people access to Web3 tools that respect their independence, budgets, and creative work. This project shows what’s possible with Cardano’s UTXO system and opens the door for others to build niche marketplaces, educational NFT hubs, and more.

[Your Project and Solution] Impact

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

This project gives power back to the people. It helps local artists, small creators, and community groups use blockchain technology without needing deep technical knowledge or large amounts of money. With our simple NFT marketplace, they can mint, showcase, and sell their digital art and creations directly without relying on big platforms or giving up control of their work.

It will bring more real users to Cardano, increase on-chain activity, and show that Cardano is not just for developers or large organizations, but for everyone. By focusing on affordability, ownership, and simplicity, we’re making the ecosystem more welcoming and useful for everyday people.

We’re also building everything as open source, so other developers and communities can reuse and improve what we make. That means more innovation, more collaboration, and a stronger Cardano for all of us.

[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?

We have a committed team with strong experience in building blockchain applications, especially on Cardano. Each person has a clear role from smart contract development to backend, frontend, and community engagement. We’ve worked together on previous Web3 projects and understand what it takes to turn an idea into a working product.

Our plan is clear and broken into well-defined steps. From the first month, everything will be built in public on GitHub so anyone can see what we’re doing. We’ll also involve real artists and small communities in testing, so we get direct feedback and make sure the marketplace is truly useful for them.

We’ll know our approach works when people can actually mint and trade NFTs easily, without needing help or spending too much. We’ll also track how many NFTs are created, how many users come back, and what they share with us in feedback sessions.

By staying open, focused, and community-driven, we’re confident we’ll deliver what we promised and give something valuable back to the Cardano ecosystem.

[Milestones] Project Milestones

Milestone Title

Marketplace Architecture & Smart Contract Design

Milestone Outputs

A working smart contract architecture covering minting, listing, and batch sales using the UTXO model. Includes Aiken/Plutus starter templates and core logic built for integration. This code will act as the foundation for all NFT marketplace transactions and be flexible enough for reuse.

Acceptance Criteria

Completion of a functioning draft of the smart contracts, confirmed via internal peer review and simulated on Cardano testnet. Contracts must support minting, fixed-price listing, and support for metadata standards (CIP-68).

Evidence of Completion

Smart contract source code is uploaded to GitHub under the MIT license, with working unit tests, clear documentation, and simulated transaction results published.

Delivery Month

2

Cost

20000

Progress

30 %

Milestone Title

Frontend UI, Wallet Integration, and Metadata API

Milestone Outputs

A fully functional front-end connected to testnet wallets (Lace, Eternl, Flint), with mobile responsiveness and core user flows (minting, listing, viewing NFTs). Backend API for metadata indexing and content display also built.

Acceptance Criteria

The MVP must show NFTs on the site using real testnet data. Wallet connection must allow users to sign transactions, mint a test NFT, and view their assets. Backend must serve metadata for listed NFTs.

Evidence of Completion

Public testnet DApp link shared with Catalyst community. All code committed to GitHub including metadata parser, frontend NextJs files, and working examples with testnet wallets.

Delivery Month

2

Cost

20000

Progress

30 %

Milestone Title

Community Testing, Feedback, and Iteration

Milestone Outputs

The onboarding of local creators to use the testnet platform. Collect feedback via interviews and surveys to identify areas for improvement. Make changes to UI and backend implementation based on real use cases.

Acceptance Criteria

We'll me sure to have at least 10 community creators use the platform and mint at least 40 NFTs. Feedback collected includes both survey results and direct interviews to validate usability and usefulness.

Evidence of Completion

Feedback report published with anonymized user comments, NFT samples, wallet activity logs, and changelog showing implemented improvements based on testing insights.

Delivery Month

2

Cost

20000

Progress

20 %

Milestone Title

Final Deployment and Documentation

Milestone Outputs

We'll have a fully working mainnet marketplace, open to the public. Complete smart contracts deployed with verified addresses. All guides for users and developers written, including how to mint and list NFTs.

Acceptance Criteria

Marketplace must allow any Cardano wallet (Valid Wallet, such as Eternl, Yoroi, etc.) holder to mint and list NFTs. Documentation must include walkthroughs, contract interaction examples, and troubleshooting.

Evidence of Completion

Mainnet deployment with URL shared publicly, smart contract addresses verified, GitHub updated with README, tutorials, and usage videos linked on project site and shared via Cardano channels.

Delivery Month

1

Cost

15000

Progress

20 %

[Final Pitch] Budget & Costs

Please provide a cost breakdown of the proposed work and resources

The total budget for this project is ₳75,000, which will be used carefully across all parts of the development. Our team is experienced, and focused on delivering a high-quality solution within a 7-month period. Here's how the funds will be used:

• ₳20,000 for smart contract development: This covers creating secure and efficient contracts for minting, listing, and selling NFTs using Cardano’s UTXO model. It also includes testing and integrating metadata standards.

• ₳15,000 for frontend development: This part funds the creation of a simple and mobile-friendly interface that connects with wallets like Lace, Eternl, and Flint. It includes wallet connection, user flows for minting and trading, and responsive design.

• ₳15,000 for backend development: This includes setting up the database, building metadata indexing tools, and creating APIs that power the platform. It ensures NFTs show properly and stay connected to the blockchain.

• ₳8,000 for community outreach and user testing: A community manager will connect with local artists and micro-communities, help onboard them, and gather feedback. This ensures we build something that real users will enjoy.

• ₳7,000 for testing and audits: This will cover internal testing, load simulations, and reviews of the smart contracts to make sure they’re safe and work as expected.

• ₳5,000 for hosting and infrastructure: We’ll use this to pay for web hosting, backups, and services like IPFS for media storage if needed.

• ₳5,000 for contingency: This is a backup fund in case something takes more time or if we need help from outside developers or specialists.

Every part of the budget is aimed at making the platform useful, secure, and truly accessible. We’ve kept the team small and the tools open so we can deliver real value to the Cardano community.

[Final Pitch] Value for Money

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

This project gives real value to the Cardano ecosystem by focusing on something that matters everyday people being able to use blockchain without big barriers. We are building a complete NFT marketplace for a fair cost, and every ADA spent goes directly into smart contracts, tools, testing, and user experience.

Instead of aiming at large-scale commercial projects, we’re serving small artists and communities who usually get left behind. This helps Cardano grow in new ways not just technically, but socially and culturally too.

The ₳75,000 we’re requesting covers everything needed to deliver a working, tested, and fully open source product. It’s a small investment with big impact: more people using Cardano, more on-chain transactions, and more developers building tools that others can reuse.

Because the marketplace is open source, others can copy, improve, and adapt it for new use cases from art collectives to educational projects. This creates ongoing value long after the initial funding is spent.

[Required Acknowledgements] Consent & Confirmation

Terms and Conditions:

Yes