[Proposal setup] Proposal title

Please provide your proposal title

Cardano USSD Wallet: Blockchain for African Feature Phones

[Proposal Summary] Budget Information

Enter the amount of funding you are requesting in ADA

110000

[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?

Cryptocurrency adoption in Africa fails due to internet dependency, complex seed management, and unfamiliar UX. Current wallets exclude 76% of population, missing Africa's $105B crypto market growth.

[Proposal Summary] Supporting Documentation

Supporting links

• https://hackmd.io/@fwqmK3lsQ9-seKckK2Lxng/Sy22KRV-Wx

[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 dependancies

[Proposal Summary] Project Open Source

Will your project's outputs be fully open source?

No

Please provide details on the intellectual property (IP) status of your project outputs, including whether they will be released as open source or retained under another licence.

This wallet handles real user funds through assisted custody and sensitive telecom APIs requiring proprietary security. Open sourcing would expose vulnerabilities to attackers, compromise confidential telecom partnerships, and enable scam apps targeting vulnerable users. We'll open-source documentation and APIs while keeping core proprietary for user safety.

[Theme Selection] Theme

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

Wallet

[Campaign Category] Category Questions

Describe what makes your idea innovative compared to what has been previously launched in the market (whether by you or others).

Revolutionary Accessibility

• First blockchain wallet without internet - works on any phone via USSD (*CODE#)
• 2.4 billion feature phone users can now access Cardano
• Familiar interface - identical to M-Pesa that Africans already use daily

Zero Learning Curve

• No seed phrases to memorize or lose
• No wallet addresses - just phone numbers
• Same workflow as M-Pesa: Dial code → Select option → Enter PIN

Never-Lose-Your-Wallet System

• Wallet = Phone Number + PIN (that's it)
• SIM stolen? New SIM, same access
• Phone broken? Any phone works with your number
• Number changes? Simple migration process

Community-First Design

• Group wallets for chamas(Famous african saving groups) via USSD menus
• Multi-signature without smartphones
• Message notification when signing is required
• An option to sign a multisig on the menu if pendng signature
• Automatic group records and transparency

Assisted Custody Innovation

• User controls wallet (PIN-based ownership)
• Professional security backup (encrypted seed storage)
• Recovery assistance without losing control
• No permanent fund loss unlike traditional crypto

Hydra Prototype for Savings Circles

• Hydra state channels prototype for instant group transactions
• Fallback to multi-signature on main chain for production reliability
• Cost efficiency - explore batched settlements for chama operations
• Innovation opportunity - first USSD interface for Layer 2 scaling

Network Effect Potential

• Community validation reduces adoption friction
• Cross-border groups possible for first time
• Massive transaction volume potential for Cardano

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

Core Functionality (Deployed on Cardano Testnet)

• USSD wallet creation - Dial *CODE# from any phone to create wallet
• Phone-PIN recovery - Access same wallet from different devices using number + PIN
• Basic ADA transactions - Send/receive ADA using phone numbers instead of addresses
• Assisted custody system - Professional seed backup with user PIN control
• SMS notifications - Transaction confirmations and balance updates

Advanced Features (Testnet Deployment)

• Group wallet creation - Multi-signature wallets via USSD menus
• SMS- Notification for Sig request - text to notify you of pending signing, see sign pending transaction on USSD menu
• Transaction history - View past transactions through USSD interface
• Cross-border transfers - Send ADA between different African countries
• Basic staking integration - Delegate ADA through simplified USSD commands

How Community Can Test

Testing Access Methods

• Public USSD code - Anyone can dial the test code from feature phones
• Web simulator - Browser-based USSD interface for international testers
• SMS testing - Send commands via SMS for areas without USSD access

Community Testing Phases

Phase 1: Technical Community (Months 8-9)

• Cardano developers test wallet creation and transactions
• Security experts attempt to find vulnerabilities
• Infrastructure testing - Load testing with multiple simultaneous users

Phase 2: African Community (Months 10-11)

• Existing groups (3 pilot groups) test group wallet functionality
• University students in Kenya test user experience
• Local developers provide feedback on integration possibilities

Testable Scenarios

1. "Create savings group" - Form 5-person wallet requiring 3 signatures
2. "Recover lost phone" - Demonstrate wallet access after SIM card replacement

The MVP will prove that blockchain can be as simple as M-Pesa USSD while maintaining Cardano's security and decentralization benefits.

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

Core Functionality Demonstration

• Working wallet addresses created - Verifiable on Cardano testnet

• Successful ADA transactions processed - All recorded on-chain

• Multi-signature wallets deployed - Smart contracts visible on explorer

• Phone-to-phone transfers completed - Cross-address transactions on testnet

Multi-Signature Activity

• Group wallet transactions executed - Multi-sig operations on testnet

• Active multi-sig contracts deployed - Functional group wallets

• SMS-triggered signature approvals - Individual approvals recorded on-chain

Network Utilization

• Consistent transaction activity - Regular daily usage demonstrated

• Multiple active users - Different addresses transacting daily

• High transaction success rate - Reliable execution on-chain

Advanced Features

• Staking delegation transactions - ADA delegated through USSD interface

• Stake pool selections - Verifiable delegation choices on-chain

• Wallet recovery demonstrations - Phone-PIN access from different devices

Geographic Reach

• Multi-country transactions - African cross-border transfers

• International test participation - Global community involvement

All metrics are publicly verifiable through Cardano testnet explorers (CardanoScan, AdaPool, etc.) ensuring complete transparency of MVP functionality and real-world usage.

[Your Project and Solution] Solution

Please describe your proposed solution and how it addresses the problem

The Problem

76% of Africans can't use crypto - no internet access. This started from my personal frustration: wanting to send crypto to a friend offline. 2.4 billion feature phone users are excluded from blockchain simply because wallets require internet.

Why USSD + Assisted Custody?

Leverage existing habits - Africans already move money via USSD (*334# for M-Pesa). Solve complexity - Phone number + PIN instead of seed phrases. Address real communities - Chamas manage billions collectively and need multi-sig functionality.

Assisted Custody Security Model

USSD-Only Wallet Creation

• System generates wallet and private key server-side
• User sets 4-digit PIN via USSD for wallet access
• Phone number binds to wallet (never-lose-wallet feature)

Secure Server Storage

• Private key encrypted with PIN-derived key
• Backend stores: encrypted private key + phone hash
• PIN required for any transaction execution

Transaction Flow

1. User enters PIN via USSD
2. Server decrypts private key with PIN
3. Transaction signed and broadcast
4. Private key cleared from memory
5. SMS confirmation sent to user

Security Features

• Rate limiting: 3 PIN attempts per hour
• Account lockout after failed attempts
• Phone number recovery: new SIM + PIN still works
• Multi-signature: group members approve via USSD + PIN

Who Benefits?

• Feature phone users across Africa
• Savings groups (chamas) with transparent group wallets
• Cross-border workers sending cheap remittances
• Cardano ecosystem - potential 200M+ transactions annually

Impact Proof

All metrics verifiable on Cardano testnet:

• Working wallets created via USSD
• Phone-to-phone ADA transfers
• Multi-sig group wallets active
• Cross-border transactions recorded

What's Unique?

• First internet-free blockchain wallet
• Zero learning curve - identical to M-Pesa interface
• Never-lose-wallet - Phone + PIN = permanent access
• Community-native - Built for African savings groups

Why Cardano?

Massive adoption potential - Each saving group brings 15-20 users. Real utility - Solves actual problems for billions, not just speculation. Strategic positioning - Makes Cardano the emerging markets blockchain leader.

This bridges 2+ billion excluded users into Cardano through technology they already trust.

[Your Project and Solution] Impact

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

Value to Cardano Community

Massive User Onboarding - Opens Cardano to 2+ billion feature phone users previously excluded from blockchain. Each chama group brings 15-20 new users instantly through existing social networks.

Transaction Volume Growth - Conservative estimate: 1% of M-Pesa volume = 200 million transactions annually on Cardano, transforming network activity and utility.

Real-World Utility Proof - Demonstrates Cardano solves actual problems for billions, not just speculation for the already-banked. Showcases blockchain's potential for financial inclusion.

Strategic Market Leadership - Positions Cardano as the emerging markets blockchain, differentiating from competitors focused on wealthy Western markets.

Developer Ecosystem Growth - Creates new USSD-blockchain integration opportunities, spawning developer tools and services around feature phone accessibility.

How We'll Measure Impact

On-Chain Metrics (Publicly Verifiable):

• Active wallet addresses on Cardano testnet

• Transaction volume processed through USSD interface

• Multi-signature contracts deployed and used

• Cross-border transactions recorded

• Staking delegations via USSD

Adoption Metrics:

• Community pilot groups actively using the system

• Cross-country transaction patterns

• User retention and engagement rates

• Agent network growth and utilization

Technical Metrics:

• System uptime and reliability

• Transaction success rates

• Security audit results and vulnerability reports

Sharing Outputs & Opportunities

Open Documentation:

• Complete USSD-blockchain integration guides

• API documentation for developers

• Security best practices for assisted custody

• User experience research and findings

Developer Resources:

• Open-source USSD interface libraries

• Integration templates for other blockchains

• Testing frameworks and simulation tools

• Community workshops and hackathons

Research Publication:

• Academic papers on mobile-first blockchain adoption

• Case studies from African pilot programs

• Economic impact analysis of reduced remittance costs

• UX research on cryptocurrency accessibility

Community Engagement:

• Monthly progress reports to Catalyst community

• Live demos at Cardano meetups and conferences

• African developer community building initiatives

• Partnership opportunities with telecom operators

Knowledge Transfer:

• Templates for expanding to other emerging markets

• Regulatory compliance frameworks developed

• Agent network partnership models

• Community savings group (chama) integration playbooks

The success creates a replicable model for bringing blockchain to underserved populations globally, with Cardano leading this massive untapped market.

[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?

Proven Cardano Development Track Record (3+ Years)

Major Platform Deliveries:

• catalystexplorer.com - Community platform for exploring Catalyst proposals and funding

• 1694.io - CIP-1694 governance implementation and education platform

• govtool.com - Official Cardano governance tooling for community participation

• Cardano Ambassador tools - Suite of utilities supporting ambassador program operations

• Multiple dev tools - Open-source utilities for Cardano developer community

Current Professional Role & Expertise

Developer Advocate at Intersect - Currently responsible for:

• Onboarding new developers to Cardano ecosystem

• Open-source sustainability initiatives ensuring long-term project viability

• Community bridge-building between technical and non-technical stakeholders

• Developer experience improvement across Cardano tooling and infrastructure

Why I'm Best Suited for This Project

Deep Cardano Technical Knowledge - 3+ years building production applications on Cardano, understanding both opportunities and constraints of the platform.

Proven Delivery History - Track record of completing and maintaining high-visibility community tools that serve thousands of users.

Community-First Approach - Current role demonstrates commitment to ecosystem growth over personal profit, aligning with this project's sustainability-focused model.

Real-World Problem Understanding - Personal experience with the accessibility problem (wanting to send crypto offline) combined with professional expertise in developer onboarding.

Infrastructure Experience - Successfully built and maintained platforms handling significant user traffic and transaction volumes.

Fund Management & Trust Processes

Transparent Development Approach:

• Public repositories for all development work (where security permits)

• Monthly progress reports with detailed milestone completion updates

• Community demos showing functional progress at each stage

• Open documentation of all development decisions and architectural choices

Financial Accountability:

• Milestone-based fund release tied to verifiable on-chain deliverables

• Public expense reporting showing how funds are allocated and spent

• Multi-signature treasury management with community oversight where appropriate

• Detailed budget tracking with variance explanations for any deviations

Risk Mitigation:

• Security audits by independent third parties before mainnet deployment

• Testnet-first approach proving functionality before real-value transactions

• Phased rollout allowing course correction based on early feedback

• Emergency response protocols for handling security or operational issues

Community Verification:

• Live system demonstrations at Catalyst town halls and community calls

• Public testnet deployment allowing community validation of functionality

• Open-source components where security considerations permit

• Regular AMA sessions addressing community questions and concerns

Sustainability Commitment

Long-term Vision - Current role at Intersect demonstrates commitment to Cardano ecosystem sustainability beyond individual project funding cycles.

Maintenance Plan - Clear operational model for continuing platform operations post-funding through minimal cost-recovery fees rather than profit extraction.

Knowledge Transfer - Documentation and training materials to enable community contributions and long-term platform evolution.

This combination of proven technical delivery, current ecosystem leadership role, and transparent community-first approach positions me to successfully execute this ambitious but achievable project while maintaining the trust and confidence of the Cardano community.

[Milestones] Project Milestones

Milestone Title

Foundation Setup

Milestone Outputs

• USSD gateway integration
• Basic backend service architecture
• Cardano testnet node setup and wallet integration
• Encrypted storage system for assisted custody
• Working USSD code (*CODE#) responding to basic commands
• Phone number-wallet binding system operational

Acceptance Criteria

• USSD interface accessible from feature phones

• Basic wallet creation recorded on Cardano testnet

• Phone number registration and PIN setup functional

• Security audit #1 completed with no critical vulnerabilities

Evidence of Completion

• Live USSD code demonstration (*CODE#) working on feature phones

• Wallet addresses created on Cardano testnet explorer

• Security audit report from independent auditor

• GitHub repository with infrastructure code

Delivery Month

2

Cost

18500

Progress

20 %

Milestone Title

Core Wallet Features

Milestone Outputs

• ADA send/receive using phone numbers instead of addresses

• PIN-based transaction authorization system

• SMS notifications for transaction confirmations

• Basic transaction history via USSD menus

• Phone-to-phone ADA transfers working on testnet

• PIN security implementation with rate limiting

Acceptance Criteria

• Successful P2P transactions recorded on testnet.

• SMS notifications delivered reliably within 30 seconds.

• Wallet recovery working across different devices.

• Transaction success rate >95%.

Evidence of Completion

• Testnet transactions visible on CardanoScan explorer

• SMS delivery logs and success rates

• Video demonstration of wallet recovery process

• Transaction history accessible via USSD interface

Delivery Month

4

Cost

18500

Progress

40 %

Milestone Title

Multi-Signature Implementation

Milestone Outputs

• Multi-signature wallet creation via USSD menus

• SMS notification system for signature requests

• Group member management and approval workflows

• Working multi-sig smart contracts deployed on testnet

• Group wallet transaction history

Acceptance Criteria

• Multi-sig wallets deployed and visible on testnet explorer

• SMS signature notifications sent to group members

• Group transactions requiring multiple approvals executed successfully

• At least 3-of-5 and 2-of-3 signature schemes working

Evidence of Completion

• Multi-sig smart contracts visible on Cardano testnet explorer

• SMS logs showing signature request notifications

• Successful multi-sig transactions recorded on-chain

• USSD interface screenshots showing group wallet creation

Delivery Month

6

Cost

18500

Progress

50 %

Milestone Title

Advanced Features

Milestone Outputs

• Cross-border transfer capabilities

• Basic staking integration through USSD

• Improved error handling and user experience

• Agent network integration framework

• Enhanced error messages and user guidance

Acceptance Criteria

• Cross-border transactions recorded between different countries

• Staking delegations visible on testnet.

• Error messages clear and actionable.

• Agent network API functional for cash conversion.

Evidence of Completion

• Cross-country transactions visible on testnet explorer

• Staking delegations recorded on-chain

• Agent network API documentation and test results

• User experience improvement metrics and feedback

Delivery Month

8

Cost

18500

Progress

70 %

Milestone Title

Community Testing & Polish

Milestone Outputs

• Community pilot program with 3 chama groups

• Performance optimization and bug fixes

• Security audit #2 of complete system

• User documentation in English and Swahili

• User experience improvements based on feedback

Acceptance Criteria

• 3 active community groups using multi-sig features

• Security audit passed with no critical vulnerabilities

• System handling concurrent users reliably

• Documentation accessible to non-technical users

Evidence of Completion

• Pilot group transaction activity on testnet

• Security audit report with all issues resolved

• Performance test results showing system scalability

• Published user guides in multiple languages

Delivery Month

10

Cost

18500

Progress

90 %

Milestone Title

Launch Preparation

Milestone Outputs

• Final security audit and penetration testing

• Complete API documentation for developers

• Community onboarding materials and tutorials

• Mainnet deployment plan and risk assessment

• System monitoring and alerting setup

Acceptance Criteria

• All security audits passed successfully and proper audit report

• API documentation complete with examples

• System ready for mainnet deployment

• Community validation of all core functionality

Evidence of Completion

• Final security audit and penetration test reports

• Published API documentation website

• Community sign-off on system functionality

• Mainnet deployment readiness checklist completed

Delivery Month

12

Cost

17500

Progress

100 %

[Final Pitch] Budget & Costs

Please provide a cost breakdown of the proposed work and resources

Development - 95,000 ADA

Team Lead: (700 hours @ $50/hour)

• 12 months, ~15 hours/week
• Architecture, DevOps, team coordination

Senior software Developer: (800 hours @ $30/hour each)

• 8 months, ~25 hours/week
• Smart contracts, wallet integration

3 Developer Mentees: (1,500 hours @ $10/hour total)

• each (500 hours @ $15/hour)
• 8 months, ~15 hours/week each
• Learning Cardano development, testing, documentation

Security Developer: (440 hours @ $25/hour)

• 4 months, ~27 hours/week
• Assisted custody, encryption

Community Education - $7,000

Educational Content: $4,000

• USSD guides, tutorials, community materials

Outreach & Events: $3,000

• Community presentations, partnerships

Infrastructure Costs - 8,000 ADA

Server & Hosting: (12 months @ $250/month)

• USSD gateway hosting, database servers

Third-party Services: (12 months @ $200/month)

• SMS/USSD API costs, telecommunications fees

Total Project Budget: $110,000

[Final Pitch] Value for Money

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

Value for Money Justification

Market Impact

Target: 400+ million Africans with feature phones but no blockchain access.

Cost efficiency: $0.0003 per potential user vs M-Pesa's $100M+ infrastructure investment.

Team Rates Justification

• Team Lead ($50/hour): Top-tier rate in our country for blockchain architects with proven delivery
• Software Developers ($30/hour): Premium rates attracting best local talent with Cardano expertise
• Security/Community ($25/hour): Competitive rates for specialized cryptographic and African market skills

Proven delivery: catalystexplorer.com, 1694.io, govtool.com

Infrastructure Efficiency

• USSD hosting ($250/month): 90% cost savings vs Twilio pay-per-session
• SMS APIs ($367/month): Covers 18,000+ monthly notifications for multi-sig confirmations

Ecosystem Value

• First internet-free blockchain wallet - positions Cardano as accessibility leader
• Network effects: Each user brings 15+ social circle members (chamas)
• Transaction volume: 1% of Africa's $500B mobile money = $5B+ Cardano volume
• Staking growth: Every wallet becomes potential delegator
• Create the foundation for other builder to explore how the can solve African problems with cardano.
• 3 new Cardano developers trained - expanding local talent pool

This projects is the first step to bringing Africa into crypto by removing the learning curve and friction, we get to compete with the centriaised finantialinstitution by ofering cheaper rate. It it the needed forst step.

[Self-Assessment] Self-Assessment Checklist

I confirm that evidence of prior research, whitepaper, design, or proof-of-concept is provided.

Yes

I confirm that the proposal includes ecosystem research and uses the findings to either (a) justify its uniqueness over existing solutions or (b) demonstrate the value of its novel approach.

Yes

I confirm that the proposal demonstrates technical capability via verifiable in-house talent or a confirmed development partner (GitHub, LinkedIn, portfolio, etc.)

Yes

I confirm that the proposer and all team members are in good standing with prior Catalyst projects.

Yes

I confirm that the proposal clearly defines the problem and the value of the on-chain utility.

Yes

I confirm that the primary goal of the proposal is a working prototype deployed on at least a Cardano testnet.

Yes

I confirm that the proposal outlines a credible and clear technical plan and architecture.

Yes

I confirm that the budget and timeline (≤ 12 months) are realistic for the proposed work.

Yes

I confirm that the proposal includes a community engagement and feedback plan to amplify prototype adoption with the Cardano ecosystem.

Yes

I confirm that the budget is for future development only; excludes retroactive funding, incentives, giveaways, re-granting, or sub-treasuries.

Yes

[Required Acknowledgements] Consent & Confirmation

I Agree

Yes