[Proposal setup] Proposal title

Please provide your proposal title

Integrating Cardano to Pairwise & Hosting the Cardano Awards

[Proposal Summary] Budget Information

Enter the amount of funding you are requesting in ADA

170000

[Proposal Summary] Time

Please specify how many months you expect your project to last

6

[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 lacks flexible governance tools optimized for best-in-class UX, boosting voter participation and that can serve multiple entities, protocols, and decision-making contexts.

[Proposal Summary] Supporting Documentation

Supporting links

• https://pairwise.vote
,
• https://youtu.be/E0HFugS_Vjg?si=P3EKHGwdGT4N8G1h
,
• https://paragraph.com/@pairwise
,
• https://www.pairwise.vote/rf6-results
,
• https://paragraph.xyz/@pairwise/pairwise-retro-funding-round-6-liquid-democracy-experiment-1

[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

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.

Our code is under MIT License.

[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 launched in the market (whether by you or others).

• Introduces two open-source governance building blocks to Cardano, Tinder-like voting UX and category-based liquid democracy.
• Enables vote delegation by category and delegating forward, allowing for turning bottom-up trust into expert-based decision making.
• Battle-tested product. Proven in five Optimism retro funding rounds, distributing $50M+ OP. Now we will adapt it to serve multiple Cardano use cases, like retrofunding or tooling for project ranking. For example, it can incentivize voters in a gamified way to get to know and rank more projects on Project Catalyst, since they have to compare one project against another multiple times.
• Show a prototype through** the Cardano Awards, a high-visibility, real-world test similar to a people’s choice award ceremony**. This aims to provide insights about preferred projects by multiple stakeholders in the community and rally people to see what’s being built on Cardano.
• The voting mechanism is designed with a built-in viral mechanism for governance. It allows people to delegate voting power through posts on X, making governance UX seamless and highly visible.
• AI assistance. Voters can see AI summaries of projects, making decision-making easier and scaling their capacity to rank projects.

The following video created for an Optimism round can give more context about the solution: https://youtu.be/E0HFugS_Vjg?si=P3EKHGwdGT4N8G1h

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

• A simple, fun and gamified UX for voting and ranking Cardano projects.
• Category-based liquid democracy with forward delegation and delegation revocation.
• Community-based insights on favorite projects, voter behavior, and delegation patterns by stakeholder group.
• High community engagement blending governance with delegation via a post on X/twitter to spark viral participation.

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

The following are our KPI targets:

• 500+ unique ADA wallets participating in voting or delegation.
• 200+ public delegations via Twitter.
• 2,000+ votes cast through the Tinder-like UX.
• On-chain attestations are recorded for every vote and delegation.
• Comprehensive on-chain report analyzing voter behavior and delegation flows.

[Your Project and Solution] Solution

Please describe your proposed solution and how it addresses the problem

We will integrate Cardano into Pairwise, giving the Cardano community two powerful governance building blocks.

Governance Building Blocks:

• Tinder-like Voting UX. An intuitive interface where users decide in which categories to vote asd then see two proposals or nominees at a time, pick their favorite, and repeat until done. There are AI summaries to help learn more about the products. This makes ranking and decision-making simple, fast, and engaging for all participants.
• Liquid Democracy. Voting power can be delegated by category to different trusted experts. Delegates can also delegate forward, creating dynamic flows of trust and surfacing the most respected thought leaders in each domain. Anyone in the delegation chain can decide to vote on a specific category reclaiming the voting power that they have delegated.

Pairwise Use Cases:

• Ranking proposals for governance decisions.
• Participatory budgeting.
• Retroactive funding.
• Selecting delegates and representatives.
• Any other decision-making process that benefits from category-specific expertise and community-driven rankings.

Pairwise has been successfully used in 5 Optimism Retro Funding rounds, allocating $50M+ across 1,000+ projects. Its simple UX, Sybil resistance, and category-based liquid delegation make it a natural fit for Cardano governance experiments where the community is empowered to not only decide on the Cardano constitution, but also on grants and other key decision for the ecosystem development through Project Catalyst and Intersect.

Any Cardano project, DAO, or organization, could reach out to Pairwise to set up a gamified vote for it’s specific use case.

Pilot Implementation: The Cardano Awards

To debut Pairwise on Cardano, we will host the Cardano Awards Ceremony, where ADA holders, DReps, and builders will decide what has been “the best of the best” on Cardano in 2025.

How it works:

1. Define categories (e.g., Best dApp, Best new project, Most Innovative Use of Cardano, Best UX, etc.).
2. Nominate projects via open community nominations or curated lists, for example, Project Catalyst projects.
3. Custom voting power allocation to multiple stakeholders like ADA holders, voters, builders, etc.
4. Voting or delegating by category. Delegation happens in one click, or even via a public tweet to spark viral buzz.
5. Gamified UX. Projects are shown two at a time; users pick their favorite; repeat until done.

Why this matters for Cardano

• Engages the full ecosystem, from token holders to builders, through participatory and fun decision-making.
• Generates social buzz as projects and delegates campaign publicly on X (Twitter) they generate a viral flywheel of attention to Cardano projects.
• Builds governance capacity with a tested, user-friendly tool that can be repurposed for budgeting, retrofunding, and representative selection.
• Delivers granular insights on community preferences by category and stakeholder type.

We will bring battle-tested governance building blocks to the Cardano ecosystem, paired with a highly visible pilot to spotlight the Cardano community’s favorite projects

[Your Project and Solution] Impact

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

Value to Cardano Community:

1. A reusable governance building block for flexible, granular and revocable liquid democracy.
2. Another reusable governance building block to rank proposals, host retrofunding rounds, participatory budgeting and similar governance use cases with a simple, fun and engaging tinder-like UX.
3. The Cardano Awards. A highly viral pilot that showcases and advertises the best projects in Cardano.

These governance tools will be reusable for future Catalyst rounds, other governance processes, Cardano DAOs and other organizations.

Impact Measurement:

• 500+ unique ADA wallets participating in voting or delegation.
• 200+ public delegations.
• 2,000+ votes cast through the Tinder-like UX.
• On-chain attestations recorded for every vote and delegation.
• Comprehensive on-chain report analyzing voter behavior and delegation flows by stakeholder type.

[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?

The Pairwise team has delivered governance tooling for multiple blockchain ecosystems with proven technical and event execution capacity.

Feasibility validation:

• We have a mature product that has been used for five Optimism Retro Funding rounds, distributing 50M OP across 1K+ projects.
• We already adapted Pairwise to Starknet a non EVM blockchain.
• Past projects demonstrate successful wallet integrations, high-participation voting events, and open-source governance frameworks.

Optimism

• 5 funding rounds.
• $50M+ distributed.
• 1,000+ projects evaluated.
• 924 community voters engaged.

DeepFunding (Vitalik x AI)

• Using Pairwise to train AI models on human judgments about public goods impact.
• Combining liquid democracy with machine learning to shape the future of resource allocation.

Starknet.

• Pairwise won a seed grant to integrate Staknet into the platform.

Testimonial example:

Pairwise is in the process of merging with Giveth, hence Giveth is representing Pairwise in this proposal.

Giveth also has a fantastic reputation in the Web3 public good space for shipping innovative products related to capital allocation, governance and token economics.

[Milestones] Project Milestones

Milestone Title

New Cardano UI and key integrations

Milestone Outputs

In this milestone, we will deliver:

• Seamless integration of Cardano Wallets & Smart Contract Wallet setup
• A fully customized user interface branded specifically for the Cardano ecosystem, incorporating Cardano's visual identity

This UI will feature elements like simplified onboarding flows, category-based delegation interfaces, and the Tinder-like voting mechanism adapted for Cardano projects.

Acceptance Criteria

• Pairwise must be fully operational with attestations on the backend at this stage, but secure authentication through wallet connection on the Cardano testnet. User can perform basic actions like viewing proposals or initiating delegations without errors.
• Wallet integration must support at least three major Cardano wallets, with successful transaction signing and balance checks verified through automated tests.
• A customized Cardano-branded UI.

Evidence of Completion

• A comprehensive set of GitHub commits documenting all code changes, including pull requests for wallet integration and UI customizations, with detailed commit messages outlining features added and issues resolved.
• A live testnet deployment link will be provided, allowing reviewers to access and interact with the Pairwise instance directly on Cardano's preview or preprod testnet.
• Screenshots and screen recordings of the Cardano-branded UI will be submitted, showcasing key elements such as the login screen, voting interface, and delegation options across different devices. Additionally, a brief report will summarize test results.

Delivery Month

1

Cost

40000

Progress

20 %

Milestone Title

Full setup of component infrastructure deployed

Milestone Outputs

• A custom attestation smart contract optimized for Cardano, enabling verifiable, on-chain records of votes and delegations.
• We will also configure a sophisticated voting power model, uploading weighted parameters that account for multiple stakeholders such as ADA holders, DReps, and builders, ensuring fair and customizable distribution of influence across categories.
• We will deploy an X (formerly Twitter) delegation bot that automates public delegations via tweets, integrating seamlessly with Pairwise to enable viral sharing and one-click delegation flows.

Acceptance Criteria

• The attestation smart contract is fully built and deployed on the testnet, successfully handling simulated votes and delegations with accurate on-chain attestations and no failures in transaction processing.
• The voting power model must be configured and tested with sample weights, demonstrating correct allocation across stakeholder categories
• The X delegation bot must be operational, allowing users to delegate via public posts with immediate reflection in the Pairwise system, and it should pass integration tests showing compatibility with Cardano wallets and error-free handling of revocations.

Evidence of Completion

• Deployed attestation smart contract's address on the Cardano testnet
• For the voting power model, we will provide configuration files uploaded to GitHub.
• The X delegation bot's functionality will be demonstrated through a live demo link, server logs confirming successful deployments, and sample tweets with embedded delegation proofs.

Delivery Month

3

Cost

50000

Progress

50 %

Milestone Title

The Cardano Awards Launch (Pilot)

Milestone Outputs

• Deployment of all smart contracts to the Cardano mainnet, ensuring secure and scalable operations for live voting.
• Finalization and publication of a public list of nominated projects, drawn from community submissions and curated sources like Project Catalyst, covering multiple categories.
• Launch of community voting, incorporating viral delegation features on X and Farcaster to encourage widespread participation through social sharing.
• Onboarding of builders and experts as initial delegates, providing them with tools and guidance to participate effectively.
• Execution of a targeted marketing campaign, including social media posts, AMAs, and partnerships with Cardano influencers, to drive voter turnout and highlight the event.

Acceptance Criteria

• The voting system must be live on the Cardano mainnet.
• The public project list must include nominees across categories, validated by community feedback.
• Viral delegations on X/Farcaster must function seamlessly, with public delegations recorded.
• The campaign must demonstrate measurable reach on social channels.

Evidence of Completion

• Detailed participation analytics reports, including on-chain data on votes, delegations, and unique wallet interactions.
• GitHub commits for the production environment, documenting mainnet deployments, contract optimizations, and any final adjustments.
• Screenshots and recordings of the live voting interface, and campaign materials, compiled into a shared folder for review.
• Social media metrics from X and Farcaster, such as engagement stats and viral delegation examples.

Delivery Month

5

Cost

50000

Progress

80 %

Milestone Title

Results & Award Delivery

Milestone Outputs

• Compilation and publication of a final ranked list of projects, utilizing verifiable algorithms to ensure transparency and reproducibility of results based on aggregated votes and delegations.
• Announcement of winners through coordinated highlights on social channels, including dedicated posts, threads, and live streams to amplify visibility within and beyond the Cardano community.
• Distribution of custom NFT prizes to top projects, minted on Cardano and airdropped to recipients' wallets, as a tangible recognition of community preferences.

Acceptance Criteria

• The final ranked list must be public.
• Announcements must reach a broad audience on social channels.
• NFT prizes must be distributed to all eligible winners, with on-chain transactions confirming successful minting and transfers.
• The community must have access to shared results for feedback, ensuring the delivery aligns with transparency and value creation.

Evidence of Completion

• The ranked list published GitHub, and the Pairwise website or blog, including raw data files, scripts for reproduction, and a detailed methodology document.
• Archived social media announcements with links to posts, threads, and analytics showing reach and engagement metrics.
• Verification of NFT distribution through transaction hashes on Cardano explorers.

Delivery Month

7

Cost

30000

Progress

90 %

Milestone Title

Close Out Report and Video approval

Milestone Outputs

• Production of a detailed Project Close Out Report summarizing the entire initiative, including achievements, challenges, metrics achieved, lessons learned, and recommendations for scaling Pairwise in Cardano.
• Creation of a high-quality Project Close Out Video.

Acceptance Criteria

• The Project Close Out Report must be reviewed and accepted by the Milestone Reviewers and Catalyst Team.
• The Project Close Out Video must receive approval.
• Both deliverables must be submitted in accessible formats, clearly communicating impact.

Evidence of Completion

• Official approval notifications or signed statements from the Milestone Reviewers and Catalyst Team for both the Report and Video, uploaded to a public repository.
• The final Report published with links provided, detailing all project aspects.
• Supplementary materials, such as raw footage, scripts, and reviewer correspondence, archived for transparency.

Delivery Month

8

Cost

30000

Progress

100 %

[Final Pitch] Budget & Costs

Please provide a cost breakdown of the proposed work and resources

Total Request: 170,000 ADA

• Pairwise. Cardano Integration with Attestation Service - 150,000 ADA
  • We will make Pairwise work seamlessly on Cardano. This includes:
    • Connecting ADA wallets so anyone in the Cardano community can participate.
    • Creating a Cardano UI kit and dedicated Cardano section in Pairwise for this MVP and future votes for the Cardano community. We would be excited to try an experiment with Project Catalyst.
    • Votes attested on-chain pseudonymously Each vote = signed credential proving eligibility & voting power (no real identity or wallet address exposed).
    • Zero-knowledge / selective disclosure proofs confirm voting rights while keeping voter details private.
• Cardano Awards – Design, Operations & Marketing – 50,000 ADA
  • A high-visibility, community-led event to celebrate Cardano’s best projects. Funding will cover:
    • Designing a voting power model tailored for The Cardano Awards to include multiple stakeholders in the Cardano community.
    • Event branding and visual design.
    • Customizing Pairwise for the Awards voting experience.
    • Coordinating with community stakeholders and nominees.
    • Running social media campaigns to maximize awareness and participation.
    • Handling project operations to ensure smooth delivery from integration to launch.

[Final Pitch] Value for Money

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

This proposal delivers not one, but two reusable governance building blocks: a best-in-class, mobile-ready voting UX and a flexible, category-based liquid democracy system. Both will be built to be reusable by other Cardano projects, DAO, or organizations.

Governance, and specifically liquid democracy, is a key area of interest for the Cardano community. By providing a tested, production-ready implementation, we enable real-world experimentation that will help refine governance models for initiatives like the Cardano Constitution, Project Catalyst, and Intersect’s decision-making processes. Different implementations and live use cases are essential to discover what works best for Cardano’s unique governance vision. All our development will be open source.

Pairwise’s proven track record, used in five Optimism Retro Funding rounds to allocate $50M+ across 1,000+ projects, shows our capacity to deliver. The Cardano integration created under this proposal will be a permanent infrastructure, usable long after the Cardano Awards. Subsequent experiments will not have an integration cost anymore, although there will be an operation cost, which will be much lower.

The Cardano Awards Ceremony serves as a high-visibility pilot, stress-testing the integration in a real event that will:

• Engage ADA holders, stablecoin holders in Cardano, DReps, and builders with participatory, gamified decision-making.
• Showcase Cardano’s vibrant ecosystem to a wider audience through viral social media mechanics.
• Generate actionable insights on community preferences by category and stakeholder group.

This approach builds lasting tools while creating immediate engagement, delivering both short-term visibility and long-term governance capacity.

[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