K33P | Self-custodial digital Vault.

[Proposal setup] Proposal title

Please provide your proposal title

K33P | Self-custodial digital Vault.

[Proposal Summary] Budget Information

Enter the amount of funding you are requesting in ADA

167000

[Proposal Summary] Time

Please specify how many months you expect your project to last

10

[Proposal Summary] Problem Statement

What is the problem you want to solve?

K33P is built to address one of the most urgent pain points in crypto: the loss of access to wallets due to misplaced seed phrases. With more than $140B permanently lost (Chainalysis, 2024)

[Proposal Summary] Supporting Documentation

Supporting links

• https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1Za2lr8hIGTPGY1P3HiVsNzB68b-gR5C2hSdpvq_K5XM/present?slide=id.g36793b4fff2_0_3152
,
• https://www.linkedin.com/company/keeponchain/
,
• https://x.com/k33P_onchain
,
• https://github.com/K33P-repo
,
• https://k33p.framer.website/

[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?

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.

K33P cannot be fully open source because core modules handle highly sensitive data (seed phrases, biometrics, inheritance logic). Open-sourcing them would increase security risks and expose users to attacks.

We will open-source non-sensitive components such as UI elements, SDK interfaces, and documentation, while keeping security-critical code closed. K33P will provide transparency through public architecture docs, external audits, and API documentation rather than exposing sensitive internals.

[Theme Selection] Theme

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

Business Services

[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).

K33P is innovative because it directly tackles one of the biggest unsolved problems in self-custody: the permanent loss of wallets due to forgotten or inaccessible seed phrases. Unlike previous solutions that rely on custodial recovery, centralized services, or complex hardware wallets.

K33P delivers a novel, future-proof approach to secure self-custody, (Next-of-Kin) and digital inheritance, something not yet funded in the ecosystem.

Expanding Cardano’s presence across African markets, where self-custody adoption is accelerating and where K33P already has traction.

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

Secure storage of seed phrases using biometric authentication and decentralized identity signatures.

Multi-platform access (Android, Web extension and iOS), with freemium + premium tiers available.

The MVP will be made available to early users from our existing 2,937-person waitlist, and later to the broader crypto community via the Google Play Store and Apple App Store.

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

On-chain activity: Number of DID authentications, vault creations, and recovery requests processed on Cardano.

Adoption growth:

Milestone 1: 5,000 active users (500 premium subscribers).

Milestone 2: 50,000 users, 5,000 premium.

Milestone 3: 200,000 users, 30,000 premium.

Milestone 4: 1M+ users, 200,000 premium.

Transaction volume from vault interactions and enterprise API integrations.

Revenue growth: Progression from ~$2K MRR at MVP launch to ~$15M projected annual by Year 3.

By solving a universal pain point, K33P not only protects users but also increases retention.

[Your Project and Solution] Solution

Please describe your proposed solution and how it addresses the problem

K33P stack is deeply layered around user ownership, zero trust, and next-gen UX. By combining Cardano secured smart contracts, Iagon decentralized data storage, Midnight ZK privacy with client side encryption, and identity-bound access, it offers a highly secure and user-friendly approach to storing sensitive information like seed phrase, documents. With Next Of Kin capability.

by uses a decentralized account identification (DID) model that is account-based, not wallet-bound. Each DID is uniquely generated using the user's information provided during onboarding, and it serves as the secure anchor for vault setup, biometric binding, and zero-knowledge authentication for vault access.

Self-sovereign security: Client side encryption and decryption, with no third-party access.

Biometric authentication: Eliminates need to remember passwords or store physical copies. Leveraging (E.g Face I.D, PIN, Fingerprint, Iris scan, Voice I.D)

Zero-Knowledge Proofs (ZK Privacy): Ensures full privacy and regulatory compliance.

Decentralized storage architecture: Eliminates single points of failure.

Seamless recovery: Simplifies identity recovery system. (account DID verification)

At K33P, security and privacy are our top priorities. With K33P Vault, ownership is verifiable and indisputable, users are exactly who they claim to be, and no one else can impersonate them. Experience secure, private, and trustless digital safe, redefining identity protection.

[Your Project and Solution] Impact

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

K33P integrates Cardano blockchain technology for immutable identification, transparent onboarding, and secure vault creation.

Every account setup on K33P anchors a decentralized account identification (DID) on-chain, increasing real, utility-driven transactions and on-chain data activity. This demonstrate privacy-first design with zero-knowledge authentication, while integrating native protocols like Iagon and Midnight. In short, K33P brings real users, real use cases, and long-term adoption to Cardano.

On-Chain Utility:

Every new K33P account involves a Cardano transaction and stores a DID reference on-chain, creating real on-chain utility.

This increases UTXO volume, metadata usage, and smart contract interactions.

Ecosystem Synergy:

Uses Cardano-native protocols like Iagon (for storage) and potentially Midnight (for ZK privacy). Positions Cardano as the go-to chain for privacy, security, and identity-first application.

User Acquisition:

K33P introduces Cardano to unfamiliar users who may not have otherwise interacted with the chain. by allaying user to pay the Cardano network fee and the 2 $ADA collateral for Vault setup in any supported token leveraging cardano Babel Fees.

Mission Alignment:

Cardano is built on principles of identity, decentralization, and self-sovereignty and K33P is a real-world application of those values.

[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?

Trust and Accountability

K33P is built to address one of the most urgent pain points in crypto: the loss of access to wallets due to misplaced seed phrases. With more than $140B permanently lost (Chainalysis, 2024) and nearly 20% of Bitcoin believed to be inaccessible (Reuters, 2024), this is not a theoretical issue, it is real, growing, and deeply felt by users.

Our trust and accountability are anchored in:

Proven execution track record: K33P secured 1st Place at the NextGen Developer Hackathon and First Runner-Up at the Sandbox ’25 Hackathon, validating both our technical execution and relevance to the ecosystem.

Non–open-source architecture: While many projects adopt open-source approaches, K33P takes a zero-trust security-first stance, protecting users by not exposing sensitive architecture to potential attack vectors.

Advanced NOK (Next-of-Kin) feature: K33P introduces an inheritance layer, enabling users to securely pass on vault content to chosen beneficiaries without compromising self-custody principles.

Strategic partnerships: K33P is engaging with wallets, protocols, Web2 organizations, and key industry players to ensure our solution is interoperable and positioned as essential security infrastructure for both retail and institutional users.

By combining these principles, K33P positions itself as a reliable, mission-critical vault solution, designed to serve the evolving security needs of the Web3 world.

Approach Validation

K33P user research and testing have confirmed both the need and the effectiveness of our approach. Early adopters and mid-level crypto users consistently highlighted concerns about:

Vulnerability of handwritten backups

Complexity of hardware wallets

Lack of reliable recovery systems

In response, K33P offers a biometric + DID-secured onboarding flow and a zero-knowledge recovery process that eliminates exposure of sensitive data.

Key validations include:

2,937 users already on our waitlist, with first beta rollouts planned for Q1 2026 – Q2 2026.

Technical milestones completed: market research, lite paper, Cardano smart contract architecture, and integration with Iagon decentralized storage.

Adoption traction in Nigeria and Cardano ecosystem: active collaborations with @Web3Nigeria, Iagon, and leading Cardano developers.

This progress demonstrates that K33P is not only solving a real problem but doing so in a way that users find practical, accessible, and trustworthy.

Technical Approach Feasibility Research

K33P architecture is technically feasible and security-first by design. Core elements include:

Zero-knowledge proof–based recovery: users prove identity without revealing or transferring raw seed phrases.

Client-side encryption + biometric + DID signature: ensuring the vault is user-controlled at all times.

Decentralized storage via Iagon: encrypted data is fragmented and distributed, guaranteeing recoverability without K33P ever having custody.

Advanced NOK feature: inheritance logic enables seamless and secure transfer of vault content to designated beneficiaries.

K33P feasibility is further reinforced by:

A non–open-source model deliberately chosen to protect security-sensitive components.

Strategic collaboration with wallets, protocols, and industry leaders to ensure interoperability and ecosystem alignment.

Market demand, with the crypto security market projected to reach $50B by 2026 and 420M active wallet users, providing both the scale and urgency for K33P adoption.

Through this combination of technical rigor, user-centered design, and ecosystem partnerships, K33P has demonstrated its feasibility as the next-generation vault for digital asset security and inheritance in Web3.

Track Record

[Milestones] Project Milestones

Milestone Title

Foundation & MVP Launch

Milestone Outputs

Establish operational stability, launch K33P MVP on Android and Web, and onboard first active users. Also, get K33P’s Trademark and patent applications filed.

And gain strong presence established in Nigerian and African crypto markets

Acceptance Criteria

Finalize iOS and Android applications with freemium + premium tiers. Implement Next-of-Kin (inheritance) functionality.

Conduct comprehensive security audits.

Execute waitlist conversion campaigns.

Evidence of Completion

MVP live on both Android and web extension with freemium + premium tiers available.

Security audit report completed.

First 2,937 waitlist users onboarded.

Minimum of 500 premium subscribers achieved.

Delivery Month

4

Cost

80000

Progress

30 %

Milestone Title

User Growth & Market Penetration.

Milestone Outputs

Scale adoption to 50,000 users, strengthen brand presence, and establish integrations on our Enterprise API with early organization users/partners, most especially wallets/dApps. With robust social media presence and community engagement and support

Acceptance Criteria

Run targeted digital marketing campaigns and referral programs.

Develop partnerships with influencers and crypto communities.

Enhance product with advanced recovery and multi-wallet support.

Secure intellectual property rights (trademark + patent filings).

Evidence of Completion

50,000 active users achieved.

5,000 premium subscribers onboarded (10% conversion rate).

Trademark and patent applications filed.

Strong presence established in Nigerian and African crypto markets.

Delivery Month

3

Cost

50000

Progress

10 %

Milestone Title

Revenue Optimization & Feature Expansion (Enterprise Launch & Market Leadership)

Milestone Outputs

Expand user base to 200,000, increase premium conversion, and roll out advanced security + Launch enterprise solutions, scale user base to 1M, and establish K33P as the market leader in crypto security in Africa.

Acceptance Criteria

Entry leveel to K33P verse (Gamification Future)

Deloy advanced security protocols and expand premium features.

Prepare infrastructure for enterprise use (API foundation, scaling capacity).

Expand marketing across Africa (Ghana, Kenya, South Africa).

Develop and deploy enterprise-grade API for wallets and dApps.

Build custom enterprise solutions and integration pricing models.

Drive enterprise sales, partnerships, and thought leadership campaigns.

Introduce advanced analytics and customer success programs.

Evidence of Completion

200,000 active users achieved.

30,000 premium subscribers onboarded (15% conversion rate).

Infrastructure scaled to support 200K+ users.

Enterprise API launched and integrated with first partner wallets/dApps.

Industry presence established through enterprise partnerships and media engagement.

Delivery Month

3

Cost

37000

Progress

10 %

[Final Pitch] Budget & Costs

Please provide a cost breakdown of the proposed work and resources

Milestone 1: Foundation & MVP Launch.

Activities Budget:

ADA 25,000 – Staff & Operations (salary payments + team retention)

ADA 35,000 – Technical Development (iOS completion, premium features, smart contract audit, QA testing)

ADA 10,000 – Infrastructure & Security (Iagon storage, encryption, biometric, ZK proof implementation)

ADA 6,000 – Legal & Compliance (licensing, data protection compliance)

ADA 4,000 – Marketing & Launch (waitlist conversion, app store optimization)

Total Budget: ADA 80,000

Milestone 2: User Growth & Market Penetration.

Activities Budget:

ADA 12,000 – Marketing & User Acquisition (digital campaigns, community, influencers, content)

ADA 18,000 – Product Enhancements (advanced recovery, multi-wallet, UX improvements)

ADA 14,000 – Legal & IP Protection (trademark, patent filings, legal consultation)

ADA 6,000 – Team Support (customer support scaling, marketing specialist)

Total Budget: ADA 50,000

Milestone 3: Revenue Optimization & Feature Expansion (Enterprise Launch & Market Leadership)

Activities Budget:

ADA 9,000 – Product Development (Advanced security, enterprise API foundation) (B2B API integration, enterprise-grade solutions, security features)

ADA 8,000 – Marketing & Business Development (sales, partnerships, thought leadership, industry presence)

ADA 8,000 – Infrastructure Scaling (storage capacity, performance optimization for 200K users)

ADA 6,000 – Operational Excellence (customer success programs, process optimization)

Total Budget: ADA 37,000

[Final Pitch] Value for Money

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

K33P delivers value to the Cardano ecosystem by addressing one of the most critical challenges in self-custody: the permanent loss of wallets due to misplaced or inaccessible seed phrases. With over $140B already lost in crypto assets globally, K33P zero-trust vault provides a Cardano-native solution that safeguards users while reinforcing the network’s reputation for security and innovation.

The cost of this project represents strong value for money in several ways:

Direct Ecosystem Impact: By integrating decentralized storage, zero-knowledge proofs, and Cardano smart contracts, K33P strengthens the ecosystem’s security layer, ensuring users can adopt Cardano with confidence in long-term recoverability.

User Growth at Scale: With 2,937 users on the waitlist and structured milestones to scale to 1M+ users within three years, every funding round directly contributes to measurable growth in Cardano’s user base.

Sustainable Revenue & Adoption: K33P introduces a freemium + premium model, securing recurring revenue while expanding Cardano’s reach across Africa and beyond. Projections indicate 200,000 premium subscribers and $15M annual revenue by Year 3, showcasing sustainability far beyond grant funding.

Unique Feature Set: Unlike existing custodial recovery or hardware-based solutions, K33P combines biometric + DID onboarding, inheritance (NOK) functionality architecture, positioning Cardano at the forefront of user-centric crypto security.

Strategic Leverage: Partnerships with wallets, protocols, Web2 organizations, and key industry players amplify Cardano’s presence in mainstream adoption, especially within the fast-growing African crypto market.

For a relatively modest funding request compared to the market potential, K33P positions Cardano as the leading blockchain for secure, self-custody adoption, while simultaneously unlocking real user growth, retention, and trust at scale.

[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