VESPR Keyless: Self-Custody Without Seed Phrases

[Proposal setup] Proposal title

Please provide your proposal title

VESPR Keyless: Self-Custody Without Seed Phrases

[Proposal Summary] Budget Information

Enter the amount of funding you are requesting in ADA

200000

[Proposal Summary] Time

Please specify how many months you expect your project to last

9

[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?

20% of web3 funds are permanently lost due to seed phrases. Despite VESPR's seamless onboarding, users still face confusion, fund loss risk, and cross-device friction, blocking Web2 adoption

[Proposal Summary] Supporting Documentation

Supporting links

• https://vespr.xyz/
,
• https://x.com/vesprwallet
,
• https://github.com/vespr-wallet

[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.

Part of proprietary software

[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).

Passwordless self-custody does not exist on Cardano today. All wallets still rely on seed phrases. This proposal introduces the first integrated passkey + social-login system where authentication feels like Web2 but private keys never leave the device. It removes the biggest UX barrier in crypto and brings Cardano in line with modern authentication standards used by billions of users.

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

The MVP will show full wallet creation, authentication, and recovery using passkeys and social login inside VESPR. Users will be able to create a wallet with FaceID or Google, access it without a seed phrase, and restore it across devices. The MVP will be accessible through VESPR TestFlight and Play Store internal beta.

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

Off-chain:

• Time-to-wallet <10 seconds

• 1,000+ passwordless users in first month

• >95% recovery success rate

• Drop in seed-phrase support cases

On-chain:

• Increase in first-transaction conversions

• More new delegators and governance participants coming from passwordless users

[Your Project and Solution] Solution

Please describe your proposed solution and how it addresses the problem

We will add passwordless authentication to VESPR using passkeys and social login, allowing users to create, access, and restore a self-custodial wallet without seed phrases. Private keys stay local, providers only see potential shards or military-grade encrypted data, and users can onboard in seconds. This removes the main UX barrier blocking mainstream adoption.

[Your Project and Solution] Impact

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

Passwordless onboarding expands Cardano’s reachable user base, reduces lost-fund risk, and makes the ecosystem accessible to anyone familiar with FaceID or Google login. This increases new ADA holders, delegators, and voters, while lowering support friction across the entire 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?

VESPR already runs production authentication for 30K MAU, secures $400M+ in assets, and has delivered multiple Catalyst-funded SDKs on time. The team has deep authentication and fintech experience. Passkeys and OAuth are proven standards, making implementation low-risk. Feasibility is validated through existing prototypes and VESPR’s cross-platform infrastructure.

[Milestones] Project Milestones

Milestone Title

Market Research and Architecture

Milestone Outputs

We will evaluate passwordless authentication providers and approaches, analyzing Cardano-native projects (ZkFold, Mesh) as well as external innovators like Magic.link, Web3Auth, and Privy for Cardano compatibility.

Simple report will detail technical approaches, and implementation implications for self-custody social login. Partner selection will result in a signed MOU with chosen technical provider for integration support.

Note: If we end up building our own solution, this will be documented (no MOU to be provided).

Acceptance Criteria

Simple report comparing at least 2 approaches with pros/cons and technical implications. Signed MOU or letter of intent with selected technical partner outlining collaboration terms (document outlining solution may be provided instead if we implement our own solution). Basic architecture diagram showing proposed implementation approach.

Evidence of Completion

• Simple report with approach comparison and recommendations

• Signed MOU/LOI with technical partner

Delivery Month

2

Cost

40000

Progress

20 %

Milestone Title

Passkey Authentication Implementation

Milestone Outputs

We will implement passkey authentication for iOS and Android using platform biometric APIs (FaceID/TouchID/Fingerprint). Alpha version integrated into VESPR with passkey-based wallet creation and access.

Acceptance Criteria

Passkey creation and authentication functional on iOS/Android devices. Biometric authentication working smoothly with platform prompts.

.........................................................................

Evidence of Completion

Video showing fast wallet setup using passkey for both iOS and Android

................................................

Delivery Month

4

Cost

40000

Progress

40 %

Milestone Title

Social Login Implementation

Milestone Outputs

We will implement self-custody social login with platforms such as Google and Apple. Cryptographic approach ensuring providers authenticate users but never access private keys.

.................................

Acceptance Criteria

Social login working with at least one provider (Google/Apple priority). Private keys generated locally and never exposed to OAuth providers. Seamless alternative to passkey authentication from Milestone 2.

Evidence of Completion

Demo showing wallet creation via social login

Demo showing wallet restoration via social login

.....

Delivery Month

6

Cost

40000

Progress

60 %

Milestone Title

Final productisation and Beta Launch

Milestone Outputs

We will deploy to beta for VESPR users to start testing this feature. If we get any issues, we will address them.

............................ ............................ ............................ ............................

Acceptance Criteria

Beta version of VESPR will be live containing both social login and passphrase login. ..............................................................................................................................

Evidence of Completion

Screenshots showing the versions being live in beta for both android and iOS.

.....................

Delivery Month

8

Cost

40000

Progress

80 %

Milestone Title

Production Launch & Catalyst Close-out

Milestone Outputs

We will launch the passwordless authentication system (passkeys + social login) into production for VESPR users and complete all Catalyst close-out requirements, including final reporting and video submission.

Acceptance Criteria

The passwordless authentication feature is fully deployed in production across iOS and Android, with public announcement. Catalyst close-out requirements are met, including submission of the final report and publication of the close-out video, ensuring transparent delivery of all commitments.

Evidence of Completion

Links to App Store and Play Store for VESPR wallet version including passphrase and social login

Catalyst final report

Catalyst close-out video

Delivery Month

9

Cost

40000

Progress

100 %

[Final Pitch] Budget & Costs

Please provide a cost breakdown of the proposed work and resources

The total requested budget of 200k ADA is allocated across core development, testing, design, infrastructure, and delivery of the passwordless authentication system.

Development 120k ADA

Implementation of passkeys, social login flows, secure key management, recovery logic, and integration into the VESPR wallet across iOS and Android.

Design & UX 20k ADA

User flows for onboarding, recovery, biometric prompts, fallback flows, and UI assets.

Quality Assurance & Testing 20k ADA

Functional testing across devices, edge-case handling, recovery validation, and beta rollout.

Infrastructure & Operations 20k ADA

Authentication services, monitoring, CI/CD, device-sync processes, and ongoing stability costs during development.

Project Management & Delivery 20k ADA

Milestone coordination, documentation, reporting, and Catalyst close-out deliverables.

[Final Pitch] Value for Money

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

The cost is justified because it removes the biggest adoption barrier in Cardano: seed-phrase-based onboarding. Passwordless authentication creates long-term ecosystem value by making Cardano accessible to users who would never adopt seed phrases.

The budget is proportionate to the complexity of delivering secure passkey and social login flows across iOS, Android, and backend infrastructure. All work directly enables onboarding, retention, and recovery improvements for tens of thousands of users already active in VESPR.

This investment produces reusable authentication infrastructure that benefits the entire ecosystem, increases ADA demand through new users, and reduces long-term support friction. It is a one-time cost that delivers enduring value, with ongoing maintenance covered by VESPR’s operating revenue rather than future Catalyst rounds.

[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