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EZ-Pay (Stripe-like API Wallet Connector)

Make connecting payment and wallet systems easy for developers and users.

How?

Build an API that connects to many diverse payment systems and types.

Why?

* APIs abstract a lot of work away from the developer, bringing them peace of mind and a delightful experience.

* Payment systems and wallet connectors add significant developer time to projects when custom built over and over.

* A tried and tested API connector saves project costs, code errors, debugging time, and a host of labor and aggravation.

* An API can continue to add new services underneath, expanding the utility, without requiring DApps to be refactored.

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PROJECT SCOPE

* Create an API that utilizes multiple payment methods and wallet types and can easily connect to DApps like the NFT Framework and others.

- Create clear API documentation using SlateDocs or similar.

* Create an SDK to supply any components a developer might find necessary when creating new applications for the API product and its ecosystem.

- Include code samples, which give developers example programs and libraries to help them learn how to build basic programs.

* Rigorously test for security, attack vectors and cryptographic efficacy.

- Glow has built-in support for formal methods to automate the verification of security properties.

BENEFITS

Developers benefit with an API solution for all things related to payments.

Users benefit from ease-of-use payment tracking and reporting functionality built into the EZ-Pay DApp.

The Cardano ecosystem expands it's ability to build great technology quickly with the addition of this component.

NFT Marketplaces, our target benefactor, get a really great user experience from this API and DApp.

Happy developers telling their buddies to come build on Cardano!

SCHEDULE

General Availability (GA) of MVP is approximately 6-months from start date. Fully Operational (FO) is approximately 9-months from start date.

This is a project that is very much needed and fully inline with the concept of this challenge asking: How can we create a positive developer experience that helps the developer focus on building successful apps? A great API for an often used component is exactly what this EZ-Pay API is.

PLAN AND BUDGET

Utilizing Glow Language and the MuKn team's expertise, we will start building integrations to selected payment methods. First we will be researching the specific candidates. The goal of EZ-On API is developers can simply use it to connect to payment options. We will of course build this into the NFT Framework for all marketplaces to use.

Phase 1

- Research the payment systems we will connect with, like wallets, Visa, Paypal, Venmo etc.

- Market testing developers for their wish list

Phase 2

- Prioritize Resource Utilization

- Assign teams and workload

- Mutual Knowledge will handle the development

- NFT-DAO will handle the commercialization (requirements, website, market research, partnerships, operations)

Phase 3

- Run Sprints to build components needed

- Document API as development occurs

- Start on SDK

Phase 4

- Testing, Audit and hardening (dev/ops teams doing verification testing)

- Complete API documents

- Firm up the SDK

Phase 5

- Go Live (alpha and beta testing in real world conditions)

Phase 6

- G/A Launch (General Availability for developers to use)

Total: $69, 945#

# Includes contract development, marketing and operational estimates allowing for a 12-month launch cycle.

DEFINED SUCCESS REPORTING

3-month: Post funding much of this work will be available to see firsthand and can be followed in the Github repository. The system will be taking shape and the first simple connectors should be operational in MVP and beta mode.

6-month: The MVP API will be active in General Availability (GA) and Fully Operational (FO).

12-month: Many additional payment services will be available and the API and SDK v1.0 fully in use. (we can't say until we do the research exactly how many services will be available in 12-months, but our goal is to move as quickly as we can).

BACKGROUND

EZ-Pay API

The EZ-Pay API will allow developers to access the full functionality of EZ-Pay. Some example API methods we are planning include sending invoices, accepting payments, managing subscription billing, and editing and managing account information. EZ-Pay is a service that allows users to accept payments online, specifically developers. With the EZ-Pay application, users can keep track of payments, search past payments, create recurring charges, and keep track of customers. We want to bring similar use models common to Web2.0 internet e-commerce over to Web3.0 blockchains. This is not an easy feat, so we need your support!

In our winning Fund 3 proposal for an "NFT Framework", we promised to add connectors, extensions and enhancements. This EZ-Pay API is one of those tools developers need and want. An easy-to-use payment solution. NFT Marketplaces who use the NFT Framework will be delighted to have this easy way to accept payments for NFT auctions and sales.

One line of code is the promise of Stripe (a payment API—Application Program Interface). While we wish Stripe was that simple, we know it's a lot simpler than Web3 blockchain technology is now. We want to change that!

Our goal with the EZ-On Tech Suite of solutions is making it easy to onboard all developers, but especially those coming over from the Ethereum blockchain in this proposal.

Let's make wallets and payments on Cardano as simple as one line of code to connect and use in any DApp through an API that delights developers.

BRIDGING DIGITAL AND FIAT

VISA

In March 2021: Visa has selected the USDC stablecoin as their pilot asset, and set about making the infrastructure upgrades necessary to mesh key components of digital currencies with Visa's treasury operations. They've been hard at work over the last several months, working to support a number of key functions:

* Support reconciliation and currency conversion for stablecoins such as USDC

* Integrate Visa's treasury systems with Anchorage, as Visa's digital asset settlement agent

* Support a new Visa settlement report that includes settlement obligations along with public blockchain addresses for account management of crypto wallets and issuers.

After months of anticipation and careful planning, they completed the first successful settlement transaction this month —with Crypto.com sending USDC to Visa's Ethereum address at Anchorage. One small step forward for Visa's settlement platform, one giant step forward for the integration of digital and traditional fiat currencies. After further testing and additional conversations with clients, partners and members of the regulatory community, they hope to launch this capability for other partners in the year ahead. We want to be one of those partners.

The good news is, since Glow is helping us, and they have expertise in EVM, we feel confident we have a way forward with Visa.

PayPal

LONDON (Reuters) - PayPal Holdings Inc will announce later on Tuesday that it has started allowing U.S. consumers to use their cryptocurrency holdings to pay at millions of its online merchants globally, a move that could significantly boost use of digital assets in everyday commerce. - Mar 30, 2021

Venmo

March 22, 2021: At this moment, 2 platforms accept Venmo: Localbitcoin(dot)com and Paxful(dot)com. Choose a broker, and open an account. From there you can use Venmo to purchase Bitcoin.

GUIDING QUESTIONS

What are the the tools that we need to prioritize first

Our model centers on a NFT Framework of composable parts that continue to add functionality and ease the developer and user experience. Weighing that against the development cycles required to produce the components, this project fills a large gap in a short period of time. Payments are a core infrastructure need any developer can tell you so.

How do we attract developers from outside of our current community to participate in Catalyst?

Creating integrations that are useable across chains and ecosystems is one way, and this is thought through with this proposal. Making payments as easy as connecting one line of code is the holy grail of development.

What do developers want, and how do they get it from the Cardano dev ecosystem?

Developers want tools and approaches that make their lives simpler. They also want clear documentation to ensure they can implement new things without too much trouble. They also want things to work they way they are intended. This EZ-Pay API will deliver exactly what developers want. It will start small and grow over time with extensions.

What would make a developer motivated to grind through the docs and code no matter how hard it is to create an app?

It has to be well worth the trouble. So rather than fight that, we aim to make it easier, faster and more fun with the EZ-Pay API.

What are enterprise dev managers looking for in order to be able to build out enterprise projects - either internal or commercial?

Wether internal or commercial, the enterprise has a high standard of security, compliance, documentation, support, packaging and dev/ops. APIs are a standard in enterprise solutions. Good documentation is a must. We plan to deliver both. Building with the MuKn Glow team will offer us the quality of code required by the enterprise.

WHO WILL DELIVER THIS SOLUTION?

TEAM MUTUAL KNOWLEDGE

François-René "Faré" Rideau - CEO++,++ Co-Founder, has been making programming languages and distributed systems usable for 25 years. Alumnus of the École Normale Supérieure, Former Senior Engineer at ITA Software, he also worked at Google and Bridgewater Associates.

While working in the industry, he notably maintained and rewrote ASDF, the build system at the heart of the Common Lisp open source community; he also kept publishing academic papers and speaking at programming language conferences; early in his career, he even proved in Coq the correctness of a (centralized) payment protocol.

Eventually, his interests in economics and software security converged with his experience in open source software and formal methods and he started working on Layer 2 solutions for the Blockchain. Since January 2018, he has made plenty of mistakes as co-founder of startups, and learned the hard way to become his own CEO.

Alexander Smart - Chief Operations Officier, Co-Founder, has always thought fast, but learned to think deep and sharp at UChicago. After studying law at Pepperdine, he spent nearly fifteen years guiding executives and decision makers through litigation, in matters ranging from shoplifting and speeding tickets to multi-forum international investment bank disputes.

His practice honed his ability to quickly assimilate and master new information, and deliver that information clearly at any level of sophistication. Tiring of courthouses, he found his skills were readily applicable and desperately needed in the blockchain space.

Gauthier Lamothe - Chief Communications Officer, Co-Founder, has been a seasoned coach, psychotherapist and instructor in communication and management.

He doubled his career as a media expert (film and software producer, then e-marketing manager).

He participated in the development of a few blockchains, for entities such as the Free Republic of Liberland, and worked on decentralized justice systems, tokenization of governance, and of course crypto-currencies.

His work in the MuKn ecosystem is to take care of every aspect related to communications and human issues, both within the company and with customers and partners, for awareness of human-related safety risks are often dramatically underestimated in the blockchain space.

Alexander Knauth - Developer, Alexander studied at Northeastern University College of Computer and Information Science and achieved a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, where he researched Type Systems and Macros.

Co-author of two research papers at POPL, he also contributed to the Racket programming language.

Currently working for Mutual Knowledge Systems Inc. after a first collaboration on another project for Alacris/Legilogic

Drew Crampsie - Developer, Drew is an independent systems developer with over 20 years of experience in designing, implementing and maintaining Internet based applications and servers with a focus on "bleeding edge" Web Apps.

Drew is a seasoned user in non-mainstream and mainstream techs and languages (Scheme, Common Lisp, SQL, Javascript, C…).

Emeka Nwanko - Developer, After graduating in 2005 from Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Emeka Nwanko worked for several companies as a Field Engineer or Operations Manager, such as Schlumberger Nigeria or Northern Oilfield Services and Supplies.

He also worked for Satajanus Nigeria Limited as a software developer in the field of Blockchain industry, both in C# and F#, but also in Rust and Solidity.

He also offers free programming classes as a teacher.

TEAM NFT-DAO

Our team is drawing talent in at this writing over 320+ persons joined our NFT-DAO Discord. We're embracing everyone who strongly desires an overarching NFT framework on Cardano—especially those who proposed NFT solutions—and invite you to join our NFT DAO that will open-source the patterns we build as a community. Join us in a coordinated and consolidated effort. Others have already merged their proposal. You'll join:

Rich Kopcho, a life-long entrepreneur building 18 start-ups in his career. He has owned and managed a development shop and open-sourced the successful 'Restore' backup solution. He taught manufacturers around the world Holonic manufacturing (1997-2007); a heterarchical systems and technology approach that is the foundation DAOs are based on. He currently operates a venture studio in Laramie WY building technology solutions with partners. Rich is the executive producer of the Wyoming Blockchain Stampede - an annual conference by UWYO that IOHK/Cardano/Emurgo and others sponsor to educate the blockchain community.

Michael Yagi, a senior software engineer with experience facilitating integration between different technologies across many different facets in a smooth, seamless fashion. He has a background in leading the development for projects that need to ship projects with many unknowns in a timely manner. His interest lie in building the bridge between the ocean and the pond (Cardano and "traditional" software engineering) as well as leveraging his game development background for NFT's in the game industry.

Community Members n+1, is passionate about NFTs and has aligned themselves to a previous proposal seeking funding for a NFT point solution. They are eager to build their business model on top of a solid framework. Since none has existed for Cardano, they were planning to build one for themselves from scratch. They are one of ~300 individuals who could potentially pool their expertise into an all-embracing open-source version to benefit the entire community rather than one project. Their expertise is multivariate in development, SPO, marketing, design, business, and more.

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