What are the key milestones you need to achieve in order to complete your project successfully?
Milestone 1: Milestone 1: 2025/1~2025/04
Proposal for Listing
In Milestone 1, we will produce the following deliverables:
- Initiation of official approach to LINE Bitmax and entering of the submission process
- Preparation of documentation - technical specifications, security protocols, and compliance measures (strategize as required)
- Planning and development of application to the FSA
- Facilitate review process and obtain approval to proceed with listing
To deliver these outputs, we will conduct the following activities:
- Ensure ADA complies with the Payment Services Act.
- Engage with our contacts at LINE and LINE Bitmax to facilitate a smooth process including favorable terms.
- Outline the benefits of listing ADA on LINE Bitmax, emphasizing Cardano’s stability, transaction speed, low fees, and user base in Japan.
- Showcase Cardano’s potential for mainstream adoption, pointing to use cases and user demand for ADA as a payment option.
- Present a roadmap for ADA's integration, highlighting Cardano’s long-term commitment to the Japanese market.
- Respond to inquiries and requirements for additional documentation to address any concerns.
- Negotiation of listing fee and advisory on activities to facilitate process
- Reporting on monthly basis of activities and progress.
- Arrange high-level meetings to establish relationships with LINE’s leadership - product development, legal, compliance.
- Engage with LINE Bitmax’s listing team to discuss ADA’s listing and integration.
- Engage Cardano Foundation and Key Stakeholders:
- Work with the Cardano Foundation and local stakeholders to support the proposal with endorsements.
- Involve Input Output (IOG) and EMURGO in planning and discussions, as their technical and market expertise can strengthen the proposal.
- Develop a plan of attack to generate community support and excitement.
Acceptance Criteria
The deliverables will be considered "accepted" if they meet the following criteria:
-
Stakeholder Meetings: Records the names (or initials), interview dates, and summaries of the meetings.
-
Documentation: All submitted documents must include the above elements and be saved on Google Drive or Notion with publicly accessible links.
-
Advisory: Insights and findings to facilitate process and prepare for a successful listing and payment integration.
Evidence of Milestone Completion
To prove the completion of the milestone, we will submit the following:
Documents: A progress report including a list of actions undertaken including feedback, necessity of additional actions or documentation required, and notation of completion or timeline for getting it done. Provide a timeline sheet to manage way forward and progress based on planning, negotiations, and confirmations with all stakeholders. Status updates and insights to the extent possible on the guarded process.
Milestone 2: Milestone 2: 2025/04~2025/5
Confirm listing go ahead and initiate meetings to facilitate the process of developing a DApp for payment in ADA on LINE.
To deliver these outputs, we will conduct the following activities:
- Detailed and careful planning including reviews as follows:
- Conduct a feasibility study to determine the technical requirements and legal implications of integrating a Cardano-based DApp on LINE’s platform and facilitating ADA payments through LINE Bitmax.
- Clarify goals for the DApp, such as enabling peer-to-peer ADA payments, merchant payments, or integration with LINE’s existing services. Consider scalability, transaction fees, and security as core aspects.
- Report to ADA on LINE’s standards for security, compliance, user experience, and cultural sensitivities for functionality.
- Report on Financial Services Agency’s guidelines for crypto payments and consumer protection.
- Reviews, recommendations, and interviews with developers to work with us and LINE on the set up of the payment DApp.
Ensure ADA complies with Japan's Financial Services Agency regulations.
- Collaborate with LINE's technical team to integrate ADA into their trading platform, ensuring seamless transactions and security.
Acceptance Criteria
The deliverables will be considered "accepted" if they meet the following criteria:
-
Stakeholder Meetings: Records the names (or initials), interview dates, and summaries of the meetings.
-
Documentation: All submitted documents must include the above elements and be saved on Google Drive or Notion with publicly accessible links.
-
Advisory: Insights and findings to facilitate process and prepare for a successful listing and payment integration.
Evidence of Milestone Completion
To prove the completion of the milestone, we will submit the following:
Documents: A progress report including a list of actions undertaken including feedback, necessity of additional actions or documentation required, and notation of completion or timeline for getting it done. Provide a timeline sheet to manage way forward and progress based on planning, negotiations, and confirmations with all stakeholders.
Milestone 3: Milestone 3: 2025/04~2025/6
Development of a DApp for Payment Services on LINE
- Define and set parameters of functionality.
- Collaborate with LINE’s engineering team to identify integration requirements for a DApp on the LINE platform including API compatibility, user interface integration, and transaction handling mechanisms.
- Review of design for secure, efficient smart contracts for ADA transactions on LINE.
- Ensure the DApp’s UI matches LINE’s design standards for an intuitive, seamless, and user-friendly aesthetic to facilitate adoption.
- Review ADA payments for conversion to JPY for merchants by developing a backend to support this through LINE Bitmax’s infrastructure.
Acceptance Criteria
The deliverables will be considered "accepted" if they meet the following criteria:
- Ensure compliance with LINE’s standards for third-party DApp with a view to it undergoing rigorous security testing to meet LINE’s criteria and pass audits.
- Regulatory and compliance setup in coordination with our legal team to ensure the DApp complies with the Payment Services Act and other Financial Services Agency regulations and laws.
- Ensure integration of Know Your Customer and Anti-Money Laundering checks into the DApp for regulatory compliance.
- Coordinate with LINE’s compliance team to ensure the DApp adheres to Japanese legal standards and aligns with LINE’s internal policies.
- Ensure that we are fulfilling legal obligations while maintaining user privacy and usability to confirm complete compliance.
- Ensure that planning is thorough and documents are in order for compliance from relevant authorities.
Evidence of Milestone Completion
To prove the completion of the milestone, we will submit the following:
-
Documents: A progress report including a list of actions undertaken including feedback, necessity of additional actions or documentation required, and notation of completion or timeline for getting it done. Provide a timeline sheet to manage way forward and progress based on planning, negotiations, and confirmations with all stakeholders.
- Prepare complete documentation including reports, meeting minutes.
- Presentation of solutions to overcome challenges and implementation plans.
Milestone 4: Milestone 4: 2025/5 ~ 2025/5
Confirm the official launch date of ADA on LINE Bitmax in advance and implement the following activities to maximize visibility and adoption through a coordinated marketing, PR, and celebration campaign to create significant momentum and ensure ADA’s listing makes a big impact.
Develop launch announcement and PR strategy
- Announce ADA’s listing on LINE Bitmax with a press release that highlights the significance of its availability on one of Japan’s largest social platforms.
- Target top Japanese media outlets (Nihon Keizai Shimbun, TV Tokyo, NHK, and national dailies) as well as industry trade and tech-focused publications to cover the announcement.
- Plan for a press conference and organize interviews and Q&A sessions with Charles Hoskinson, EMURGO, CF, Project Catalyst, and LINE Bitmax executives.
- Host a virtual event through LINE Live (LINE’s streaming service) or YouTube to celebrate ADA’s listing. Feature appearances from Cardano’s leadership and Japanese partners, share Cardano’s mission, and reveal promotional campaigns.
Social Media and Community Engagement
- Leverage LINE’s official social media accounts (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram) to announce the listing, emphasizing ADA’s accessibility and benefits.
- Initiate interactive campaigns on LINE’s social media to engage users with campaigns based on user-generated content.
- Run a giveaway or contest encouraging users to share their excitement and experiences.
- Collaborate with Japanese influencers and thought leaders in the cryptocurrency space to endorse ADA’s listing and educate their followers on ADA’s advantages and the ease of trading.
- Create interactive games, quizzes or mini-events on LINE’s social media accounts to keep the community engaged into the Christmas holiday season.
- Host an “Ask Me Anything” (AMA) session featuring Charles Hoskinson on Twitter Spaces or LINE Live.
In-App Promotions and Engagement Campaigns (provisional)
- Launch a free LINE sticker set featuring ADA-branded designs, possibly incorporating a Cardano mascot or symbols with Japanese cultural elements to increase brand visibility and encourage LINE users to follow the official Cardano LINE account.
- Encourage LINE users to follow the Cardano official account by offering small ADA rewards or LINE Points.
- Collaborate with LINE Bitmax to offer reduced transaction fees for ADA trades, incentivizing users to try ADA on the platform.
- Implement a referral campaign where users earn rewards (LINE Points, ADA, or discounts) for referring friends who trade on LINE Bitmax. This will boost adoption by turning users into promoters.
- Work with LINE’s advertising team to run a campaign with in-app notifications, banners, and homepage promotions that celebrate ADA’s listing.
Acceptance Criteria
The deliverables will be considered "accepted" if they meet the following criteria:
- Development of an effective promotional plan with buy-in from key stakeholders on the Cardano and LINE Bitmax sides.
- Onboarding of Fred’s extended marketing and PR network to ensure the ambitious promotional plan is pulled off under tight timelines.
- Ensure close coordination and integration and cooperation of LINE’s marketing, PR, and events operations. .
- Ensure that planning is thorough and documents are in order for efficient, professional implementation for maximum impact.
Evidence of Milestone Completion
To prove the completion of the milestone, we will submit the following:
- Planning documents and alignment of the resources required to track progress and conduct ground work.
- Press release and distribution coverage report.
- Host of online events and results / coverage report.
- Social media program implementation, management, and follow-ups.
- Prepare complete documentation including reports, meeting minutes.
Milestone 5: Milestone 5: 2025/5 ~ 2025/7
Testing and Quality Assurance
- Test all aspects of the DApp, including transaction speed, security, and user experience, to ensure smooth operation.
- Close coordination with LINE’s QA team for rigorous testing, ensuring the DApp meets LINE’s standards.
- Before full deployment, conduct user beta testing with a small group of LINE users to gather feedback on usability, functionality, and overall satisfaction. Make necessary adjustments based on feedback.
Acceptance Criteria
The deliverables will be considered "accepted" if they meet the following criteria:
- Document progress and confirmation of key technical milestones.
- Confirmation of the following items:
- Technical compatibility with LINE’s APIs and mobile optimization.
- Robust security and privacy standards, including encryption, KYC/AML, and regulatory compliance with Japanese laws.
- User-friendly experience and interface design.
- Acceptance testing and feedback collection and the implementation of a feedback mechanism for continuous improvement.
- Setting up of performance metrics, KPIs and monitoring and maintenance.
Evidence of Milestone Completion
To prove the completion of the milestone, we will submit the following:
- Executive summary overview of the DApp’s completion and its successful integration with LINE.
- Detailed technical and compliance documentation with complete, in-depth reports that validate the DApp’s technical functionality and regulatory compliance.
- Performance metrics and user feedback summary including quantitative and qualitative data to show adoption and satisfaction among early users.
- Future plans and maintenance outline evidencing a roadmap for improvements, demonstrating a commitment to sustaining and growing the DApp’s value.
Final Milestone: Final Milestone: 2025/7~2026/1
Bring the ADA payment DApp project on LINE Bitmax to the beta stage, the final milestone involves building a functional prototype with core features, completing initial compliance checks, and preparing it for limited user testing. This milestone requires both technical development and foundational regulatory setup, laying the groundwork for eventual full deployment.
Final Milestone: Beta Development and Deployment
-
Core Development and Feature Completion
-
Completing core features, such as wallet integration, ADA transaction functionality, basic user interface, and payment processing mechanisms. This also includes backend infrastructure to support transactions, along with security features to protect user data and transactions.
-
Initial Compliance and Legal Review
-
Compliance on Japanese financial regulations to ensure that the DApp meets initial compliance standards. This includes securing any provisional regulatory approvals required to operate the beta version in a limited test environment.
-
User Interface (UI) Design and Basic UX Testing
-
Developing an intuitive interface for the DApp and conducting initial user experience (UX) testing with a small group to gather feedback on usability, accessibility, and design. Any necessary adjustments based on UX feedback will be implemented.
-
Beta Testing Preparation and Deployment
-
Setting up a secure beta testing environment, selecting a test user group (e.g., internal users and a small group of Cardano community members in Japan), and implementing a monitoring system to track performance, bug reports, and user feedback.
-
Marketing and Community Awareness for Beta Launch
-
Developing a small-scale marketing plan to introduce the beta, including social media announcements, updates on Cardano community channels, and limited outreach to selected media. This initial communication aims to gather interest and attract feedback.
Acceptance Criteria
The deliverables will be considered "accepted" if they meet the following criteria:
- Document progress and confirmation of key technical milestones.
- Confirmation of the following items:
- Technical compatibility with LINE’s APIs and mobile optimization.
- Robust security and privacy standards, including encryption, KYC/AML, and regulatory compliance with Japanese laws.
- User-friendly experience and interface design.
- Acceptance testing and feedback collection and the implementation of a feedback mechanism for continuous improvement.
- Setting up of performance metrics, KPIs and monitoring and maintenance.
Evidence of Milestone Completion
To prove the completion of the milestone, we will submit the following:
- Executive summary overview of the DApp’s completion and its successful integration with LINE.
- Detailed technical and compliance documentation with complete, in-depth reports that validate the DApp’s technical functionality and regulatory compliance.
- Performance metrics and user feedback summary including quantitative and qualitative data to show adoption and satisfaction among early users.
- Next steps of deployment and future plans.
