Please describe your proposed solution

We propose to develop a rotating 3D Earth web application that visually maps stores globally, focusing exclusively on those that accept ADA and USDM payments. This app will allow users to easily discover crypto-friendly merchants, with the ability to filter by location, business type, or service offered. Each store will have its profile with transaction details, accepted crypto, and additional metadata.

How do we perceive the problem?

The increasing cryptocurrency adoption is hindered by the lack of accessible information about where users can spend their crypto, specifically ADA and USDM. Currently, users struggle to find businesses that support Cardano’s ecosystem, limiting the practical use of these currencies.

Why are we approaching it this way?

We believe that visualization and accessibility are crucial to driving adoption. We can easily highlight participating merchants by creating an intuitive, user-friendly, and engaging interface like a rotating 3D Earth map. Our approach builds on proven methods from previous projects like GainForest, where one of our team members helped create similar geographic visualization tools, such as the GainForest Map, to display conservation efforts and environmental data.

Who will this project engage?

Our platform will engage three core groups:

1. Crypto users: Providing them with a simple, visual way to locate stores accepting ADA and USDM.

2. Merchants: Offering them a platform to list their businesses and reach a growing, tech-savvy audience.

3. The wider Cardano ecosystem: Promoting the usability of ADA and USDM, further encouraging adoption.

How will we demonstrate and prove our impact?

We will measure success through:

• The number of stores onboarded globally.

• User engagement metrics, such as the number of visitors, searches, and transactions initiated through the platform.

• Community feedback and integration with local crypto adoption initiatives.

What is unique about our solution?

This solution stands out by offering a comprehensive, visually engaging tool that simplifies crypto adoption for users and merchants alike. By connecting the digital and physical worlds through a global map, we provide a bridge for Cardano users to spend their ADA and USDM in the real world, thus making Cardano’s ecosystem more practical and usable.

Why is this important to Cardano?

As Cardano continues to establish a foundation for global, decentralized finance, this project directly supports that vision by expanding the utility of ADA and USDM. Our solution boosts both adoption and awareness of Cardano’s native tokens while also aligning with the broader mission of decentralization and global accessibility that Cardano champions. This project provides a real-world utility that will foster greater community engagement and increase the value of the Cardano ecosystem.

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

Positive Impact on the Cardano Community:

This project will have a significant and far-reaching impact on the Cardano community by increasing the real-world utility of ADA and USDM. By connecting users with a global network of merchants that accept these cryptocurrencies, we will foster wider adoption of Cardano-based payments, making it easier for both individuals and businesses to participate in the Cardano ecosystem.

1. Wider Crypto Adoption:

This project will create tangible use cases for the currency by enabling users to easily find and transact with stores that accept ADA and USDM. This will encourage more users to hold and spend ADA, leading to increased circulation of Cardano’s native tokens, contributing to the overall health and liquidity of the Cardano economy.

2. Support for Merchants:

The platform will serve as a marketing tool for merchants, driving traffic to their stores and enabling them to tap into a growing customer base that prefers to transact in cryptocurrency. This encourages more businesses to adopt Cardano-based payments, creating a ripple effect that broadens the ecosystem.

3. Boosting Cardano’s Reputation:

As the platform grows and more stores are onboarded, Cardano's visibility as a practical and usable payment solution will increase. This will attract new users, investors, and businesses, enhancing Cardano’s position as a leader in the blockchain space.

Measuring Impact:

We will track the success of the project through a combination of quantitative and qualitative metrics:

1. Quantitative Metrics:

• Number of Stores Onboarded: We will track the number of stores listed on the platform globally over time, with the goal of onboarding at least 1000 stores in the first twelve months.

• User Engagement: We will openly measure the number of active users on the platform, the number of searches conducted, and the number of users who initiate transactions with listed stores.

• Transaction Volume: Tracking the total value and volume of ADA and USDM transactions processed through the platform.

• Geographical Reach: Monitoring the spread of stores across different regions and countries to ensure global reach.

2. Qualitative Metrics:

• Merchant and User Feedback: Gathering insights from both merchants and users to continually improve the platform’s functionality, user experience, and merchant onboarding process.

• Community Engagement: Regularly engaging with the Cardano community through forums, social media, and local events to gauge their perceptions and expectations of the platform, as well as to promote adoption.

Sharing Outputs and Opportunities:

We plan to actively share the outcomes and opportunities generated by this project with the wider Cardano community through multiple channels:

1. Open Source: The platform’s codebase will be fully open source, allowing other developers to contribute, enhance, or create derivative applications that further the goals of crypto adoption in the Cardano ecosystem. We will share this on GitHub and other relevant repositories.

2. Reports and Dashboards: We will create and share regular progress reports, as well as a public dashboard showing key metrics such as the number of onboarded stores, transaction volumes, and geographical spread. This will be accessible to the entire Cardano community.

3. Community Engagement: We will hold AMA (Ask Me Anything) sessions and engage with the Cardano community on platforms like Cardano Forum, Discord, and Twitter to share updates, gather feedback, and create awareness about new stores being added to the platform.

4. Collaborations with Cardano Projects: We will actively seek partnerships with other Cardano-based projects that could benefit from our platform, such as wallets, DeFi platforms, or dApps, to create synergies and drive further growth in the Cardano ecosystem.

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?

We are well-positioned to deliver this project with high levels of trust, accountability, and professionalism based on our track record and the structured approach we follow.

1. Proven Experience:

I successfully co-led the GainForest project, which involved building a large-scale, data-driven platform with global visibility, similar to the proposed crypto store locator. In GainForest, we developed a 360-degree interactive map displaying conservation projects and linking satellite and local environmental data. My experience in managing complex data streams, working with multiple stakeholders, and creating a functional user interface has equipped me with the technical and operational skills needed to deliver this project.

2. Team Expertise:

Our team brings expertise in blockchain, data management, and full-stack development. We have experience handling sensitive financial data, creating secure blockchain applications, and managing decentralized systems. Additionally, we have strong partnerships in the blockchain space, which provide valuable insights and resources to ensure the project is built on a solid foundation.

3. Transparent Fund Management:

We will ensure the proper management of funds by following precise and transparent processes:

• Budget Breakdown: We will provide a detailed breakdown of all costs, including development, marketing, testing, and maintenance, ensuring that each expense is documented and justified.

• Milestone-Based Disbursement: Funds will be released in stages based on predefined milestones, with each stage requiring verification of deliverables before the next funding phase is initiated. This will ensure accountability and clear tracking of progress.

• Regular Financial Reporting: We will maintain open communication with the Cardano community by sharing periodic financial reports that detail the allocation and use of funds. These reports will be publicly accessible, allowing anyone to audit our spending.

4. Governance and Oversight:

To further enhance trust we will include regular updates and feedback sessions with the Cardano community to ensure that the project aligns with community expectations and requirements.

Feasibility Validation:

We will ensure the feasibility of the project by employing a robust development and validation process:

1. Prototype Development and Testing:

A working prototype of the 3D store locator will be developed early in the process. This will allow us to validate core features, such as map functionality, store listing, and crypto transaction handling. We will conduct user testing with both merchants and potential customers to identify usability issues and gather feedback before scaling.

2. Merchant and User Engagement:

We will validate our approach by directly engaging with store owners and users in the early phases. By onboarding a small number of stores and testing the payment integration using ADA and USDM, we will ensure the platform’s functionality works smoothly in real-world scenarios. Feedback from store owners will also help us refine the onboarding process and ensure ease of use.

3. Performance and Security Testing:

Given the critical nature of handling crypto payments, we will perform rigorous testing of the platform’s performance and security. This includes stress testing under high loads, penetration testing for security vulnerabilities, and crypto transaction validation through Cardano’s testnet. The goal is to ensure scalability and robustness before public launch.

4. Continuous Iteration and Community Feedback:

Throughout the development process, we will engage with the Cardano community to gather ongoing feedback and validate each phase of the project. By working closely with the community, we will ensure the solution meets user needs and evolves based on real-world use cases.

Summary of Key Steps Demonstrating Trust and Accountability:

• Experience: Successful track record with GainForest (https://gainforest.earth/ and https://maps.gainforest.app/) and community building, having onboarded more than 2.300 people through Cultura C3 (https://www.culturac3.com/)

• Team Capability: Expertise in blockchain, data management, community building and platform development.

• Transparent Fund Management: Milestone-based funding, clear budget breakdown, and public financial reporting.

• Feasibility: Prototype development, real-world testing with merchants, security validation, and continuous feedback loops.

These measures ensure that we can deliver the project with trust, transparency, and accountability. We are committed to maintaining a high standard of professionalism and making the most of our funds throughout the project lifecycle.

What are the key milestones you need to achieve in order to complete your project successfully?

Milestone 1: Milestone 1: Set up the infrastructure and backend for store data collection (1 month)

Acceptance Criteria:

• Backend infrastructure is fully set up and operational to handle store data collection.

• Database architecture is designed to store and manage the global store information, including location, store type, and crypto payment capabilities (ADA, USDM).

• APIs are developed and ready to collect store data from multiple sources (user submissions, web scraping, and third-party integrations).

• Initial data pipeline established for integrating store listings and processing payment information.

• Basic user interface (UI) for internal data entry and verification is functional.

Success Metrics:

• Backend infrastructure fully operational.

• At least 10 stores have been added to the database for testing purposes.

Milestone 2: Milestone 2: Develop the interactive map and integrate 3D Earth view (2 months)

Acceptance Criteria:

• The 3D Earth view is integrated into the platform, allowing users to rotate and zoom into regions globally.

• Store data is visually represented on the map with clear pin markers that users can click on for more information.

• Basic filtering options (location, store type, payment method) are implemented.

• UI/UX design for the map is user-friendly and intuitive.

• Initial user testing for functionality and ease of use is conducted, and feedback is incorporated into improvements.

Success Metrics:

• Fully interactive 3D Earth map with at least 25 global stores pinned.

• Positive feedback from initial user testing, with refinements made to the UI/UX.

Milestone 3: Milestone 3: Integrate ADA/USDM payment info and store verification process (3 months)

Acceptance Criteria:

• Integration of ADA and USDM payment information for each listed store is completed.

• A store verification system is in place, allowing merchants to verify their store and confirm that they accept crypto payments.

• The platform can display which crypto payments each store accepts (ADA, USDM) and links to the store’s payment options.

• Testing of the payment flow is completed to ensure data accuracy and smooth transaction handling.

Success Metrics:

• At least 50 verified stores onboarded with accurate ADA and USDM payment information.

• Verification process fully functional, with smooth user experience.

Milestone 4: Milestone 4: Test and onboard 100 stores globally (5 months)

Acceptance Criteria:

• 100 additional stores (total of 250) from various regions globally are onboarded and verified.

• Merchant feedback is collected on the onboarding process and platform functionality.

• Extensive user testing is conducted with both merchants and users, ensuring the platform is easy to navigate, accurate, and reliable.

• Bugs and issues identified during testing are addressed, and improvements are implemented.

Success Metrics:

• A minimum of 100 stores onboarded and verified, spanning at least 10 different countries.

• Positive merchant feedback on the platform’s usability and onboarding process.

Final Milestone: Final Milestone: Launch the platform with public access and full store data (6 months)

Acceptance Criteria:

• The platform is fully launched to the public with a marketing push to drive user engagement and store participation.

• The site is live, with at least 100 stores globally, covering major regions and diverse sectors (e.g., retail, services, hospitality).

• A project close-out report and final video are produced, summarizing the project’s outcomes, challenges, and success metrics.

• Ongoing plans for platform maintenance, scaling, and future improvements are established.

Success Metrics:

• Fully operational platform with at least 100 verified stores.

• Positive feedback from the public launch, with initial user engagement metrics tracked (e.g., active users, searches, transactions).

• Project close-out report and final video completed and shared with the Cardano community.

Who is in the project team and what are their roles?

• Facundo Cajén (Lead Developer)

https://www.linkedin.com/in/facundo-cajen/

• Nahuel Orellano (Community Builder)

https://www.linkedin.com/in/nahuel-orellano-0725b1249/

• Juani Podesta (Backend Developer)

https://www.linkedin.com/in/juani-podesta-035b7416a/

• Matias Santaolaya (Business Developer)

https://www.linkedin.com/in/matias-santaolaya/

Please provide a cost breakdown of the proposed work and resources

Business Developer: 27,272.73 ADA

Responsible for business strategy, identifying key partnerships, securing merchant onboarding, and driving revenue growth. This role will help expand the project’s reach to merchants globally and secure potential collaborations with other crypto-related platforms and services.

Backend Development: 36,363.64 ADA

Critical for building the infrastructure of the platform, including setting up store data collection pipelines, APIs, and ensuring the secure and reliable handling of crypto transactions (ADA and USDM). The backend will also include handling store verification processes.

Frontend Development: 36,363.64 ADA

This includes the development of the user-facing interface, such as the 3D Earth map visualization, user filtering options, and store profiles. The goal is to ensure the platform is intuitive, visually engaging, and responsive across devices.

Community Building & Onboarding: 18,181.82 ADA

Responsible for engaging the crypto community and store owners, educating them on the benefits of accepting ADA and USDM, and assisting with the onboarding process. Community building is vital to ensure merchant and user growth, as well as creating engagement around the platform.

Total: 118,181.82 ADA

No

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

Value for Money for the Cardano Ecosystem

The project provides a highly visible, scalable, and practical use case for ADA and USDM, driving wider adoption by directly connecting users with merchants across the globe. By facilitating the use of ADA and USDM in everyday transactions, this project addresses one of the most pressing challenges facing the Cardano ecosystem: real-world utility.

The following factors highlight why the project offers excellent value for the funds requested:

1. High Impact on ADA and USDM Adoption

This project bridges the gap between crypto holders and merchants, significantly increasing the visibility and use of ADA and USDM. By enabling a global network of stores to accept these tokens for everyday transactions, we directly support Cardano’s mission to shape a global financial decentralized system as part of its bigger ecosystem. This will drive adoption not only among crypto enthusiasts but also merchants who will see the potential benefits of transacting in ADA and USDM. Every new merchant onboarded multiplies the network effect, making Cardano tokens more valuable and widely used.

2. Long-Term Benefits to the Ecosystem

The impact of this project is not limited to its initial launch. Once the platform is operational and has gained traction, the ecosystem will benefit from a sustained increase in transaction volume and user engagement. More merchants accepting ADA and USDM will mean more demand for these tokens, which directly contributes to the economic growth of the Cardano network.

3. Justified Costs and Efficient Use of Resources

The costs listed in the budget are proportional to the complexity and scale of the project, with each element designed to maximize efficiency:

• Development Costs: We have allocated 27,272.73 ADA for business development and 72,727.28 ADA for backend and frontend development, which are competitive rates based on industry standards for experienced blockchain developers in Argentina and Latin America. These costs ensure the platform is functional and scalable, capable of supporting a growing number of stores and users globally.

• Community Building: The 18,181.82 ADA allocated for community building and onboarding reflects the importance of active engagement with merchants and users to ensure successful adoption. This role is crucial in educating, onboarding, and supporting merchants, which in turn drives the platform’s success. Community building will help establish a trustworthy reputation for ADA and USDM as payment options, and Nahuel Orellano has helped onboard more than 2,000 people onto the blockchain and is the Co-Founder of C3, the largest crypto community from Buenos Aires with more than 800 members in its WhatsApp group and more than 6,000 followers on Instagram.

4. Long-Term ROI for Cardano

The return on investment (ROI) for the Cardano ecosystem is substantial. This project will:

• Increase transaction volume on the Cardano blockchain.

• Strengthen the use cases for ADA and USDM, which is critical for long-term token value appreciation.

• Expand merchant adoption globally, contributing to Cardano’s objective of creating a decentralized financial system.

By driving real-world usage and merchant adoption, this project is not only cost-effective but also strategically aligned with Cardano’s core goals of promoting decentralized financial systems and global accessibility.

5. Transparency and Accountability

The project includes milestone-based funding, regular progress reports, and community engagement to ensure transparency and responsible fund management. Every stage of the project will be openly documented, allowing the community to track progress and ensure accountability.

Conclusion:

This project provides exceptional value for the requested funds by delivering a tangible, scalable solution that directly enhances ADA and USDM adoption. The budget reflects industry-standard rates and ensures that all critical elements—development, security, legal, and marketing—are covered, resulting in a well-rounded, impactful project for the Cardano ecosystem.