Please describe your proposed solution

Over the past year, we've collectively poured our time, energy, and creativity into a project that has not only flourished but has become a testament to the strength of our community. We've seen our user base grow to over a thousand users, minted of one of the most successful NFT collections (GGMC), and witnessed the bonds formed within this vibrant community. Unfortunately, the winds of the market have shifted unfavorably, putting us in a position where sustaining our product has become an uphill battle.

We believe in the power of open collaboration and community-driven initiatives. Therefore, we are proposing a transformative step: to make all our hard work open source. By taking this path, we aim to ensure that the product we've nurtured doesn't fade away but rather evolves into something greater.

We are addressing the lack of open-source minting solutions on Cardano. The existing minting providers do not open-source their code, limiting transparency and community involvement. Open-sourcing the code can provide several benefits, including increased trust, collaborative development, and the ability for anyone to set up and customize their minting platform.

We will migrate our product to an open-source minting platform on Cardano, with a payment gateway and wallet integration with support for CIP25. Making the solution open source enables the community to review, contribute, and improve the codebase. The solution is going to be developed in Javascrypt/Typescrypt and also will be available as Docker containers ready to be deployed in a docker environment. The platform will provide the following features:

• Multisig minting for NFTs
• Payment with QR and automatic return in case of overpay
• Sale conditions (Whitelists, based on policy id, etc …)
• Payment gateway with wallet integration
• Sale phases to do a multi-stage sale of the collection.
• Royalty token minting
• Support for IFPS and On-chain minting
• Split earnings for multiple collection owners
• Import and export policy ids
• Configurable provider fee
• Mainnet and testnet
• Minting statistics

Our project will engage developers, entrepreneurs, and community members interested in minting their tokens on the Cardano blockchain. It can also attract individuals and organizations seeking a transparent and customizable minting solution that integrates with payment gateways and wallets.

The unique aspect of the solution lies in its open-source nature, providing transparency, collaboration, and customization options. Also, this isn’t a project we need to develop from scratch but an existing minting solution we’ll port to open-source using the best tools available for it. Developers and users will benefit from the ability to review and contribute to the code, customize the platform to their specific needs, and leverage the integration with payment gateways and wallets. This openness and flexibility can foster innovation, adoption, and community participation in the Cardano blockchain, contributing to its growth and success.

Our solution aligns with the principles of transparency, decentralization, and community involvement that Cardano aims to embody. Our project can attract more developers and users to Cardano, enhance the range of tokenization options, and strengthen the overall value proposition of the blockchain platform.

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

The proposed solution of providing an open-source minting platform with a payment gateway and wallet integration addresses the challenge of the lack of transparency and community involvement in the current minting providers on Cardano. By open-sourcing the code, the solution promotes transparency and allows developers and users to review, contribute, customize and improve the platform.

The benefits this solution brings to the Cardano ecosystem are as follows:

1. Transparency and Trust: Open-sourcing, the minting platform, builds trust within the community by allowing users to verify the code and ensure the platform operates as intended. This transparency fosters a more trustworthy and secure token creation and management environment.
2. Community Collaboration: The solution encourages collaboration and collective problem-solving by allowing developers to contribute to the open-source codebase. This can lead to faster innovation, bug fixes, and the development of new features, benefiting the entire ecosystem.
3. Customizability: Users can customize the open-source minting platform to suit their needs, enabling greater flexibility and adaptability. This customization capability allows for creating unique and tailored tokenization solutions on Cardano.
4. Increased Adoption: The availability of an open-source minting platform can attract more developers and entrepreneurs to build on Cardano. The ease of setting up and integrating with payment gateways and wallets enhances the platform's adoption for token creation, thereby expanding the Cardano ecosystem.
5. decentralization: The solution promotes a more distributed network by providing a decentralized minting solution where individuals can set up their instances using a Kubernetes environment. This aligns with the core principles of Cardano, fostering a decentralized and resilient ecosystem.

Overall, the proposed solution brings transparency, community collaboration, customizability, increased adoption, and decentralization to the Cardano ecosystem. It empowers developers and users, enhances tokenization capabilities, and contributes to the growth and success of Cardano as a blockchain platform.

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 built Tangocrypto Software as a Service (https://www.tangocrypto.com) providing a Cardano API for blockchain data and NFT minting (which was the result of catalyst funds received during iteration 6 and 8). We are the developers of cardano-wallet-js (https://github.com/tango-crypto/cardano-wallet-js) and operate the stake pool TANGO. We have also support with our technology some of the most important projects on Cardano right now like GGMC main NFTs collection and their B2B Kingdom Trust initiative.

We have developed a minting service designed to seamlessly scale and accommodate a substantial influx of thousands of buyers per second. Our team possesses extensive expertise in building scalable systems that empower decentralized networks.

Initially, our platform was constructed on the reliable foundation of Amazon Web Services (AWS), harnessing the power of services like Lambda, ALB/NLB,SQS, DynamoDB, ECS, and EventBridge. However, we are determined to break free from the confines of a specific cloud provider and embrace a more decentralized approach.

In our unwavering commitment to decentralization, we have embarked on a transformative journey towards open-source software. By migrating our entire infrastructure to open-source alternatives, we empower individuals to operate the minting platform on their nodes, granting them greater autonomy and control.

This shift promotes the ideals of decentralization and fosters community engagement within the Cardano ecosystem. By embracing open-source principles, we empower users to shape the future of tokenization and contribute to the growth and success of Cardano, ensuring that the power remains in the hands of the community.

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

Milestone 1: Development environment and API Gateway layer

Milestone Outputs:

• Infrastructure setup for development: Set up the necessary infrastructure to host the minting platform. This may involve deploying servers, and configuring networking.
• API Gateway Layer: Develop an API gateway layer that acts as an interface for interacting with the minting platform. This layer handles incoming requests, performs rate limiting, authentication and authorization, and forwards requests to the appropriate services.

Acceptance criteria:

• Development environment ready for developers and API layer deployed in the development environment.
• API scaffolding deployed in the development environment.
• API gateway Rate limiter interceptor imposing rate limit using Redis and a token bucket algorithm.
• API gateway Authentication interceptor verifying API keys.

Evidence of milestone completion:

• API layer source code on Github, API tests, and documentation.
• Development environment API layer deployed in the development environment. The API Gateway layer consists of a custom API gateway and a Redis cluster.
• Video showing how the API gateway works.

Milestone 2: Data layer and entities definition

Milestone Outputs:

• CRUD Collections: Implement Create, Read, Update, and Delete (CRUD) functionality for collections. Collections represent groups or categories of tokens, and this functionality allows users to manage their collections effectively.
• CRUD Tokens (NFTs): Enable CRUD operations for Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs). This includes the ability to create, read, update, and delete tokens, as well as manage their properties, metadata, and ownership.

Acceptance criteria:

• CRUD operations for collections and tokens.

Evidence of milestone completion:

• Data layer source code on Github, API tests, and documentation.
• CRUD operations for collections and tokens. It includes the database schema using ScyllaDB and the Docker images in Dockerhub.
• Video showcasing the API queries working and showing NFT data.

Milestone 3: Sale phases and conditions

Milestone Outputs:

• CRUD Sale Phases: Implement CRUD operations for sale phases. Sale phases define the different stages or periods during which tokens can be put up for sale. This functionality allows users to manage and configure token sales effectively.
• CRUD Sale Conditions Whitelist: Enable CRUD operations for sale condition whitelists. Sale conditions define the criteria for eligibility to participate in token sales. Whitelists allow users to specify specific addresses or criteria for participation.

Acceptance criteria:

• CRUD operations for Sale phases and sale conditions (WL).

Evidence of milestone completion:

• Sale phase and sale conditions source code on Github, API tests, and documentation.
• CRUD operations for Sale phases and sale conditions (WL). It includes the database schema using ScyllaDB and the Docker images.

Milestone 4: Payment gateway and wallet integration

Milestone Outputs:

• Payment Gateway (Wallet Integration): Integrate a payment gateway to facilitate transactions and payments for token sales. This integration allows users to make payments using their wallets and ensures secure and seamless payment processing.
• CIP25 Minting: Implement minting functionality based on Cardano Improvement Proposal 25 (CIP25). This standard defines the process and metadata for minting new tokens on the Cardano blockchain.

Acceptance criteria:

• The payment gateway accepts payments from Cardano wallets and triggers the NFT minting. The platform is able to mint NFTs with the CIP25 standard.
• The payment gateway is a Cloudflare Worker deployed on the edge and closer to the buyers.

Evidence of milestone completion

• Payment gateway source code on Github, code tests, and documentation.
• The payment gateway accepts payments from Cardano wallets and triggers the NFT

Final Milestone: Final Milestone: Infrastructure as code ready to deploy

Milestone Outputs:

• Project Closure Report
• Demo how to set up and deploy the minting platform.
• Showcase video using of the minting platform.

Acceptance criteria

• Project Closure Report has been submitted in shape and form.
• Demo effectively explaining how to set up the minting engine to start using it.
• Interactive video showcasing all capabilities for both the minting engine. Showcasing how to trigger use the website to connect the wallet and mint NFTs.

Evidence of milestone completion

• Source code on Github of all the repos needed to make full use of the project
• Youtube link to the demo set up
• Youtube link to video showcasing the NFT minting capabilities.

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

Co-Founder TangoCrypto & Sr Software Engineer: Leobel Izquierdo

Software Engineer with a Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science and over 10 years of experience in the Software Industry. Working for the past 3 years with blockchain technologies like Ripple, Ethereum and Cardano.

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leobelizquierdo

Email: [email protected]

Github: https://github.com/leobel

Twitter: https://twitter.com/leobelizquierdo

Co-Founder TangoCrypto & Solutions architect: Javier Toledo Cordova

Professional solutions architect with over 12 years of experience in technology, specialising in software architecture and cloud computing. Started his career as a network architect designing data center networks and now focuses on cloud architecture and product design.

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/javiertc

Email: [email protected]

Twitter: https://twitter.com/javiertc86

DevOps: Manuel Morejon Espinosa

Cloud Engineer and Docker Captain, passionate about Cloud Native Architectures topics and over 10 years of experience. Has technical and communication skills to help teams to improve their workflow and to reduce deployment times. The goal is always to maximize productivity by minimizing errors. Enthusiastic about teaching and sharing knowledge with the Community.

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/manuelmorejon/

Email: [email protected]

Website: https://mmorejon.io

Twitter: https://twitter.com/morejon85

System Engineer: Eddy Garcia

DevOps engineer with experience in architecting and automating deployments over on-premise and cloud infrastructure. Proficient in Linux, Python, Docker, Ansible, Github Actions, GCP, AWS and in developing CI/CD pipelines.

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eddy-garcia-system-engineer/

Please provide a cost breakdown of the proposed work and resources

Milestone 1 (Development environment and API layer)

Senior Software Engineer: 20 days x 8h x $40 = $6400 -> 14,480 ADA

Senior Product Manager and solutions architect: 20 days x 8h x $40 = $6400 -> 14,480 ADA

Senior DevOps: 20 days x 8h x $31.25 = $5000 -> 11,300 ADA

QA: 20 days x 8h x $18.75 = $3000 -> 6,780 ADA

Infrastructure for development: $500 -> 1,131 ADA

Total: 48,171 ADA

Milestone 2 (Data layer and entities definition)

Senior Software Engineer: 20 days x 8h x $40 = $6400 -> 14,480 ADA

Senior Product Manager and solutions architect: 20 days x 8h x $40 = $6400 -> 14,480 ADA

Senior DevOps: 20 days x 8h x $31.25 = $5000 -> 11,300 ADA

QA: 20 days x 8h x $18.75 = $3000 -> 6,780 ADA

Infrastructure for development: $500 -> 1,131 ADA

Total: 48,171 ADA

Milestone 3 (Sale phases and conditions)

Senior Software Engineer: 20 days x 8h x $40 = $6400 -> 14,480 ADA

Senior Product Manager and solutions architect: 20 days x 8h x $40 = $6400 -> 14,480 ADA

Senior DevOps: 20 days x 8h x $31.25 = $5000 -> 11,300 ADA

QA: 20 days x 8h x $18.75 = $3000 -> 6,780 ADA

Infrastructure for development: $500 -> 1,131 ADA

Total: 48,171 ADA

Milestone 4 (Payment gateway and wallet integration)

Senior Software Engineer: 20 days x 8h x $40 = $6400 -> 14,480 ADA

Senior Product Manager and solutions architect: 20 days x 8h x $40 = $6400 -> 14,480 ADA

Senior DevOps: 20 days x 8h x $31.25 = $5000 -> 11,300 ADA

QA: 20 days x 8h x $18.75 = $3000 -> 6,780 ADA

Infrastructure for development: $500 -> 1,131 ADA

Total: 48,171 ADA

Milestone 5 (Infrastructure as code ready to deploy)

Senior DevOps: 12 days x 8h x $31.25 = $3000 -> 6,700 ADA

Total Budget: 199,384 ADA

• Cardano-node
• DbSync
• Ogmios
• Redis cluster
• RedLock
• Cardano serialization library

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

The cost of the project represents value for money for the Cardano ecosystem through the following justifications:

1. Alignment with Industry Standards: The project's costs are determined based on industry standards and typical rates for professionals with the required expertise in software development, blockchain, and cloud technologies. These rates are derived from market research and industry benchmarks to ensure they are reasonable and competitive.
2. Skill and Experience: The project team comprises skilled professionals with extensive experience in their respective fields. The cost of their services reflects their expertise, qualifications, and the value they bring to the project. By investing in experienced professionals, the project aims to deliver high-quality outcomes and ensure the successful development of the open-source minting platform.
3. Development Effort: The costs associated with the project consider the substantial development effort required to build a robust and feature-rich minting platform on the Cardano blockchain. This includes the time, resources, and expertise needed to develop, test, and iterate on the platform to ensure its functionality, security, and scalability.
4. Project Complexity: The costs also consider the complexity of integrating multiple subsystems. Each of them can be useful even for existing minting providers.