Please describe your proposed solution.
Onboarding and adoption can be encouraged by utilizing a platform that Cardano users, cross-chain users, and off-chain/IRL users are already familiar with—something that is largely Web2. The Swamplands is off-chain and predominantly Web2, but has elements of Web3 mixed into it (wallet connections, cryptocurrency payment rails, NFT integration, and integration with certain dApps).
It is human nature for people to be risk-adverse and stay within their comfort zones. To bring them into the ecosystem, the Swamplands utilizes technologies that people are familiar with. This is better explained through examples and the functionality:
- Platform: Swamplands is our gamified dashboard fitted with development tools to upload applications, such as games and stores. On one hand, you have NFT staking, $C4 management, crowd-funding opportunities, and everything that “Web3” has to offer at the moment. On the other hand, it becomes a powerful tool for vendors and developers to expand their brands and businesses into untapped markets through crypto and Web3.
- Accessibility: Our dashboard has two options to log in: (a) Wallet connection (for wallets that support dApps), or (b) username and password. Users who log into their account using a dApp can also assign a username/password, as an alternative way to log in. For both cases, the dashboard generates an “internal wallet” (aka Dashboard wallet). This internal wallet can be used for all activities within the Swamplands. For example, if a user wants to play a game or purchase something on the Swamplands, they will interact with the applications using their Swamplands wallet (off-chain). If the user chooses to leave the Swamplands or withdraw funds, it will go to their connected dApp wallet (goes on-chain). New vendors and developers can start on the Swamplands immediately, but in order to withdraw funds, they will need to create a Cardano wallet and connect to the Swamplands to do so.
- Payment rails: We created uex.finance and our stablecoin, $USDC4, to interact with fiat currencies around the world. Uex.finance allows you to swap cryptocurrencies directly into Cardano Fungible Tokens. Fiat on-ramp and off-ramp is currently in the works, and expected to be live later this year, which is directed towards the off-chain audience. While all of the applications on Swamplands will run on $C4, vendors and developers can also utilize $USDC4, which is pegged 1:1 to USDC. Businesses can operate on $USDC4, which provides a sense of familiarity for cross-chain users with USDC, and for off-chain users that transact business in USD.
How does your proposed solution address the challenge and what benefits will this bring to the Cardano ecosystem?
Swamplands is our scaling solution for user acquisition, with an emphasis on B2C interactions. Swamplands is not intended to be a fully-immersive Web3 experience. The foundation is largely Web2 with some Web3 elements mixed into it, and this was done intentionally. Why? Because onboarding is easier when users use familiar software. Instead of pitching the next big shiny object, we are providing services to the equivalent of an app store. Anyone with an existing Web2 brand will be able to upload their APIs into the Swamplands without downloading a wallet, getting ADA, and/or learning the basics of Web3. Account creation on our dashboard can be done by connecting a wallet (dApp), or by creating a username/password instead. In both cases, the dashboard will automatically create an “internal dashboard wallet” for the user, which can be used to interact within the Swamplands. Adding or withdrawing funds can be done with our exchange, which is built into the Swamplands as part of the payment layer. Users who are not familiar with the basics of Web3 will be able to learn this through our system. If they like what they’ve experienced and see other opportunities, they will be able to venture out of Swamplands and explore the plethora of other projects that the ecosystem has to offer. We expect the first developers to come from the Cardano (NFT) ecosystem, since the first scaling solution for Swamplands was to unify the Cardano NFT space through the use of "Living Lands", which already provides exposure to other prominent projects/products in the ecosystem.
How do you intend to measure the success of your project?
We will be focusing on several different metrics to determine the health of the Swamplands. In no particular order:
a. Swamplands user activity;
b. Swamplands vendor/developer activity;
c. Cardano Crocs Club (CCC) social media activity (Discord, Twitter, etc);
d. Feedback from vendors, developers, and users;
e. Feedback from CCC holders;
f. Feedback from other Cardano NFT projects developing on Swamplands;
g. Feedback from other Cardano projects (non-NFT) developing on Swamplands;
h. Engagement from potential builders, clients, partners, backers/sponsors, etc.
i. CCC holder count;
j. $C4 wallet holder count;
k. Total profits/revenue generated (to determine growth and sustainability)
Most of these metrics are indicators of project growth. As these metrics rise, we will have stronger cases for marketing and expansion.
Swamplands benefits Cardano in several ways:
- The Swamplands allows over 300 different policy IDs for Cardano NFT projects to be staked and earn $C4 daily. All vendors and developers that utilize the Swamplands will already be exposed to this demographic.
- From a marketing perspective, Swamplands serves as a “proof of concept” that development on Cardano is ongoing. Swamplands is unique, since potential developers/vendors do not need extensive knowledge of Web3 and cryptocurrency coding languages to get started. Anyone familiar with traditional business models and Web2 development can engage with the Swamplands with little to no additional effort.
- As Swamplands gains traction and scales, we plan to open-source portions of our code and products, to enable other projects on Cardano to follow in our footsteps and allow them to create their own niche ecosystems. As more projects form, new brands will be made that will reach a larger audience collectively.
Please describe your plans to share the outputs and results of your project?
The outputs and results of the Swamplands will be pretty apparent, as metrics like user activity, developer/vendor activity, and notable key players (sponsors, partners, etc) will all be announced publicly. Today, you can find several members of our project on Twitter spaces, and the Discord server. There will be a heavy emphasis on socializing, networking, and building partnerships at future in-person events, both in the Web3 and IRL setting.
We have been transparent with our plans since the inception of our project, and have no plans to change this. We will be happy to answer any questions regarding our journey, the implementation of Swamplands, and technical questions pertaining to the above-referenced metrics when asked.
Swamplands will provide us with several data points, which will use to further the project. For example, the type of development occurring on Swamplands, the type of content/products that users are consuming, and general sentiment around different announcements will give us feedback on the ecosystem. These are similar metrics that we’ve used to navigate the NFT scene as well, and we strive to better each day.