Please describe your proposed solution

Overview

To onboard developers, blockchain networks must provide developers with a set of essential building blocks. We call them a “Minimum Viable Infrastructure.” Without offering essential services, the unique capabilities of the Smart Contract Pallet are not accessible to consume.

At Protofire, we specialize in removing blockers that prevent developer ecosystem organic growth. In this proposal, we will address one of these blockers: the lack of a multi-sig wallet that could be edited without changing its address, providing a smooth workflow and a desirable user experience. It is an essential tool for:

• DAOs and individuals to manage cryptocurrency assets
• Interacting with Smart Contracts in a secure manner

Even though Cardano has multi-sig solutions, like Roundtable, the UX & UI, and functionality are far from cryptocurrency standards. Without multisig wallets with an intuitive user-friendly interface, able to interact with smart contracts, with basic reporting and straightforward workflows institutional adoption is not going to be possible. This sort of tool is key for Cardano to move forward to the big leagues and compete with Ethereum L2s.

Solution

The primary purpose of the proposal is to develop a native Cardano Multisig to provide a full scope of multi-sig functionality to the process of interacting with smart contracts. Recognizing the challenges this ecosystem faces when trying to get more adoption into decentralized applications, this solution aims to:

• Enhanced security: Multi-sig wallets offer an extra layer of security by requiring multiple approvals before a transaction can be executed. This reduces the risk of unauthorized access or fraudulent activities.

• Increased control: Multi-sig wallets allow multiple parties to hold control over a single wallet. This can be useful for businesses or organizations where multiple individuals are responsible for managing funds.

• Flexibility: Multi-sig wallets can be customized to meet the needs of different users. For example, the number of signatories required to approve a transaction can be adjusted based on the user's preferences or security needs.

• Trustless transactions: Multi-sig wallets can be used to facilitate trustless transactions in decentralized applications. This means that users can execute transactions without relying on a central authority or intermediary.

Approach and Roadmap

Based on our experience, Protofire suggests implementing smart contract-based multisig on Cardano:

• Start the project with a Discovery & PoC phase to define the functional requirements and architecture and prove feasibility.
• Deliver an MVP in two releases based on the functionality of Safe and other standards, architecture, and lessons learned from previous experience.
• Audits would be by a partner third party like Anastasia, or MLabs.
• Maintenance will be funded by early supporters and crowdfunding.

Working under these guidelines will produce a more secure product that is sustainable in terms of maintenance. This approach aims to become Protofire, a long-term key builder in the Cardano space.

Discovery & Multi-sig Minimum Viable Product phase

We will initiate the project with a thorough Discovery & Proof of Concept phase. At this stage, we will delve into the existing implementations and explore how we can enhance their value. The primary objective of this phase is to create a basic smart contract that can interact with other contracts on behalf of the owners. During this phase, we expect to detect potential challenges. However, we are confident that our experienced team will be able to find the best strategies to overcome them, which can only be fully understood when the project has been initiated.

By undertaking this approach, we aim to gain a comprehensive understanding of the current landscape and identify the areas where we can introduce innovative solutions. This will facilitate the development of a robust and effective smart contract that can fulfill the project's requirements.

One of the major limitations we highlighted in the proposal is the inability to add or remove owners of the multi-sig wallet once it is created. To address this, our design will incorporate methods in the smart contract that allow this flexibility.

Based on these findings we will develop a PoC set of smart contracts to deploy an MVP version on testnet.

After that, we will conduct an Incentivized Testnet Campaign to gain feedback from the Cardano community.

Future Plans

As a next step, we will combine the insights gained from our research with our experience in implementing multi-sig solutions in EVM environments. Drawing on our expertise in multi-sig architecture and lessons learned from building on top of Safe, we aim to develop an MVP that not only incorporates multi-sig logic in an ink! smart contract, but also provides an exceptional user experience through a well-designed user interface.

In considering the requirements of large multi-sig contracts, we will also evaluate the need for a backend that reduces transaction costs and improves user interactions. Through this approach, we are confident that we can develop a robust, user-friendly multi-sig solution that meets the project's goals and provides value to its users.

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

In the ever-evolving landscape of cryptocurrency, security stands as a paramount concern. The rise of digital assets has given rise to a corresponding increase in cyber threats, making it imperative for individuals and organizations to safeguard their digital wealth. One potent tool in the arsenal of crypto security is the Multi-Signature Wallet.

This kind of solution brings more institutional adoption providing enhanced security, protection from human error & secure custody of digital assets. These three features are key to wider non-individual adoption.

Enhanced Security

Collaboration forms the bedrock of the multi-signature wallet's power. By requiring multiple parties to validate a transaction, these wallets significantly diminish the risk of unauthorized access or fraudulent activities. Even if one of the authorized parties' private keys were to be compromised, the malevolent actor would still need access to the other authorized keys to execute a transaction. This presents a formidable barrier against malicious activity.

Protection from Human Error

Cryptocurrency transactions are often irreversible, with funds lost once they are sent. Multi-signature wallets act as a safeguard against the fallibility of human error. For example, in a scenario where a team of developers manages a project's wallet, the risk of a single team member making an inadvertent mistake is substantially mitigated. This is because other team members must also sign off on transactions, adding an additional layer of verification and oversight.

Secure Custody Solutions

Multi-signature wallets hold particular significance for cryptocurrency custodians and institutions responsible for managing large sums of digital assets on behalf of clients. By employing multi-signature wallets, these custodians can guarantee that no single rogue employee or external attacker can compromise the wallet's security. This assurance is crucial for maintaining the trust of clients and adhering to regulatory standards.

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?

Our capability to deliver the project with high levels of trust and accountability stems from the experience, expertise, and organizational processes we have in place.

Here's why we are well-suited to execute this project:

• Protofire's Track Record: Protofire has an established reputation for building decentralized infrastructure, protocols, applications, and developer platforms. Its specialized skills in enhancing developer adoption and network usage are crucial for the success of this project.
• Multi-sig Developer experience: Protofire has extensive experience in implementing & developing Multisig wallets in several environments. We have experience in implementing Safe Multisig on more than 20 EVM-chains and we have developed from scratch XSigner, a native Polkadot multi-sig, and Ignited a Fuel multisig. In both cases, networks are non-EVM-compatible.
• Cardano Development experience: we have a team that has worked for more than a year in Cardano smart-contract development. We work on MAYZ Protocol, and Rats Staking Portal, and currently working on Developer Studio & UTXO DB abstraction.
• Skilled Team: Our team is composed of professionals with diverse backgrounds, including blockchain development, smart contracts, security, data analytics, and project management. This ensures a multidisciplinary approach to problem-solving and guarantees the employment of best practices in execution.
• Previous Contributions: Protofire has a history of making meaningful contributions to the blockchain community. This indicates not only technical capabilities but also a commitment to the advancement of decentralized technologies.
• Transparent Communication: We will maintain open lines of communication with the community through regular updates and engaging in forums. This transparency is essential for building trust.
• Robust Financial Management: We will implement strict financial controls and regular auditing to ensure that funds are used efficiently and for the intended purpose. This includes having a clear budget allocation, milestones-based disbursements, and financial reporting.
• Scalable Solutions: Protofire’s experience ensures that the solutions we develop are scalable and able to adapt to the evolving needs of the Cardano ecosystem. This speaks to our capability to deliver not just a project, but a sustainable and evolving solution

Our accumulated experience, transparency, and commitment to best practices and community engagement make us not only capable but trustworthy stewards of this project.

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

Milestone 1: Milestone 1: Planning and Design

Duration: 4 weeks

Tasks:

Existing solutions analysis

• We understand that there are existing solutions in the market that may suffer from various errors or usability challenges. Our approach involves thoroughly examining these existing options to gain insights into their limitations and shortcomings. By doing so, we aim to identify key areas for improvement, allowing us to design solutions that are not only more reliable but also user-friendly. This process will ensure that we are able to deliver a superior product that better meets the needs of our users.

Architectural Planning:

• Evaluate different architectural patterns and technologies suitable for implementing multi-signature functionality on Cardano.
• Define the overall architecture for the multi-signature solution, including smart contract deployment, front-end interface, and backend infrastructure.

Technology Selection:

• Research and select appropriate technologies for developing the multi-signature smart contracts, user interface, and backend systems.
• Determine the programming languages, frameworks, and tools to be used for each component of the solution.

Deliverable:

• Analysis documentation.
• Tech stack documentation and justification.
• Backend decision document and justification.

Success Criteria:

• Analysis of existing solutions documentation, describing weaknesses and strengths.
• Architecture and technology stack documented and approved.
• Database schema designed and implemented, supporting the required data structure for the multi-signature solution.

Milestone 2: Milestone 2: Smart Contract Development

Duration: 8 weeks

Tasks:

Smart Contract Architecture:

Design the architecture and logic for the multi-signature smart contracts, including key management, transaction authorization, and threshold enforcement.

Plutus Implementation:

Implement multi-signature wallet creation, transaction proposal, confirmation, and execution functionalities within the smart contracts.

Testing and Validation:

Conduct comprehensive testing of the smart contracts to ensure correctness, security, and compliance with functional requirements.

Validate the smart contracts against various use cases and scenarios, including edge cases and potential vulnerabilities.

Documentation:

Document the smart contract architecture, codebase, and usage guidelines for developers and users.

Prepare tutorials and educational resources to facilitate understanding and adoption of the multi-signature smart contracts.

Deliverable:

• Repository containing multi-signature smart contract containing the following functionalities:
• Add/remove owner
• Change threshold
• Propose transaction
• Test implementation
• Contract interface documentation including compromises and description of the interface and return types.

Success Criteria:

• Multi-signature smart contracts developed and deployed on Cardano Testnet.
• Smart contracts tested rigorously, with all critical functionalities functioning as intended.
• Comprehensive documentation and educational materials prepared for developers and users.

Milestone 3: Milestone 3: Front-End Development

Duration: 8 weeks

Tasks:

UI/UX Design:

• Design the user interface for the multi-signature wallet application, focusing on usability, accessibility, and intuitive interaction.
• Develop wireframes, mockups, and prototypes to visualize the user interface design and gather feedback from stakeholders.

Front-End Implementation:

• Implement the front-end components of the multi-signature wallet application using appropriate web technologies, such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
• Integrate the front-end with the Cardano blockchain and smart contracts to enable seamless interaction with the multi-signature functionalities.

User Testing:

• Conduct user testing sessions to gather feedback on the usability, functionality, and overall user experience of the multi-signature wallet application.
• Iteratively refine and improve the front-end based on user feedback and usability testing results.

Accessibility and Cross-Platform Compatibility:

• Ensure that the multi-signature wallet application is accessible to users with disabilities and compatible with various devices, browsers, and operating systems.
• Perform compatibility testing across different platforms to identify and address any compatibility issues or discrepancies.

Success Criteria:

• User interface design finalized and approved by stakeholders.
• Front-end components developed and integrated with Cardano blockchain and smart contracts.
• Multi-signature wallet application tested extensively for usability, accessibility, and cross-platform compatibility.

Deliverable:

• Repository containing user interface supporting all contract interactions
• Test implementation

Milestone 4: Milestone 4: Integration SC & Front-End Deployment

Duration: 8 weeks

Tasks:

Integration and Deployment:

• Integrate the completed components: smart contracts, front-end applications, and backend systems(if needed) into a cohesive MVP version of the multi-signature solution.
• Test
• Deploy the MVP in a local environment.

Documentation and Launch Preparation:

• Finalize documentation, user guides, and release notes for the MVP version of the multi-signature solution.
• Prepare for the official testnet launch, including marketing, communication, and community engagement activities.

Success Criteria:

• A local version of the multi-signature solution deployed.

Deliverable:

• Repository containing user interface supporting all contract interactions.
• Repository containing contracts
• Repository containing backend implementation (if needed)
• Tested implementation and integration
• Testnet deployment of the solution accessible for anyone via web

Milestone 5: Milestone 5: Testnet MVP Deployment

Duration: 4 weeks

Deployment:

• Deploy the PoC on the Cardano Preview Testnet for public testing and feedback gathering.

Success Criteria:

• MVP version of the multi-signature solution optimized, documented, and ready for official launch.

Deliverable:

• MVP version available in testnet preview.

Final Milestone: Final Milestone: Incentivized Testnet Campaign

Duration: 6 weeks

Beta Testing:

Invite beta testers from the Cardano community to use the MVP and provide feedback on its functionality, usability, and performance.

Collect and analyze feedback to identify areas for improvement and prioritize future development efforts.

Bug Fixing and Optimization:

Address any issues or bugs identified during beta testing, ensuring the stability, security, and reliability of the MVP.

Optimize the performance of the multi-signature solution, addressing any bottlenecks or inefficiencies to enhance user experience.

Sucess Criteria

• Beta testing feedback collected and analyzed, with actionable insights for future iterations.

Deliverables

• Testing form to provide feedback integrated with the deployed solution
• Document containing feedback obtained from users

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

Protofire Experience

Protofire stands at the forefront of the Web3 revolution, offering a comprehensive range of services to empower and catalyze the growth of decentralized technologies. With our deep-rooted expertise and vast experience, we have established ourselves as a trusted partner for clients seeking to harness the full potential of blockchain and Web3 applications. From smart contract development and decentralized app creation to developer tools, integrations, DevOps, wallets, and TVL solutions, our team of blockchain mavericks has collaborated with prominent projects and platforms, such as Gnosis Safe Wallet, Chainlink, The Graph, Filecoin, MakerDAO, Fuse, CowSwap, and many others. We are committed to bringing your visionary ideas to life, combining technical prowess with effective project management to drive the success of your Web3 endeavors

Diego Torres Project Management

<https://www.linkedin.com/in/diego-torres-borda-94b70912/>

In 2018, I stumbled upon Bitcoin's White Paper, and it was love at first sight. Since then, I've immersed myself in the world of blockchain and studied numerous other protocols, from Ethereum to third-generation blockchains. To me, a decentralized protocol is more than just a buzzword - it's a community-driven decision-making organization with open and public records, enforced by consensus protocols that ensure permissionless access and censorship resistance.

Web3 Experience

• Protofire FCTO: Business Development. Education. Team Leadership.
• The Graph: Indexing Operation Leadership. Subgraph development. Hosted services to third parties.
• Polkadot Ecosystem: Contract Wizard &amp; Multisg development. Infrastructure as a service to Parachains.
• Cardano Ecosystem: RastDAO Founder, Core team at Mayz &amp; Cardano Ambassador.

Manuel Padilla Lead Software Engineer &amp; Blockchain Specialist

<https://www.linkedin.com/in/manuel-ale-padilla/>

Manuel Padilla is a versatile and highly motivated software engineer with a Bachelor's degree in Technology from the National Technological University. Having a plethora of programming languages under their belt, including but not limited to SQL, Basic, C, C++, VB, .NET, Java, JavaScript, TypeScript, Python, and Haskell, Manuel Padilla brings over 13 years of experience in web development and software engineering.

Web3 Experience:

• Protofire (April 2023 - Present): Currently working as a Software Engineer, focusing on blockchain technologies including Cardano, Plutus, DeFi, and DApps.
• MAYZ Protocol (October 2022 - Present): Involved in full-stack blockchain development, specializing in Cardano, Plutus, and Haskell.
• RATS DAO (January 2022 - Present): Serving as a Web Developer, DApp Developer, and Blockchain Developer, primarily focusing on Cardano, Plutus, and Haskell.

dApps:

• https://aldea-nft-marketplace.vercel.app/
• https://staking.ratsdao.io/

GitHub: https://github.com/manupadillaph/

Camila Mancusi QA Engineer

<https://www.linkedin.com/in/camilamancusi/>

Camila wants to participate improving the user experience and usability in the web3 applications to make this world more friendly and accesible to everyone. She wants to be involved in making possible that using web3 functionalities is as simple and usual as those focused on web2

Web3 Experience:

• Protofire: QA &amp; Project Management
• SimpleState: Design test cases. Participate in the definition of features. Design scenarios and test cases.Report errors, propose solutions and validate the correction. Ensuring that the product is ready for the customer
• UNICEF: Design test cases. Participate in the definition of features. Creates test executions. Reports bugs / issues. Monitor bug priorities.

Gabriel Gonzales Full Stack Developer

<https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabriel-nicolas-gonzalez/>

Highly skilled and knowledgeable individual in web3 and blockchain technology, with a deep understanding of web3 technologies and decentralized application development. Also a Professor at Universidad de Palermo, teaching how to participate and contribute to web3.

Web3 Experience:

• Protofire: Full Stack Developer
• The Graph
• Swarm protocol
• Cow Swap
• Contract Wizard (Polkadot)
• Multisig wallet built-in ink!

Agustin Longoni Frontend Developer &amp; UX/UI Designer

https://www.linkedin.com/in/agustinlongoni/

Web3 Experience:

• Badget DAO
• Cow Swap
• Gnosis
• Safe Wallet
• XSigner Multi-sig
• Ignited Multi-sig

Braian Leiva DevOps

<https://www.linkedin.com/in/braian-leiva/>

Fan of blockchain and decentralized systems. Infrastructure automation lover.

Experience:

• 15+ years of experience using Linux (Debian, Centos, Arch Linux, Red Hat, OpenSUSE, Fedora, Ubuntu, etc).
• 7+ years designing, maintaining and improving all size of application Infrastructure as System Engineer and now as Cloud Engineer.
• 4+ years using AWS. I'm Amazon Solutions Architect working on infrastructure automation using tools like Terraform, Cloudformation, Sam, Serverless, Fargate, CodePipeline, Docker, Python.
• Currently working as DevOps/Cloud Engineer
• Also studying and learning Data Science and Machine Learning. He've got AWS Certified Machine Learning - Specialty (MLS)

Please provide a cost breakdown of the proposed work and resources

Break down by Milestones &amp; Roles

Roles needed

Role Name: Project Manager

• Hourly Rate (ADA/h): 67
• Description: The Project Manager will oversee the planning, execution, and delivery of the project. They will coordinate the activities of the development team, ensure project milestones are met, and manage communication with Project Catalyst Fundation. He will be responsible for defining the project scope, formulating the detailed project plan, assigning resources, monitoring progress, conducting team meetings, implementing quality assurance processes, and adapting the project plan based on feedback and changing requirements.

Role Name: Technical Architect

• Hourly Rate (ADA/h): 80
• Description: He will lead the process of determining the most suitable architecture and technology stack for the website, database, and REST API. He will also contribute to the design and implementation of the authentication system and collaborate on database design.

Role Name: Blockchain Developer

• Hourly Rate (ADA/h): 93
• Description: The Blockchain Developer specializes in developing applications and solutions using blockchain technology. He will collaborate with the Full Stack Developer. He will also play a role in designing and implementing features related to token and minting policies information retrieval and AI analysis.

Role Name: Full Stack Developer

• Hourly Rate (ADA/h): 93
• Description: The Full Stack Developer is skilled in both front-end and back-end development. He will collaborate with the Technical Architect and Blockchain Developer to implement the authentication system, user management, and database design. They will also be responsible for developing the REST API, designing and implementing the UI/UX, and integrating the UI with the REST API.

Role Name: DevOps Engineer

Hourly Rate (ADA/h): 80

• Description: The DevOps Engineer focuses on the deployment, automation, and maintenance of the project's infrastructure. He will work closely with the development team to ensure smooth operations, scalability, and continuous integration/continuous deployment (CI/CD) processes. They will be responsible for setting up and managing the development, staging, and production environments and ensuring the availability and reliability of the platform.

Role Name: UI/UX Designer

• Hourly Rate (ADA/h): 67
• Description: The UI/UX Designer focuses on creating visually appealing and user-friendly interfaces for the project. He will conduct user research, design wireframes and mockups, and collaborate with the development team to ensure a seamless user experience.

Role Name: Marketing and Community Manager

• Hourly Rate (ADA/h): 67
• Description: The Marketing and Community Manager is responsible for promoting the project, managing social media channels, and engaging with the project's community.

Role Name: Quality Assurance Specialist

• Hourly Rate (ADA/h): 67
• Description: He will contribute to the testing efforts of each milestone, ensuring the proper functioning of the platform, REST API, and user interfaces. They will work closely with the development team to ensure a high level of software quality.

Milestone 1: Plan and Design

• Project Manager: 20h * 67 ADA = 1,333 ADA
• Technical Architect: 90h * 80 ADA = 7,200 ADA
• Blockchain Developer: 60h * 93 ADA = 5,600 ADA
• Full Stack Engineer: 30h * 80 ADA = 2,400 ADA

Subtotal: 17,200 ADA

Milestone 2: Smart Contract Development

• Project Manager: 40h * 67 ADA = 2,680 ADA
• Blockchain Developer: 320h * 93 ADA = 29,760 ADA
• Full Stack Developer: 100h * 93 ADA = 9,300 ADA

Subtotal: 41,740 ADA

Milestone 3: Front End Development

1. Project Manager: 40h * 67 ADA = 2,860 ADA
2. UX /UI Design: 160h * 67 ADA = 10,720 ADA
3. Full Stack Developer: 240h * 93 ADA = 22,320 ADA
4. Blockchain Developer: 100h * 93 ADA = 9,300 ADA

Subtotal: 45,020 ADA

Milestone 4: Integration SC &amp; Front-End Deployment

• Project Manager: 40h * 67 ADA = 2,680 ADA
• Full Stack Developer: 240h * 93 ADA = 22,320 ADA
• Blockchain Developer: 200h * 93 ADA = 18,600 ADA
• Quality Assurance Specialist: 80h * 67 ADA = 5,360 ADA

Subtotal: 48,960 ADA

Milestone 5: Testnet MVP Deployment

• Project Manager: 40h * 67 ADA = 2,680 ADA
• Full Stack Developer: 160h * 93 ADA = 14,880 ADA
• Blockchain Developer: 160h * 93 ADA = 14,880 ADA
• Marketing and Community Manager: 40h * 67 ADA = 2,680 ADA
• Quality Assurance Specialist: 160h * 67 ADA = 10,720 ADA

Subtotal: 45,840 ADA

Final Milestone: Incentivized Testnet Campaign

• Project Manager: 20h * 67 ADA = 1,340 ADA
• Marketing and Community Manager: 40h * 67 ADA = 2,680 ADA
• Full Stack Developer: 20h * 93 ADA = 1,860 ADA
• Blockchain Developer: 20h * 93 ADA = 1,860 ADA

Subtotal: 7,740 ADA

Other Expenses:

• Cloud Infrastructure: 5,000 ADA
• Reward for Incentivized Campaign: 15,000 ADA
• DevOps Services: 2,500 ADA
• Marketing: 15,000 ADA

Overall Total: 244,000 ADA

No dependencies

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

We, at Protofire, are thrilled to submit our proposal for the Catalyst Grant Program, highlighting our strong determination to enter in Cardano ecosystem as +80 Engineer Company.

In this proposal, we will outline our approach, emphasizing the importance of quality, adherence to timelines and milestone-based projects, and our proven track record in diverse markets.

While profitability is undoubtedly a critical aspect of any project, we recognize that onboarding Cardano requires a long-term vision that extends beyond immediate financial gains. We understand that investing in this new technology may initially result in costs that surpass our break-even point.

However, we firmly believe that by strategically positioning ourselves within this ecosystem, we will eventually become a main character that can drive and produce great value for everyone.

So for Cardano, this proposal represents a world-class team working on an open-source tool for half the cost. It's definitely a good deal!

The cost of the project represents value for money for the Cardano ecosystem in several ways:

1. Innovation and Scalability: The project focuses on enhancing the capabilities of organizations to use the Cardano blockchain as a business as usual.
2. Integration with Wallets and Blockchain Explorers: To maximize the impact, we aim to integrate our system with existing wallets and blockchain explorers in the Cardano ecosystem.
3. Enhance Security and Trust in the Cardano Ecosystem: By increasing security, we aim to build a more secure environment within the Cardano ecosystem where users can make informed decisions.
4. Expand Developer Adoption: By providing tools that make secure &amp; compliance transactions more accessible, we hope to lower the barriers to entry for new users and organizations.