Cardano QuestHub is a decentralized platform designed to transform how individuals contribute, learn, and earn within the Cardano ecosystem. It creates a unified environment where community members, regardless of background or location, can participate in structured quests - ranging from skill-based learning modules to micro-task contributions - and be rewarded with native Cardano assets and soulbound tokens (SBTs). The platform bridges the current gap between valuable community contributions and formal recognition or compensation, while leveraging the unique capabilities of Cardano's smart contracts and token standards.

At its core, Cardano QuestHub introduces a contribution economy powered by smart contracts. Contributors complete educational quests (such as tutorials, quizzes, coding challenges, or ecosystem onboarding) and task-based quests (like UI testing, content writing, translations, or bug reporting). Technical contributions to ecosystem tasks or open Cardano projects can also be attached and, if approved, grant higher reputation scores and visibility. Each completed quest is verified by the system or community governance, and rewards are distributed through native token payouts or issuance of non-transferable SBTs that serve as on-chain credentials.

QuestHub directly addresses a long-standing need in the Cardano ecosystem: a decentralized infrastructure for fair, transparent, and trackable contribution. Currently, many valuable activities in the community happen informally - volunteers write content, moderate forums, translate documentation, or support user onboarding - but these contributions are scattered, unrecognized, and often uncompensated. This leads to friction for new contributors, undervalued work, and missed opportunities for long-term community growth. QuestHub solves this by formalizing contribution pathways, creating reliable incentives, and offering a decentralized ledger of trust and effort.

One of the key innovations of the platform is its use of programmable assets to reward contributors. Through soulbound tokens, users can build an on-chain portfolio of achievements and skills. These SBTs act as non-transferable badges that demonstrate verified experience, educational progress, or trust earned within specific communities or projects. Whether someone completes an introductory course on Cardano governance or translates a Catalyst proposal, their effort can now be permanently recorded, validated, and displayed. This opens the door for verifiable Web3 resumes, talent matching, and advanced DAO participation based on proven engagement.

Cardano QuestHub also supports native token rewards, enabling projects and DAOs to fund quests using their own tokens or ADA. A smart contract escrow system ensures that contributors are paid fairly once tasks are verified, either through automated logic or community moderation. This decentralized payment mechanism promotes transparency and minimizes the risk of exploitation or unfulfilled work.

Project owners, open source teams, and companies can create verified profiles on QuestHub, deposit tokens into a smart contract escrow, and publish tasks or contribution campaigns to the community. Each campaign includes task descriptions, timelines, and contribution parameters. Tasks can be validated either manually by project moderators or automatically, depending on the task type, role requirements, and contributor reputation. The distribution of rewards is customizable: project owners can choose automatic payout upon task approval or define a general deadline for batch distribution. They also decide how rewards are calculated, whether as a fixed score per task or a shared pool where tokens are divided proportionally based on contribution quality. Once the allocated tokens are fully matched by approved contributions, the campaign concludes and funds are distributed accordingly.

The platform is designed to be accessible to everyone, regardless of geographical location, technical background, or device capability. With multilingual quest support, a mobile-first user interface, and integration with lightweight Cardano wallets, QuestHub ensures that anyone with an internet connection can participate. It opens the door for global inclusion by offering skill-building and earning opportunities not only for developers, but also for creatives, translators, educators, and ecosystem advocates who are eager to contribute and grow within the Cardano network.

From an educational perspective, QuestHub enhances onboarding and knowledge retention by turning learning into an interactive, rewarding process. Instead of passively reading documentation, users engage in hands-on experiences that lead to actual rewards and recognition. The gamified quest format motivates continuous participation while reinforcing core Cardano values such as decentralization, sustainability, and collaboration.

Developers, projects, and DAOs also benefit from the platform by gaining access to an engaged contributor base. Whether a project needs documentation reviewed, a UI tested, or new ideas collected from the community, they can create quests and pay for verified results. This supports rapid iteration, decentralizes labor, and builds stronger feedback loops between builders and users.

For Cardano governance, QuestHub offers long-term utility by linking on-chain reputation to governance mechanisms. DReps and treasury voters can reference contributor history when selecting delegates or assessing grant proposals. Over time, this can lead to more meritocratic governance based on proven value rather than popularity or visibility alone.

Cardano QuestHub is built using Cardano-native technologies including Plutus smart contracts, the native asset framework, metadata standards, and potential integration with Mithril and Hydra for scalability. The platform follows open-source principles and will publish all code and standards for public review and reuse. By doing so, it becomes not just a product, but a foundational layer for decentralized work and reputation within the Cardano ecosystem.

How It Will Work Technically: The technical architecture of Cardano QuestHub is composed of four main layers: the frontend interface, the backend logic, the smart contract layer, and the DAO governance mechanism. The frontend will be a progressive web app built using a modern framework like React or Svelte, connected to Cardano wallets such as Lace or Eternl via CIP-30 wallet integration. Users can browse quests, view their profile, submit task evidence, and claim rewards.

The backend will handle off-chain logic such as quest listing, status updates, submission validation, and user progress tracking. It will interact with Cardano’s blockchain through the Blockfrost API or a dedicated local node for efficiency and reliability. The backend also handles metadata indexing for SBTs and native token transactions.

The smart contract layer, written in Plutus, will manage reward logic, escrow contracts, and the minting of soulbound tokens. When a quest is completed and verified, the smart contract will release ADA or a specified native token to the contributor’s address. For skill-based quests, a corresponding SBT will be minted and permanently assigned to the contributor’s wallet. These contracts will include security checks, time-based validation windows, and community moderation hooks to prevent abuse.

The QuestBoard DAO will run on a governance module that enables token-based or SBT-based voting on proposals. This module will allow users to vote on featured quests, validate or reject contributions, and participate in shaping QuestHub’s rules and reward formulas. DAO operations will be executed using multisig accounts and, in later stages, through full on-chain governance using Cardano’s evolving governance framework.

In conclusion, Cardano QuestHub brings together decentralized task coordination, skill-building, and tokenized recognition into a single platform. It provides clear value to contributors, learners, builders, and governance participants alike, creating a dynamic and inclusive engine for ecosystem growth. Through this proposal, we aim to activate a new wave of participation where anyone, anywhere, can earn, learn, and be recognized for their efforts, securely and transparently, on Cardano.

Despite Cardano’s technical maturity and vibrant global community, the ecosystem currently lacks a structured, decentralized system for recognizing, incentivizing, and verifying small-scale contributions and skill development. Individuals who create value through micro-tasks such as writing tutorials, translating content, testing dApps, designing visuals, or engaging in community moderation have no standardized way to gain on-chain recognition or earn token-based rewards for their work. These valuable contributions are often scattered across informal channels like Telegram, Discord, or forums, where they are difficult to verify, coordinate, and fairly compensate. The absence of a transparent and verifiable reward system discourages meaningful grassroots participation, especially among underrepresented groups and regions where earning opportunities are limited. Moreover, newcomers and learners interested in Cardano face significant friction in navigating the ecosystem, acquiring practical skills, and understanding how to participate in a meaningful way. Without an integrated platform that connects learning, contribution, and compensation, Cardano misses a major opportunity to activate and retain a broader, more diverse contributor base. Additionally, the current ecosystem underutilizes the potential of programmable assets and soulbound tokens (SBTs) for building decentralized reputation systems, task verification mechanisms, and learning records, all of which are essential for a scalable, inclusive, and decentralized participation layer. QuestHub seeks to directly address this gap by providing a smart contract-powered platform where users can learn, contribute, and earn while building a verifiable on-chain reputation that reflects their real impact within the Cardano ecosystem.

Cardano QuestHub offers a transformative solution that directly addresses the current lack of structured contribution and learning pathways within the Cardano ecosystem. By combining skill development, community participation, and programmable rewards, the platform introduces a new model for inclusive ecosystem growth. One of the most immediate benefits is the creation of an on-chain contribution economy, where every completed task or validated skill results in a provable digital outcome, either through the minting of a soulbound token (SBT) or direct token reward. This ensures that users who invest time and effort into building Cardano are fairly compensated and recognized.

Furthermore, the project will lower the barrier to entry for new participants, especially from emerging regions where access to traditional education or technical onboarding is limited. By providing structured, incentivized quests such as tutorials, challenge-based learning, and community micro-tasks, QuestHub enables anyone to gradually build up real blockchain literacy while earning in parallel. This approach naturally supports Cardano’s mission of global inclusion by creating accessible and equitable pathways into Web3 contribution.

Another core benefit of QuestHub is the introduction of verifiable on-chain reputation. Through the use of soulbound tokens, contributors accumulate a trackable history of completed missions, validated skills, and community impact. These records can serve as credentials for future project teams, DAOs, or employers in the ecosystem, effectively turning Cardano into a proving ground for Web3 talent. This has long-term implications for employment, grants, and governance.

From a governance and ecosystem perspective, QuestHub supports decentralized validation and funding mechanisms through its DAO-based QuestBoard. This enables the community to propose and approve quests, allocate micro-grants, resolve disputes, and even guide ecosystem priorities by spotlighting high-impact tasks. It empowers DReps, SPOs, and Catalyst-funded projects to directly engage the wider community by posting tasks and rewarding real value, thereby improving transparency and accountability in the use of treasury funds.

Finally, QuestHub helps showcase the practical power of programmable assets and smart contracts on Cardano. The platform becomes a real-world demonstration of what is possible with native tokens, automation, and on-chain logic. It not only encourages adoption of Cardano’s technical features but also sets a precedent for future open-source contribution layers and decentralized work platforms on the blockchain.

Key Proposal Deliverable(s) and Definition of Done:

This proposal is structured in two phases, with this funding tranche focused on delivering Phase 1. The objective of Phase 1 is to build a robust, functional MVP of Cardano QuestHub that includes all essential components for decentralized contribution, task publishing, reputation tracking, and reward distribution.

At the end of Phase 1, the Cardano community will receive:

• A live platform accessible via web interface.
• A set of tested smart contracts deployed on Cardano mainnet.
• The ability for projects to publish quests, lock funds, and configure reward logic.
• Contributor onboarding with profiles, SBT issuance, and submission tracking.
• Full open-source access to the codebase and documentation.

Phase 1 – Milestones:

-> Milestone 1: Smart Contract Architecture (Reward, Escrow, SBT Minting) To be done: Design and develop Plutus smart contracts that handle quest creation, reward distribution (escrow), and soulbound token (SBT) minting. Internal testing and testnet simulation will be executed before final deployment to Cardano mainnet.

Definition of Done: Smart contracts are deployed and functional on mainnet, with validation, reward logic, and SBT issuance working as intended.

-> Milestone 2: Frontend Platform MVP (UI/UX + Wallet Integration) To be done: Build a web-based user interface that enables task browsing, profile creation, submission tracking, and wallet connectivity (CIP-30 standard). UI/UX optimized for accessibility.

Definition of Done: Fully functional frontend integrated with Lace or Eternl wallet, enabling real-time interactions with smart contracts.

-> Milestone 3: Quest Creation & Contribution Flow To be done: Develop workflows for project owners to create quests, set reward mechanisms, and assign validation methods (manual or automatic). Contributors must be able to claim, work on, and submit quests.

Definition of Done: Live environment where quests can be created, claimed, submitted, and tracked from both project owner and contributor sides.

-> Milestone 4: Reputation & SBT System To be done: Implement logic to mint SBTs based on validated contributions, assign reputation scores, and reflect those in contributor profiles. Support for both task-based and project-level recognition.

Definition of Done: SBTs are automatically issued on contribution approval and tied to the contributor's wallet address. Public profiles display updated reputation.

-> Milestone 5: Community Onboarding & Test Campaign To be done: Launch a public onboarding campaign, with guides and multilingual support, inviting early adopters to test the platform, complete tasks, and give feedback.

Definition of Done: Minimum 100 users onboarded. At least one public campaign launched with completed tasks, reward distributions, and collected community feedback.

Target State for Phase 1: A publicly accessible MVP that allows real users to participate in quests, earn rewards, build on-chain reputation, and help shape the early governance of the platform. This phase lays the technical and community foundation for full-scale deployment in Phase 2.

Milestone 1: Smart Contract Architecture (Reward, Escrow, SBT Minting) Covers Plutus smart contract architecture, development, and testing for task rewards, escrow, and SBT issuance. Includes design, docs, admin setup, and testnet simulation. • 2 Plutus developers • Security lead: 40 hrs • Testnet infra (scripts, logs) • Admin overhead Estimated Total: 26,200 USD / 36,798 ADA

Milestone 2: Frontend Platform MVP (UI/UX + Wallet Integration) Delivers QuestHub UI with views for contributors and owners. Includes CIP-30 wallet integration (Lace, Eternl), responsive design, and accessibility. • 2 Frontend devs • UI/UX designer • QA tester • Smart contract integration • Hosting setup Estimated Total: 19,050 USD / 26,753 ADA

Milestone 3: Quest Creation & Contribution Flow Implements quest publishing, contribution criteria, and submission logic. Covers backend management, validation, and smart contract integration. • Backend dev • Full-stack dev • Validation handler • Dashboard elements • Review process Estimated Total: 28,450 USD / 39,952 ADA

Milestone 4: Reputation & SBT System Delivers SBT-powered profile system with reputation scores, metadata, and issuance logic. Includes profile display and documentation. • SBT designer • Smart contract dev • Dashboard dev • QA for SBTs • Scoring docs Estimated Total: 26,950 USD / 37,843 ADA

Milestone 5: Community Onboarding & Test Campaign Launches live campaigns with onboarding, multilingual UI, feedback, and rewards. Includes docs, bug fixes, and 1-yr hosting. • Community manager • Technical writer • Reward ops team • 1-yr hosting • Marketing materials Estimated Total: 78,900 USD / 110,674 ADA

Total Project Cost: 180,000 USD / 252,809 ADA

Full budget details: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1DTa3hq_KW7HS7CfPra3cUBjT56B7NnU60Ljc3LtJWXA/edit?usp=sharing

To deliver the Key Proposal Deliverables outlined in Phase 1, we estimate a development and execution period of 9 to 12 months, with a multi-disciplinary team covering technical, design, governance, and administrative needs.

Estimated Team Composition:

Technical Team: • 2 Plutus Smart Contract Developers – design, test, and deploy contracts for reward logic, SBT minting, and escrow mechanisms • 2 Frontend Developers – build the user interface, integrate CIP-30 wallets (Lace, Eternl), and ensure responsiveness • 1 Backend Developer – manage APIs, Cardano node access (Blockfrost or Ogmios), off-chain logic, and performance • 1 DAO/Governance Developer – implement proposal submission, voting systems, and multisig coordination

Design & UX: • 1 UI/UX Designer – create wireframes, user flows, and ensure multilingual and accessibility standards are met

Operations & Administration: • 1 Project Manager – coordinate timelines, team workflows, QA milestones, and reporting • 1 DevOps Engineer – manage infrastructure, deployment pipelines, and smart contract integration with frontend/backend layers • 1 COO / Administrative Lead – oversee platform compliance, budgeting, partner relations, and long-term operations • 1 QA Tester – ensure platform quality, identify bugs, and verify milestone readiness

Community & Communication: • 1 Community Manager / Campaign Lead – coordinate onboarding campaigns, user support, and feedback loops • 1 Content/Documentation Specialist – maintain user guides, technical documentation, and platform tutorials

Estimated Total Resourcing: 10 to 13 team members over a 9 to 12-month period

Experience: Our team brings a solid track record of building, deploying, and maintaining real-world blockchain and web applications. As a registered company since 2019, we operate under the brand Uptodate Developers, with a focus on Web3 infrastructure, developer tools, community platforms, and open-source innovation. We have successfully delivered and maintained over 14 production-level projects, backed by a team of 19 active developers across smart contracts, full-stack web development, UI/UX design, and DevOps.

We have full ownership and ongoing development responsibility over the following platforms:

1.	Adaex.app

A decentralized fiat-to-crypto platform designed to simplify ADA acquisition in emerging markets. It includes on-chain escrow logic, mobile money integrations, and a P2P exchange model, fully deployed and used by hundreds of users. Adaex represents our deep experience in building real-world Cardano dApps with smart contract integration, wallet connectivity, and user-facing dashboards.

2.	DevCommunity.io

A talent and certification platform for developers and designers in Web3. It features user profiles, skill tracking, certification exams, job/project listings, and a reputation system. With over 2,000 users and thousands of monthly visits, this platform demonstrates our ability to handle scalable infrastructure, user data management, and incentive-driven ecosystems.

3.	UptodateDevelopers.com

Our parent company and tech studio, which has supported blockchain and non-blockchain clients in Africa, Europe, and Canada. Through this brand, we provide consulting, UI/UX, full-stack development, and smart contract solutions. We’ve built multiple platforms from ideation to deployment across education, DeFi, logistics, and civic engagement.

In addition to platform development, we have organized and led over 22 Cardano-focused meetups, hackathons, and code challenges, empowering thousands of participants across Africa. These community initiatives have reinforced our deep involvement in the Cardano ecosystem, from grassroots engagement to protocol-level education.

Our team is fully equipped to deliver the Cardano QuestHub project with both technical execution and community integration, based on our proven capabilities in smart contract development, DAO tooling, task-driven platforms, and scalable web applications.

Cardano QuestHub will be maintained as an open-source project, with its codebase available publicly for transparency and community collaboration. To ensure long-term sustainability, a small commission in ADA will be applied to token distributions made through the platform. These funds will support platform maintenance, cover infrastructure costs, and build a treasury.

The project team will either continue core development directly or publish technical and non-technical tasks on the platform itself, allowing contributors from the community to complete them in exchange for reputation and rewards. This self-reinforcing model encourages continuous improvement, decentralized participation, and long-term ecosystem alignment.

This proposal requires reliable access to Cardano blockchain data through APIs such as Blockfrost or open-source alternatives like Ogmios, Kupo, or Cardano-GraphQL. These services are essential for reading on-chain data, submitting transactions, and interacting with smart contracts securely and efficiently.