Developing DApps on Cardano shouldn't require juggling multiple languages, libraries and frameworks.

Scalus changes this by bringing the power of Scala 3 to the Cardano ecosystem, letting you write smart contracts, build transactions, and application layers — all with the same language and familiar tools.

It supports the complete development flow - setup, development, testing, debugging and deployment, backed by an industry-grade toolset and professional development experience.

Key benefits that make Scalus + Scala 3 stand out:

• Productivity boost at scale with Scala 3
• Reduced time-to-market - from prototyping to production in less time
• Deep pool of Scala/Java/Kotlin talent available on the market

Scalus is a Cardano DApps development platform made for professionals and businesses who want to get things done.

More details in the attached presentation.

Building DApps on Cardano remains harder than it should be. New developers need to invest a substantial amount of time to become productive. It makes Cardano less attractive to build on, and limits the ability to innovate and produce value to end users.

New developers face multiple obstacles:

1. Steep technical learning curve
2. Fragmented technology stack (on-chain/off-chain, front-end/back-end)
3. Limited development tooling and standard libraries
4. Scattered educational resources

In anticipation of the wider adoption of Cardano technology by traditional organisations (e.g., in finance and fintech, where Java and Scala are dominant), it should be simpler for their web2 developers to start building on Cardano. Companies need a smooth path for their existing teams — without the need to learn new programming languages or hire specialists just to get started.

(1) Benefits for professionals

Scalus meets developers where they are. It bridges Web2 engineers from traditional firms with progressive onboarding and built-in safety, while giving seasoned Cardano builders advanced control and optimisations.

Web 2 developers:

• Familiar dev experience & tooling using Scala
• Elegant syntax with gentle learning curve of blockchain specifics
• Built-in safety controls to reduce common mistakes and risks

Cardano builders / R&D Labs:

• Low-level optimisations (memory, cost, advanced patterns)
• Expressiveness beyond limited DSL
• Advanced features (macros, meta-programming)
• Rich Scala ecosystem for complex protocols and mission-critical solutions

(2) Benefits for businesses

Scalus, paired with Scala 3, helps businesses build on Cardano without the usual headaches. It’s a practical way to deliver value quickly and reliably.

Benefits:

• Productivity boost at scale with Scala 3
• Reduced time-to-market - from prototyping to production in less time
• Deep pool of Scala/Java/Kotlin talent available on the market
• Code quality and safety are first-class citizens
• Reduced training investments to transition Scala/Java/Kotlin teams to blockchain

We will bring the MVP of Scalus - DApps Development Platform by the end of 2025.

Our product development methodology, based on Professional Scrum, allows us to deliver features progressively and improve from the customers feedback.

We are targeting the delivery of the MVP scope to Q3 and Q4 of 2025:

(1) Onboarding

• Q3 2025 - Documentation & Onboarding tutorials
• Q4 2025 - Smart Contracts Catalogue - Design Patterns / Rosetta
• Q3 2025 - Automated setup
• Q4 2025 - DApp templates for various cases

(2) Smart Contracts

• Q3 2025 - Smart Contract - Syntax tuning
• Q4 2025 - Standard library - Enrichment
• Q3 2025 - Blueprint integration / CIP-0057

(3) Advanced UPLC

• Q4 2025 - Typed UPLC expression builder - Enrichment
• Q3 2025 - Advanced script optimisation & control paths
• Q4 2025 - Optimised pattern matching
• Q4 2025 - Scala macros for advanced contracts

(4) Off-chain multi-platform libraries

• Q3 2025 - Serialisation / deserialisation
• Q4 2025 - Transaction builder - Enrichment
• Q3 2025 - Evaluation & cost function
• Q4 2025 - Domain objects & ledger rules
• Q4 2025 - Bindings for JS/TS/Native - Tuning

(5) Testing capabilities

• Q3 2025 - Scalus Test library - Enrichment
• Q4 2025 - Property-based testing - ScalaCheck helpers for Cardano development

(6) Integration / Deployment

• Q3 2025 - Local Cardano network/node infrastructure
• Q4 2025 - Comprehensive CLI
• Q4 2025 - Working with test data
• Q4 2025 - Toolkit for effective deployment of Smart Contracts

1. ONB - Onboarding (Automated dev env setup, Documentation, Smart Contracts Catalogue) = 0,25 FTE = $23 750 = ₳36 538,46

2. SC - Smart Contracts (Simple syntax, standard library, blueprint implementation) = 0,75 FTE = $71 250 = ₳109 615,38

3. ADV - Advanced UPLC (Advanced optimisations, Expression builder, pattern matching, macros) = 0,75 FTE = $71 250 = ₳109 615,38

4. MPL - Off-chain libraries (Exportable multi-platform library - JVM/JS/TS/Native) = 0,25 FTE = $23 750 = ₳36 538,46

5. TEST - Testing capabilities (Scalus Test library, Property-based testing enablers) = 0,5 FTE = $47 500 = ₳73 076,92

6. INT - Integration / Deployment (Local network/node for testing, deployment to mainnet) = 0,5 FTE = $47 500 = ₳73 076,92

7. MAN - Maintenance (Maintenance, bug-fixing and support) = 1 FTE = $95 000 = ₳146 153,85

8. PM - Product management (Management of the product life cycle) = 0,5 FTE = $47 500 = ₳73 076,92

We are projecting 6 months of development and maintenance (starting from June 2025 to the end of the year).

All the scopes are estimated in FTE (Full Time Employee). For the sake of evaluating the budget, we took the assumption that one Senior Scala Engineer / Senior Product Manager with expertise in DLT (Distributed Ledger Technology) is valued at $190k (recruitment, on-boarding and extra costs related to working – i.e paid vacations, sick leave – are considered included in the $190k figure).

(1) Estimated resources required for 6 months period:

• Senior Scala engineers: 5 FTE
• Senior Product manager: 0,5 FTE

(2) Resources and funding already secured:

• Senior Scala engineers: 1 FTE

(3) Additional effort required - Our final ask:

• Senior Scala engineers: 4 FTE
• Senior Product manager: 0,5 FTE

Oleksandr Nemish is a seasoned software engineer with a specialised focus on functional programming, type theory, meta-programming, compilers, and blockchains. His expertise is underscored by his proficiency in languages such as Scala, Haskell and Rust.

Oleksandr has a robust professional background, having worked for prominent financial organisations like Deutsche Bank and UBS.

Oleksandr Nemish is a former engineer at IOG, the engineering company behind the Cardano blockchain. He worked on the design and implementation of Marlowe – a new financial smart contracts programming language for Cardano.

Once the MVP version of the product is developed, the yearly maintenance plan (excluding new features beyond MVP) will result in 1,5-2 FTE (Senior Scala Engineer).

Scalus is currently in the early adoption phase, emphasising close collaboration with the selected partners (individuals & businesses). It allows our team to:

• fine-tune the syntax & standard-library
• learn the preferences of the target groups
• iteratively grow the solution to answer those needs

Solutions in development with Scalus:

• Hydrozoa L2 - an evolution of the Hydra Head protocol (full stack development, node, networking, L2 ledger rules, transaction building)
• Innovative L2 protocol - block producing node MVP and related components
• Lucid Evolution - an alternative Scalus native JS implementation of serialisation/deserialization functions
• Script evaluation and cost calculation libraries used by the Cardano Foundation
• Cardano Client Lib (Java TxBuilder library) integration with the Scalus Smart Contracts evaluator

Two businesses participated in the early adoption program:

• Guild1 - expressed the interest in using the platform for future projects
• Proof Space Trusted Identity - implemented one of their components using Scalus

There are no strict dependencies.