Connecting Businesses: Empowering Stack Adoption with a Data Bridge (using NFTs)

## Background Proposal #1005 failed due to clarity, $ATOM alignment, and cost issues. We've listened to community's feedback and ICL's vision, focusing on enterprise needs and $ATOM value. Full discussion here: https://forum.cosmos.network/t/bridging-worlds-empowering-cosmos-with-an-ethereum-nft-bridge/15691 ### Alignment with ICL Vision - Businesses seek: 1. **Sovereignty**: running their custom blockchains and e.g. not relying on Ethereum. 2. **Interoperability**: Data/token exchange via IBC Eureka, routed through the Hub. - Supports businesses, enhancing Stack adoption and $ATOM value per ICL's vision. For details check Cryptocito's full interview with Mag here: https://x.com/Cryptocito/status/1945214389902029043 Here's a technical **web2/web3** analogy between `Smart Contracts using IBC + Bridge` and `Web applications using TCP + HTML`: IBC Eureka + Bridge in Web3 is, simply said, like TCP + HTML in Web2: While IBC is the base layer connecting blockchains (like TCP links servers), our bridge adds an application layer for business data (like HTTP delivers web pages). Our bridge, being built on top of IBC Eureka, transfers complex data (via NFTs) - including(!) ownership - between smart contracts or wallets across blockchains. For example, a supply chain smart contract on custom Cosmos chain A could send an NFT with shipment metadata to a partner's contract on a custom Cosmos chain B, ensuring secure, verifiable ownership transfer. ### Asset Bridge Clarification - NFTs - in general - is just a data store (e.g., IDs, certificates) for enterprises, customizable to their needs (e.g., a bank creating loan documents) - Bridge uses **CosmosEVM** and **IBC Eureka**, 100% $ATOM-aligned via the Hub. - EVM is key, paused on the Hub, but vital for business smart contracts and interoperability. ## Project Scope - Solidity ICS-721 Bridge Contract - Front-end Toolkit for seamless transfers - Ark runs CW-based bridges on Injective, Juno, Neutron, Osmosis, Stargaze, Terra; contributed to cw-ics721/cw-nfts. ## Funding Request - **Total:** $90,000 USDC (shown in the spend proposal details as 90,000,000,000 IBC-wrapped uusdc). - **Breakdown:** Development: $90,000 (100%, includes $20k buffer e.g. due to possible breaking changes in CosmosEVM or other unforeseen issues). - **Audits Excluded**: $50,000 removed to reduce costs; audits will be deferred until pilot success. - **Operations Excluded**: $60,000 removed; initial operations will be self-funded by Ark Protocol. - **Release:** Three tranches upon dev start, testnet deployment, and mainnet launch. - **MVP:** Targeted for Q3/Q4 2025, pending final CosmosEVM release. ## Treasury and Oversight Funds will be sent to and managed by Ark's Oversight DAO here: https://daodao.zone/dao/cosmos1k3auc6wmj7hehdwy55qfjymksrw7lvqxdtxrhd2x7t3qffcutm5s0hmkl9 Ark Oversight DAO memebers with 3-signer threshold for approvals: - Sistla (OmniFlix): `cosmos1nqchg6qytz6mvq85r6adsuaghfwnczex9hs02m` - Zerk (Mad Scientists): `cosmos1pwha5a3hr55wmmur2d4fm0p8rf7q62wn2rvzw8` - Johnny Wyles (Osmosis): `cosmos1dplx2zw3mjk5lam6fnv5q2yxldcshs3wh2rhh9` - David Goose (Osmosis): `cosmos1ky9hyqhdxygkkyvjcdd76qceq7t9syy488rsjm` - Tatsen (Ark): `cosmos1trghmhd4d9qcf9d0lsyesxzj3aasqg9slykml5` - Mr T (Ark): `cosmos1vtpt9kwjywm3xpake4v8sjmh2uxqq57h499qa5` ## Voting Optins: - **YES** to push Cosmos' stack adoption for enterprises. - **NO** seeing no need for businesses exchanging data using bridge and bridging NFTs in general. - **Abstain**: You wish to contribute to the quorum but formally decline to vote either for or against the proposal. - **No With Veto**: your ‘No With Veto’ vote indicates us, Ark, either to be spam, irrelevant to the Cosmos Hub. If the number of ‘No With Veto’ votes is greater than a third of total votes, the proposal is rejected and the deposits are burned.