Bono Network Grant application

[Thisisily]

Project Abstract

Bono is a decentralized legal infrastructure platform designed to democratize access to justice by reducing the cost and complexity of global legal processes. Our goal is to address critical issues like the high cost of legal services, cross-jurisdictional challenges, and inefficient legal systems, which often prevent individuals and businesses from seeking justice. By integrating blockchain technology, smart contracts, and a global network of vetted law firms (the "High Table"), Bono provides a transparent, efficient, and secure platform where legal cases can be tokenized and managed. Additionally, our platform leverages AI (codenamed "Arbiter") to assist with legal processes, further reducing costs and making justice more accessible.

This grant application focuses on the development and launch of Bono's core infrastructure, including smart contracts for legal document verification, the integration of zero-knowledge proofs (ZK) for privacy, and the creation of a decentralized treasury system for managing token incentives within the High Table network. With this funding, we aim to finalize and test Bono's MVP across real-world cases and prepare for integration with Polkadot’s Plaza system, setting the foundation for a scalable, blockchain-agnostic legal ecosystem.

Grant level

• Level 1: Up to $10,000, 2 approvals
• Level 2: Up to $30,000, 3 approvals
• Level 3: Unlimited, 5 approvals (for >$100k: Web3 Foundation Council approval)

Application Checklist

• The application template has been copied and aptly renamed (project_name.md).
• I have read the application guidelines.
• Payment details have been provided (Polkadot AssetHub (USDC & DOT) address in the application and bank details via email, if applicable).
• I understand that an agreed upon percentage of each milestone will be paid in vested DOT, to the Polkadot address listed in the application.
• I am aware that, in order to receive a grant, I (and the entity I represent) have to successfully complete a KYC/KYB check.
• The software delivered for this grant will be released under an open-source license specified in the application.
• The initial PR contains only one commit (squash and force-push if needed).
• The grant will only be announced once the first milestone has been accepted (see the announcement guidelines).
• [] I prefer the discussion of this application to take place in a private Element/Matrix channel. My username is: @_______:matrix.org (change the homeserver if you use a different one)

[github-actions]

CLA Assistant Lite bot: Thank you for your submission, we really appreciate it. Like many open source projects, we ask that you sign our Contributor License Agreement before we can accept your contribution. Please submit the following text as a separate comment:

---

I have read and hereby sign the Contributor License Agreement.

---

_{You can retrigger this bot by commenting recheck in this Pull Request}

[Noc2]

Thanks a lot for the application. I looked quickly at your GitHub repo and whitepaper. Everything seems to focus on Solana and not Polkadot. What is the reason for this, and are you still planning to deploy your solution on Solana?

[Thisisily]

Thanks a lot for the application. I looked quickly at your GitHub repo and whitepaper. Everything seems to focus on Solana and not Polkadot. What is the reason for this, and are you still planning to deploy your solution on Solana?

Hello,
Bono is blockchain agnostic. the public code you viewed is not the final mvp but was built because one of the main 9 cases on the pilot program is a 50 million dollar scam case on Solana. how we deal with this can be done on any chain. That MVP also has no smart contract code but rather calls apis to smart contracts on Solana through multiplex/helius etc.
in the pull request we have clearly mentioned that we are going to adapt the code so it is ready for plaza. you can confirm this with Piet.

[semuelle]

Thank you for the application, @Thisisily. I think there is potential for blockchain in the legal domain. However, I wish this application would focus on the blockchain part and slowly building proof of its feasibility. Please see my questions below.

[semuelle]

The milestones have 2 and 1.5 FTEs, how do you get to 3 here?

[Thisisily]

This is likely a typo from when I was adjusting the first draft. nonetheless, any number that I put here will be a rough estimation at best simply due to the unpredictable nature and legal side of this project and how much we want to commit to the MVP. for example do we want to legally bind the smart contracts? is it going to be a one-time thing? or are we going to lay the groundwork for legally binding smart contracts in all the pilot countries? these decisions will be taken hand in hand with the Polka Dot Foundation until we reach an agreement on the scope of this grant. I studied the documents provided by the w3f and it was noted that the foundation provides leniency in terms of timing as long as reasonable progress is being made.

[keeganquigley]

Thanks @Thisisily yes I can confirm that we do have a grace period, and it's true that we aren't super strict with timelines. That being said, we also can't have an open-ended grant with no deadline, mainly for budgeting purposes. I would suggest giving your best estimate now, and it can always be extended down the line with an amendment. I will say though, that I am not familiar with any Polka Dot Foundation. Not sure if you are referring to W3F when you say this.

[semuelle]

This comes out to 18k per person-month, which is well above any rate we have paid in the past. Can you elaborate how you got to this number?

[Thisisily]

There are two key issues to address. First, we’re dealing with the same recurring typo, and though this may take longer than expected, I’ll push to resolve it within two months. Second, implementing this system involves multiple layers of complexity. One of the most challenging is the KYC process. As detailed in the documents, Bono operates with two main interfaces: a user-facing side and a High Table side, where lawyers decide which cases to post publicly. For the latter, we need to issue KYC-enabled wallets and LEIs for law firms accessing the platform, ensuring verification is accurate and error-free.

To achieve this, we could use a decentralized KYC provider, like Worldcoin’s ID layer, Concordium's wallet, or similar, which would enable access through a set of whitelisted wallets, allowing firms to access the High Table admin board. This complexity is essential to ensure global functionality, even in restricted regions like Iran, North Korea, Russia, Macedonia, and parts of sub-Saharan Africa. With this system, we aim to establish a baseline for legal accessibility worldwide, similar to how Interpol’s i/24 network operates in difficult jurisdictions.

Regarding costs, the $54,000 allocation includes around $1,500 per law firm for LEIs for the initial 10 firms ( this is absolutely essential in making sure that our permissioned blockchain solution is regulated and works ), the bridging or oracle solution, UI/UX to make it functional. Partnering with a provider like Concordium could lower this, though it may require additional paperwork to accommodate riskier jurisdictions ( or we could postpone these cases, something I don't want). Alternatively, we could postpone this layer, running a simpler MVP for the initial 10 law firms to validate the concept, and implement this comprehensive KYC later with VC funding. However, our primary focus remains on moving closer to our goal of setting a global standard for legal accessibility.

If the foundation is not certain about this, the dedicated budget can be spent by the foundation itself through collaboration with bono to make sure the solution is built and works in due time.

[keeganquigley]

Our grants program only focuses on the development part, so I would argue that we probably can't fund the procurement of LEIs for 10 firms.

For the KYC solution, have you considered using Deloitte (generated on Kilt identity infrastructure)? There are currently some privacy concerns when it comes to Worldcoin.

Additionally, I understand that a permissioned chain may be the only way to achieve this, but I'm not sure if we are the best avenue for funding it.

[semuelle]

Please specify here who will be the beneficiary of the grant. If you don't have a legal entity, all beneficiaries need to individually perform KYC. Please list their names here. No need for an address in that case.

[Thisisily]

We just finished the paperwork for our Delaware C corp, a foundation in either UAE or Switzerland will also be incorporated but that will take some time. by next week when incorporation is finished, I will update this section.

[semuelle]

Not covered by Grants Program. See our guidelines and FAQ.

[Thisisily]

this section will be updated

[semuelle]

Can you please clarify which parts of this are part of the grant, and which are future work? For example, I don't see a delivery or spec for the ZK module.

[Thisisily]

There are various ZK modules that we can incorporate either currently or later in the MVP. For example there are ways to scan passports in a zero-knowledge way. this can be tested both on the user-facing side or for the hightable side. this also depends if we decide to use third-party solutions or build everything from scratch. I believe Bono and the W3F can reach a solution in terms of a middle ground. The MVP doesn't need to be a full implementation of our vision but at the same time, we shouldn't create a one-off solution that fails to scale.

[semuelle]

1. What is the purpose of cross-chain compatibility here?
2. Polkadot already has decentralized governance mechanisms. How does Bono ensure these?

[Thisisily]

1. Purpose of Cross-Chain Compatibility
   The goal of cross-chain compatibility is to make Bono smooth and user-friendly, especially for those who may not be well-versed in crypto. While using bridges or managing different wallets might be straightforward for us, the end user needs a seamless experience—something “grandma-proof.” Blockchain is simply a tool here, and our focus is on accessibility where traditional payment methods are unavailable. For instance, in countries like Macedonia or Iran, where Visa, MasterCard, or PayPal are not accessible, payments can only be reliably made via crypto or cash. Likewise, in these jurisdictions, victims should be able to submit or pay for cases using local fiat (via High Table members) or any form of crypto. To facilitate this, we would use account abstraction to handle all user transactions efficiently, bridging funds securely to Polkadot or other networks as needed to initiate the legal process on behalf of the user.

2. Decentralized Governance in Bono
   While decentralized governance might not be an immediate focus, it’s critical to establish a foundation for it now. The Bono token will enable High Table members to participate in network governance, including decisions on point systems that prioritize cases. By balancing input between law firms and end users, we can create a system that prioritizes cases fairly, ensuring a true middle ground is reached that benefits all parties involved.

[semuelle]

Where can I learn more about this pilot case?

[Thisisily]

Our new website will launch soon that details the pilot program. (hopefully less than 2 weeks). The details of the cases will be separately emailed to the foundation. the cases cannot be made public now due to legal and strategic reasons.

[semuelle]

Bono's solution will be the only way to reliably solve these complex multijurisdiction, global cases.

Given that humans have so far solved every multijurisdictional case without blockchain and AI, this seems like a mad claim. Can you elaborate how you came to this conclusion?

[Thisisily]

Thank you for your perspective. I understand that cases have been managed across jurisdictions in the past, but it’s crucial to recognize the unique obstacles present in certain regions. I encourage you to consider what it would entail to pursue legal action in places like Turkey, India, Iran, or Macedonia. In these areas, there are numerous barriers: finding a reliable lawyer or law firm without falling victim to scams, negotiating fair pricing, overcoming language barriers, and ensuring secure payment methods. This becomes exponentially more complex if the defendant operates across multiple countries, as it demands coordinated communication between law firms and timely, cross-border action. By the time these logistics are resolved, many months can pass—often allowing the opposing party to evade accountability.

For instance, imagine a global fraud case where the victims span various countries but the defendants operate out of Turkey and Iran, using shell companies in Dubai and funds routed through accounts in the Caymans. Pursuing this case under conventional methods would require the victims to individually navigate the legal systems in each country, find trustworthy legal representation, coordinate between multiple law firms, and manage secure payments across borders. Without a unified framework like Bono, there’s simply no accessible way for individuals to reliably engage and manage these processes.

Bono’s solution is designed to address precisely these issues. By providing a secure, decentralized infrastructure, Bono can enable victims to collectively file claims, engage vetted law firms across jurisdictions, and coordinate actions through a single platform. Our infrastructure would streamline payments through crypto options or local currency proxies, remove the language barrier, and create a transparent process where victims can monitor the case's progress in real time.

It’s worth considering that survivorship bias can lead to overlooking the challenges that make justice inaccessible for many worldwide. I’d recommend this article on survivorship bias, as it highlights how we sometimes misinterpret what’s “functional” simply because certain cases succeed while many others, silently, do not. Bono aims to bridge that gap and provide a reliable, accessible path to justice in cases where traditional systems fall short.

[keeganquigley]

Hi @Thisisily I have a few additional q's to add:

• The BTC address on the application isn't needed. Could you remove this for clarity?
• I can't find any information on the High Table Network. Could you provide a link where I can find more info about this group?
• You mentioned that GitLaw is a work in progress and is still actively being developed. Is this development in the scope of the grant? As I don't see any deliverables present for it. Or is this repo being separately funded?
• Establishing legal structures is not something that is covered by the W3F grants program. Since you mentioned already that this part would be paid by BONO, could you remove this deliverable from M1?
• Awareness and Marketing setup could also be removed, as we don't cover marketing campaigns either, only development.

Thanks for the discussion thus far.

[PieWol]

Hey @Thisisily ,
are you still interested in continuing the conversation? It would be great if you could address the existing comments and questions.

[Thisisily]

Hey @PieWol
apologies for the delay in response everyone. last week was quite hectic and at the same time, I was waiting for a few things to arrive in my inbox before I got back to you guys here.

[Thisisily]

Hi @Thisisily I have a few additional q's to add:

• The BTC address on the application isn't needed. Could you remove this for clarity?
• I can't find any information on the High Table Network. Could you provide a link where I can find more info about this group?
• You mentioned that GitLaw is a work in progress and is still actively being developed. Is this development in the scope of the grant? As I don't see any deliverables present for it. Or is this repo being separately funded?
• Establishing legal structures is not something that is covered by the W3F grants program. Since you mentioned already that this part would be paid by BONO, could you remove this deliverable from M1?
• Awareness and Marketing setup could also be removed, as we don't cover marketing campaigns either, only development.

Thanks for the discussion thus far.

Hi @keeganquigley ,

• that is leftover from when I was going back and forth with piet when submitting the application. I will remove it. though I might need to adjust the current dot address as well, this address is a .js extension hot wallet and I would rather much have everything on a cold wallet for security reasons but haven't had the time to test and see if asset hub works with ledger or not. I got polkadex to work with the current wallet so in terms of functionality, everything is in order. just need to make sure that security-wise its the same as well.
• If you're asking about how the network works, you can find more information on our whitepaper and the technical diagram. also our new website will be up hopefully in less than 2 weeks ( based on promises by my product manager) and on there we everything will be explained in better detail. in terms of initial members for the hightable, I am currently in talks, I have some verbal commitments but couldn't move forward until bono was officially incorporated ( good news is that this happened this week) so hopefully in two weeks the first members will be introduced for our pilot program. one of the major members that might join is the akin group through an associate who is a connection of mine ( this person might join as a co-founder). and there are 10 firms in total that I am in talks with for the pilot.
• GitLaw is separate. but is still a very important open-source part of Bono. developing gitlaw will allow accurate data analytics and accurate integration of AI assistants. As you might know using vanilla LLMs is extremely risky for anything that has legal weight. in most countries, the data related to laws and constitutions is not updated or readily available. gitlaw aims to consolidate everything and version control it. user interfaces/applications can then be built on top of this. my aim is to get funding for this through NGOs, or entities like the UN and have government representatives for each member state.
• definitely, I changed the submission a few times before submitting it and this is leftover from the first draft. I left it there just in case we have some breathing room in terms of timing and legal contracts going forward. my thinking was that the first milestone would allow us to officially confirm all the cases for the pilot program before committing/pulling the trigger. The Legal part of this project makes timing unpredictable.
• will remove that part as well. i wrote them mostly as information pieces. not delievarables or anything that is part of the grant.
  If there are any other questions id be happy to answer. either here or directly on a call with the team.
  best, Ilya

[keeganquigley]

Considering it will still be some time before Plaza is ready for integration, I don't think 1.5 months is a realistic timeframe here. In fact I would suggest to remove this milestone all together for now and focus on a smaller scope of a PoC of the app.

[keeganquigley]

that is leftover from when I was going back and forth with piet when submitting the application. I will remove it. though I might need to adjust the current dot address as well, this address is a .js extension hot wallet and I would rather much have everything on a cold wallet for security reasons but haven't had the time to test and see if asset hub works with ledger or not. I got polkadex to work with the current wallet so in terms of functionality, everything is in order. just need to make sure that security-wise its the same as well.

Thanks @Thisisily to answer your question here, yes Ledger works just fine with Asset Hub for all the common extrinsics. When it can get a bit complicated is with multi-sig txs. Due to the screen size it is recommended to use a Nano X.

[keeganquigley]

@Thisisily closing this due to inactivity. Let us know if we should re-open it.