Canton Development Fund: Grant Application
AhoraCrypto: MiCA-Compliant Fiat On/Off-Ramp for Canton Network
The First Licensed, EU-Regulated On-Ramp for Canton Network
| Field | Detail |
|---|
| Project Name | AhoraCrypto: Canton Network Fiat On/Off-Ramp Integration |
| Applicant | AhoraCrypto, Carlos Rodriguez & Anna Tobin |
| Contact | c***@ahoracrypto.com / ahoracrypto.com |
| Funding Requested | 1,933,000 CC: milestone-gated, 4 tranches |
| Timeline | 8 weeks (4 milestones) |
| Commitment Period | Minimum 3 years post-grant |
| Grant Category | Critical Infrastructure / DeFi Liquidity Seeding |
| Champion | Evan (Temple): Dev Grant Committee |
Applicant Checklist
1. Executive Summary
Canton Network has no licensed, MiCA-compliant fiat on-ramp. AhoraCrypto proposes to build one: and make it freely available to every project in the Canton ecosystem.
AhoraCrypto is a Bank of Spain-registered (D803), MiCA-filing fiat on/off-ramp operating today across Europe, with licensed local payment rails active across Africa, LATAM, Asia, and MENA. We are proposing a native Canton Network integration: a production-ready, non-custodial, compliance-first fiat gateway available to any Canton application via embeddable widget iframe or REST API: with zero integration fees and zero setup costs for all Canton ecosystem partners, sustained for a minimum of three years.
This is not a speculative build. AhoraCrypto is live. The Canton integration extends existing, regulated infrastructure. Ekiden.fi: a Canton perpetual futures DEX with institutional backing: has confirmed AhoraCrypto as their sole on-ramp partner. We are filling a gap that, as of today, no other licensed provider fills on Canton.
2. The Gap: No Licensed On-Ramp Exists on Canton
Canton Network is maturing into institutional-grade infrastructure. Its weakest link is the fiat boundary. Today:
- No licensed, MiCA-compliant on-ramp is natively integrated with Canton.
- Canton DeFi applications cannot onboard retail or institutional users who need to enter from fiat: blocking TVL, trading activity, and real-world liquidity.
- Every Canton project that needs fiat on-ramp today redirects users off-network, creating drop-off, fragmented UX, and regulatory uncertainty for EU users.
- MiCA creates a winner-take-most dynamic for compliant on-ramps in Europe. The window to establish the licensed fiat standard for Canton is now: before the market consolidates.
AhoraCrypto closes this gap: as the first and currently only MiCA-pathway, EU-registered on-ramp to integrate natively with Canton Network.
3. Solution and Public Good Contribution
3.1 What We Are Building
- Native Canton wallet integration: non-custodial settlement directly to any Canton wallet address. Funds never touch AhoraCrypto's balance sheet.
- Embeddable white-label widget iframe: any Canton project can deploy a branded on-ramp checkout in days, with no setup fee.
- REST API: institutional-grade, supporting programmatic fiat-to-crypto order flows for wallets, DeFi protocols, RWA platforms, and AI agent workflows.
- Payment rails: Visa/Mastercard (direct approval), Google Pay, Apple Pay, SEPA, and licensed local rails covering Europe, Africa, LATAM, Asia, and MENA. Three redundant processors with active failover.
- Off-ramp (Canton-to-fiat): enabling exits as well as entries, completing the liquidity loop for Canton users.
3.2 What Canton Projects Get: For Free
The public good offer is concrete and durable:
- Zero setup fees for all Canton ecosystem projects: permanent.
- Zero integration fees: AhoraCrypto absorbs the cost of onboarding any Canton partner.
- Instant revenue share: partners earn their fee share after every transaction, with no minimums, no monthly thresholds, and no delays.
- Re-KYC-free user experience: AhoraCrypto and Canton ecosystem partners can cross-recognize KYC/KYB, meaning existing verified users are not re-KYC'd at the on-ramp step.
The banking spread and payment processing costs are passed transparently to the end user: this is how all on-ramps work. What AhoraCrypto eliminates is every discretionary fee that could otherwise be charged to Canton project teams.
3.3 Open Documentation and Reference Implementation
- Full REST API documentation published under open license: any Canton builder can implement fiat settlement without starting from scratch.
- Reference implementation for Canton fiat-to-crypto settlement flows: reusable by ecosystem teams.
- Compliance documentation (MiCA, KYC, AML, Travel Rule) made available to Canton participants navigating EU regulatory requirements.
Note on open source: AhoraCrypto's core backend cannot be open sourced: Visa/Mastercard approvals, acquirer relationships, and compliance frameworks require confidentiality. The public good is delivered through free ecosystem access, open documentation, shared compliance reference materials, and durable integration support.
4. Compliance and Regulatory Status
AhoraCrypto is not seeking regulatory status: we have it. Canton integration is an extension of live, regulated infrastructure:
| Credential | Status |
|---|
| VASP Registration: Bank of Spain (D803) | Live and operational today |
| MiCA/CASP Filing | Filed November 2025: authorization imminent |
| EU Passporting (27 countries) | Activated upon MiCA authorization |
| KYC | Via Didit ID: integrated and live |
| Travel Rule | Operational |
| AML/CFT Framework | Live: 10-year document retention |
| Cybersecurity | Aiuken Solutions S.L. |
| DORA / SOC 2 | On roadmap, post-MiCA authorization |
5. Jurisdictional Coverage
Canton projects integrate once: by Q4 2026, they gain access to:
| Region | Coverage | Live |
|---|
| Europe | MiCA/CASP authorization (imminent): 27 EU countries via passporting. Bank of Spain registered today. | Immediate (starting June 2026) |
| User Types | Both institutional (KYB) and retail (KYC) | Immediate |
There is currently no other licensed, MiCA-pathway on-ramp integrated with Canton. AhoraCrypto is uniquely positioned to serve the EU institutional and retail user base that Canton is built for.
6. Existing Ecosystem Demand and Integrations
6.1 Ekiden.fi: Confirmed Canton Integration
Ekiden.fi is a perpetual futures DEX (CLOB) building on Canton, with institutional investor backing and a pending Canton Foundation approval. Ekiden.fi has confirmed AhoraCrypto as their sole on-ramp partner. Their Canton grant proposal names AhoraCrypto as their fiat on-ramp. This is live ecosystem demand, not prospective.
6.2 Existing Canton Partner Network Proposal
AhoraCrypto is committed to onboarding Canton Network projects as swiftly and broadly as possible. To accelerate adoption, we are offering all Canton projects three years of fee-free access and full ongoing support: a substantial value proposition, and one made as a gesture of our commitment to the network and desire to contribute to the network's common good as a critical infrastructure provider within the ecosystem.
7. Milestones and Disbursement Schedule
All milestones are objective and verifiable. A minimum of 4 weeks separates each tranche disbursement. AhoraCrypto commits to maintaining and supporting the Canton integration for a minimum of 3 years post-grant completion.
Milestone 1: Canton Technical Integration | Weeks 1-2 | 25% of funding
Deliverables:
- Canton wallet address validation integrated into order creation flow
- POST /v1/onramp/orders and GET /v1/orders/{id} endpoints live on testnet
- Non-custodial settlement to Canton wallet addresses functional end-to-end
- Internal test transactions completed with documented results
Acceptance criteria:
- End-to-end fiat-to-Canton-wallet flow functional on testnet
- Visa/Mastercard and SEPA rails operational
- Zero custodial exposure confirmed: funds never touch AhoraCrypto balance sheet
- Milestone report submitted to grant committee
Milestone 2: Widget and API | Weeks 3-4 | 30% of funding
Deliverables:
- Embeddable white-label widget ready for Canton ecosystem partner integration: zero setup fee
- REST API documentation published publicly under open license
- Webhook callback system for Canton application state sync
- Live integration with Ekiden.fi (if confirmed Canton partner)
- Reference implementation published for Canton builders
- Instant revenue share mechanism documented and operational for partner integrations
Acceptance criteria:
- Widget deployable by any Canton partner within 48 hours of API key issuance
- API documentation publicly available
- At least one confirmed live Canton ecosystem integration (Ekiden.fi confirmed)
- Reference implementation published under open license
- Milestone report submitted to grant committee
Milestone 3: Compliance Hardening and MiCA Passporting | Weeks 5-6 | 25% of funding
Deliverables:
- MiCA/CASP authorization received (filed November 2025: imminent)
- EU activation: 27 EU countries unlocked for Canton ecosystem
- Travel Rule compliance verified for Canton settlement flows
- DORA readiness assessment completed
- Compliance documentation published for Canton ecosystem reference (MiCA, KYC, AML, Travel Rule)
Acceptance criteria:
- MiCA authorization confirmed with CNMV (Spanish MiCA regulator)
- Travel Rule operational for Canton wallet settlement
- Compliance documentation publicly available
- Milestone report submitted to grant committee
Milestone 4: Mainnet Launch and Ecosystem Distribution | Weeks 7-8 | 20% of funding
This milestone is extended to allow for proper QA, soft launch, integration support onboarding, and co-marketing build-up: consistent with committee guidance on realistic rollout timelines.
Deliverables:
- Full mainnet deployment of Canton on-ramp and off-ramp integration
- At least 2 Canton ecosystem partners integrated on mainnet (Ekiden.fi confirmed; second partner in active outreach)
- Integration support documentation and onboarding materials published
- Co-marketing with Canton Foundation on mainnet launch
- Post-launch integration support confirmed: dedicated BD/technical support for Canton partners
Acceptance criteria:
- Mainnet on-ramp and off-ramp flows live and transacting
- At least 2 Canton ecosystem partners integrated
- Public launch announcement issued with Canton Foundation
- Post-launch integration support SLA documented and active
- Final milestone report submitted to grant committee
8. Funding Request and Budget Allocation
Total requested: 1,933,000 Canton Coin (250k€ equivalent) released in four milestone-gated tranches. CC amounts to be confirmed with the Tech & Ops Committee based on current CC valuation at grant execution.
| Milestone | Work Covered | Weight | Approx. CC |
|---|
| M1: Canton Technical Integration | Engineering, Canton protocol work, testnet | 25% | 483,250 |
| M2: Widget, API & First Integration | Engineering, documentation, partner onboarding, Ekiden.fi integration | 30% | 579,900 |
| M3: Compliance & MiCA Passporting | Legal, compliance hardening, DORA assessment, compliance docs | 25% | 483,250 |
| M4: Mainnet Launch & Distribution | QA, extended launch period, co-marketing, BD, integration support | 20% | 386,600 |
| Total | | 100% | 1,933,000 CC |
Budget rationale: Amounts reflect actual engineering cost (senior full-stack and protocol engineers), regulatory/legal engagement, compliance tooling, and BD/partner onboarding work required for a production-grade, licensed fiat integration: not a prototype.
9. Long-Term Commitment and Sustainability
AhoraCrypto commits to maintaining and actively supporting the Canton integration for a minimum of 3 years post-grant completion. This is not grant-dependent: AhoraCrypto is a revenue-generating business. The on-ramp generates fee income that scales linearly with volume: the Canton integration is a core distribution channel.
- The business model (transparent spread, zero balance-sheet risk, zero inventory) means AhoraCrypto's operational continuity does not depend on continued grant funding.
- Canton ecosystem partners will continue to receive zero-setup-fee access throughout the commitment period.
- Integration support, documentation updates, and regulatory maintenance (MiCA, Travel Rule, DORA) are sustained by protocol revenue.
10. Team
| Name | Role | Background |
|---|
| Carlos Rodríguez | CEO & Co-founder | 10+ years blockchain. 12+ years UX-focused marketing and product. Founder of SuperCars and MovilLove. |
| Antonio Párraga | CTO & Co-founder | 25+ years software engineering. Non-custodial crypto platform expertise. Co-founder of Fixr (exited). |
| Julio Arranz | CFO | Corporate finance and financial governance. |
| Néstor Márquez | COO | Operations and execution. |
| Carlos Rico | Full-Stack Engineer | Execution and product delivery. |
| Anna Tobin | Advisor, Business Development | 13+ years fintech. 4+ years crypto. BD, Strategic partnerships at Rarible, Royal Bank of Canada Ventures. |
Advisors: Juan Miguel Velasco (CEO, Aiuken Cybersecurity), Arvin Abarca (CEO, GrandVoyage), Nacho González-Barros (Co-founder, Hirevoice), Pedro Alonso (Board, Nanoinmunotech), Simon Van Olmen (VP Technology, Duravant), Santiago Costa (VP Content, DigitalOcean).
Legal: ATH 21 S.L.P. (external counsel). Cybersecurity: Aiuken Solutions S.L.
11. Alignment with Canton Development Fund Priorities
| Fund Priority | AhoraCrypto Contribution |
|---|
| Critical infrastructure | Fiat on/off-ramp is a prerequisite infrastructure for any Canton application serving real-world users. No other licensed provider exists on Canton today. |
| DeFi app liquidity seeding | Enables fiat capital to enter Canton DeFi applications directly: prerequisite for TVL bootstrapping. Ekiden.fi integration is confirmed. |
| Public good / shared ecosystem benefit | Zero setup fees for all Canton projects. Open API documentation and reference implementation. Free integration for a minimum 3 years. Instant revenue share for partners. |
| Reference implementations | Open API documentation, reference Canton fiat-to-crypto settlement implementation, and published compliance documentation: reusable by any builder. |
| Security and reliability | 3 redundant payment processors, non-custodial architecture, MiCA/AML compliance, Aiuken cybersecurity, Travel Rule live. |
| Network utility and value | Every user who can move fiat into Canton increases network activity and Canton Coin utility. |
12. Risks and Mitigations
| Risk | Mitigation |
|---|
| MiCA authorization delay | VASP registration (D803) with Banco de España is live and operational today. MiCA filed November 2025; EU passporting is additive to existing regulatory status. Canton integration proceeds regardless of timing. |
| Payment processor failure | 3 redundant processors with active failover. Direct Visa and Mastercard approval. Single processor failure does not interrupt service. |
| Canton technical integration complexity | Antonio Párraga (CTO, 25+ years) has built a non-custodial crypto platform. Canton integration follows established non-custodial settlement patterns that already live in AhoraCrypto's infrastructure. |
| Low initial adoption | Ekiden.fi (confirmed integration partner) provides immediate initial volume. |
| Open source requirement | Core backend cannot be open sourced (Visa/MC, acquirer, compliance confidentiality). Public good is delivered through free ecosystem access, open documentation, shared compliance reference materials, and a 3-year support commitment. |
13. References and Supporting Materials
- AhoraCrypto Investment Deck (2026): available on request
- AhoraCrypto One-Pager: available on request
- Ekiden.fi Canton Grant Proposal: names AhoraCrypto as confirmed on-ramp integration partner
- Banco de España VASP Registration: D803
- MiCA/CASP Filing: November 2025
- Aiuken Solutions S.L: cybersecurity partner documentation available on request
Contact: c***@ahoracrypto.com / ahoracrypto.com
Grant Champion: Evan, Temple Protocol
