Roadmap & Priorities

Priority 1: Core Foundation (Immediate Focus)

1. Launch Core API and Open-Source Smart Contracts

   • Deploy the core functionality of Trustless Work's escrow API on Soroban.

   • Ensure that the smart contracts are thoroughly documented, easily auditable, and optimized for common use cases such as milestone-based payments and conditional fund release.

2. Publish Comprehensive Documentation

   • Provide developer-friendly documentation and SDKs that make integration easy.

   • Create detailed guides, sample code, and walkthroughs to reduce friction for developers and businesses looking to integrate Trustless Work.

3. Get reference customers

   • Focus on identifying and reaching out to platforms, marketplaces, and SaaS providers that would benefit from integrated escrow services.

   • Target specific verticals like freelance marketplaces, e-commerce, and project management tools.

4. Initial Testnet Integrations

   • Onboard early adopters to test the functionality on Stellar testnet.

   • Gather feedback on API usability, performance, and edge case handling.

5. Developer Outreach and Community Building

   • Begin outreach to Stellar and Soroban developer communities, presenting the project and soliciting feedback.

   • Build a community around open-source development, encouraging contributions and extensions to the smart contracts.

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Priority 2: Strategic Experimentation (Mid-Term)

1. Strategic Integrations

   • Experiment with key integration partners like Shopify for e-commerce, Jira for project management, and Circle CCTP (Cross-Chain Transfer Protocol) for cross-chain functionality.

   • Evaluate the integration potential of Anchor platforms for decentralized stablecoin on/off-ramping, making it easier for businesses to transact in USDC.

2. Visualization Layer

   • Develop a visualization dashboard that allows users (both platform administrators and end users) to monitor escrow statuses, fund releases, and milestone completions.

   • Offer this as an optional UI component that platforms can embed into their existing products or services.

3. Design Dispute Resolution Mechanism

   • Begin researching and designing a dispute resolution layer to handle edge cases where one or more parties disagree about releasing escrowed funds.

   • Evaluate decentralized and centralized arbitration options, allowing platforms to choose the level of involvement that suits their needs.

4. User Interface for Niche Use Cases

   • Develop basic UIs tailored to initial target markets such as service providers, e-commerce businesses, and real estate. These UIs would serve niche audiences who require a low-friction way to interact with the escrow service without extensive developer involvement.

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Priority 3: Ecosystem Growth (Long-Term)

1. Incentivize Partners and Builders

   • Create incentives for partners and platforms to adopt Trustless Work's escrow services, such as grants, bounties, or reduced fees for early-stage adopters.

   • Engage with Stellar Foundation or other funding bodies to support open-source development efforts and early-stage experimentation.

2. Ecosystem Expansion

   • Focus on scaling Trustless Work across different verticals and industries, beyond the initial niche markets.

   • Build alliances with key ecosystem players such as DAOs, DeFi protocols, and traditional legal and financial services to encourage adoption beyond core use cases.

3. Build a Strong Community of Builders

   • Continue to support and expand the open-source community around Trustless Work, encouraging developers to contribute new features, integrations, and plugins.

   • Run hackathons or innovation challenges to stimulate creative use cases and help the project grow organically.