TrustBridge is a Web3 remittance platform that allows Indonesian migrant workers to send money home directly through WhatsApp, powered by Cardano smart contracts.
TrustBridge — Instant WhatsApp crypto remittance for Indonesian migrant workers, powered by Cardano.
Live Website : https://trustbridge.izcy.tech
TrustBridge lets Indonesian migrant workers send money back home using WhatsApp — no new app, no long queues, and funds arrive in minutes. Built on Cardano smart contracts, TrustBridge auto-converts crypto to local stablecoin/fiat and coordinates trusted local exchanges for instant local payout. We cut fees from 5–15% to ~3–5% and shrink settlement time from days to under 30 minutes — all inside a familiar chat experience.
Problem. 9+ million Indonesian migrant workers send billions home each year (≈$15B corridor). Traditional remittance routes are slow (1–5 days) and costly (5–15% fees). Many workers lack access to crypto wallets or complex apps — but they all know WhatsApp.
Solution. TrustBridge is a WhatsApp-first remittance gateway that turns a simple chat into a near-instant value transfer. A worker starts a transfer in WhatsApp; a Cardano smart contract handles escrow and automated conversion to the receiver’s local currency stablecoin; trusted local exchange partners perform fiat payouts to family bank accounts. The entire flow is orchestrated by backend services with on-chain settlement and off-chain oracles for exchange rates — delivering money in 5–30 minutes and drastically lowering total fees.
How it works (high level):
User initiates transfer via a WhatsApp conversation (no extra app installs).
Backend invokes a Cardano remittance smart contract to escrow funds.
Smart contract + oracle auto-convert funds to a stablecoin or local currency representation.
Partner exchanges receive instructions and perform local fiat payouts to the recipient’s bank account or mobile money.
Notifications and status updates are delivered in WhatsApp.
Why Cardano: we use Cardano smart contracts for secure, auditable escrow and deterministic settlement. Cardano’s transaction model, predictable fees, and focus on formal verification make it a strong fit for money transfer flows that demand transparency and reliability.
Business model: low transaction fee (3–5%) + exchange spread (1–2%), B2B partnerships (revenue share with local exchanges), and premium instant-settlement options.
Impact: reduces the “traditional tax” on remittances, shortens settlement time from days to minutes, improves financial inclusion by using an interface (WhatsApp) users already trust, and creates a transparent audit trail on-chain.
Massive, validated market: targets 9M+ Indonesian migrant workers and a ~$15B remittance corridor.
Adoption-first UX: no new app — transfers happen inside WhatsApp, dramatically lowering user friction.
Cardano-native security & speed: on-chain escrow + off-chain oracles + local payout partners for sub-30-minute settlement and transparent auditing.
During the hackathon, our team made significant progress in both the technical and conceptual development of TrustBridge. Smart Contract Layer: Implemented a working Cardano escrow smart contract for remittance transactions, handling deposits, release conditions, and fee logic. Backend Integration: Built a prototype backend using TypeScript (Node.js) to connect the WhatsApp Business API with the Cardano blockchain and exchange-rate oracle. WhatsApp Flow: Designed and tested an end-to-end WhatsApp chat flow for sending and receiving funds — users can start a transfer, confirm amount, and view status updates entirely in chat. UI/UX Prototype: Created a clean conversational interface and visual dashboard for exchange partners and payout agents. Pitch & Architecture Deck: Finalized our technical architecture, value proposition, and go-to-market plan for the Cardano ecosystem. Demo: Deployed a live demo showcasing on-chain escrow creation and simulated fiat payout. This hackathon allowed us to validate the core flow — from a WhatsApp chat to on-chain settlement — proving that fast, user-friendly, and secure remittance on Cardano is not only possible but ready to scale.