We see the Polkadot ecosystem developing, but for usage numbers to come, easy access for new users must be ensured. Currently, the first-time user willing to enter the ecosystem must enter either via centralised exchange. These steps are bearable for the current users of the network and crypto-natives, but will be a huge obstacle to new participants.
To significantly improve the process for the end-user, networks need on-ramps for easy, streamlined access using fiat money.
Here enters Ramp. With Ramp the purchase process takes place in just one interface, it is directly correlated to the wallet user is using for the purchase and, usually, takes much less time and requires fewer data than centralised exchanges need.
Ramp offers a powerful SDK that allows developers to offer DOT purchases with cards, bank transfers and open banking within their apps. This means that Polkadot powered solutions requiring DOT to use wouldn't need to ask new users to leave the app to complete the purchase. Think of it as Stripe for crypto onboarding.
With Ramp, we want to provide DOT users and developers with a battle-tested alternative to a centralised exchange: an on-ramp that easy to implement and delightful to use. It will shorten the onboarding process from a few days to a few minutes which will contribute to the overall development of the Polkadot ecosystem.
We saw initial interest from some dapps and wallets building on top of Polkadot including, incl. Kylin Network and XDEFI. Ramp is also a part of the growing ecosystem of crypto wallets and each of the integrated apps can become a new distribution point for DOT. The ecosystem is a bit to small yet for Ramp to go full speed ahead and integrate DOT. We'd like however to help the ecosystem to grow and thus ask the treasury to participate in upfront costs to lower our risk and allow us to proceed promptly and integrate before the ecosystem reaches billions in real-life usage volume.
Details of the proposal: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1u0h1CRrK-a-a83mecWSzNfvlBxUCurFf6Z6cME_HHCA/edit?usp=sharing