Date: Jan 16 2025
Requested Funds: US$598,100, denominated in USDT on Polkadot Asset Hub
Short description: This proposal seeks funding for a Talisman mobile wallet for both iOS and Android. We aim to place the distinctive Talisman user experience into the hands of our current and future users – to transform their web3 journey with a seamless mobile app experience. The Talisman mobile wallet will be a new product that will work seamlessly with the existing Talisman browser extension wallet and Portal web application. This is a proactive proposal that seeks US$598,100 in USDT for development of the mobile app (from Mar 2025 to Sep 2025).
Links:
🖥️ Summary deck
📄 Full proposal
Context of the Proposal
This proposal plans to seek funding for a Talisman mobile wallet. Our goal is to place the distinctive Talisman user experience into the hands of our current and future users – to transform their web3 journey with a seamless mobile app experience giving people one wallet for all devices.
Extending the Talisman experience
At the time of this proposal, Talisman has developed and maintains two core products: a multi-chain browser extension wallet, and a web application that enables users to “Traverse the Paraverse” with ease.
Both of Talisman’s current products are meant for use on the desktop. A Talisman mobile wallet enables users to also access their wallet on the go, for both iOS and Android users.
Feature Design
We intend for the mobile app to be a handy extension for Talisman users (pun intended). While it will include all the essential features of a mobile wallet, we’re also exploring innovative capabilities that will set Talisman apart from other wallets across all web3 ecosystems. We aim to create something the Polkadot community can proudly recommend to their friends.
Baseline features
👛 Portfolio management (Tokens + NFT)
🔗 Wallet connect
🥩 1-click stake
💎 Cross-chain swap + transfers
👁️ Biometric authentication
💵 Buy / sell crypto
Unique Talisman features
🪬 Talisman Sync of accounts across devices
🚢 Discover & get trending Polkadot tokens with one click
🤖 AI powered trading
☁️ Backup accounts to cloud
🫶 Referral rewards
Why a Talisman mobile wallet matters
Does the Polkadot ecosystem need another mobile wallet? We believe it does. Increased competition drives innovation, which ultimately benefits the entire Polkadot ecosystem. By entering the mobile wallet space now, Talisman can leverage the latest trends and deliver an experience that matches, or even exceeds, those found in other adjacent ecosystems. Besides this, other benefits include:
🪬Improved Talisman experience
New and existing Talisman users will be able to seamlessly access their wallets on the go. Delivering a mobile wallet helps Talisman stay competitive, as users won’t have to manage multiple wallet products.
🪬Broader user base
Many potential users prefer mobile solutions over desktop applications. In many regions, mobile devices are the primary means of internet access. Mobile wallets are typically also easier for onboarding beginners. A mobile wallet will help Talisman capture these new audiences.
🪬Boosting Polkadot adoption
As Talisman captures and retains these new wallet users, its impact benefits the Polkadot ecosystem directly. Features like Talisman 1-click stake locks liquidity in the ecosystem, while swap functionalities drive increased network activity and engagement.
🪬Enhanced user engagement
The Talisman mobile wallet will be able to offer push notifications and real-time alerts, keeping users more engaged with their assets, and improving wallet activity and retention. A mobile wallet also enables more opportunities to incentivize referrals and usage.
🪬Expanding revenue opportunities
Expanding the user base and driving increased wallet activity will directly contribute to revenue-generating activities like staking and swaps. This plays a crucial role in accelerating Talisman’s journey toward profitability.
Community Support for Talisman mobile wallet
After years of user requests for a mobile app, we believe the time has come to turn this vision into reality. Here’s some of the feedback we’ve gotten so far in support of a Talisman mobile app:
“Imagine having the power of a Talisman in your pocket, literally!”- @SunshineGinGirl
“Any plans for launching Mobile wallet in near future” - Ultimate_Winner (Discord)
“Definitely, [Talisman] it's the one i am missing” - @JBRuizAngel
“Yes, and coordinate with the Polkadot App, the goal should be a Point of Sale system for conventional retail through Talisman that would be the perfection of all wallets and would bring Polkadot on the mark.” - - @kuhn__on__kash
“Mobile wallet plz” - Nat (Discord)
“Talisman is one of my main wallets, one of my Talisman cons is 'no mobile support' (can login via mobile browser but imo its not safe as desktop browser) I would probs use it more then desktop as it could - have features like finger print, other security additions! please do!”- @Stickvestor
“Of course you should. When it comes to browser extension wallet the community has options but on mobile not that much” - @cyphadoc
“If you build it i will use it” - @0xDarkSpark
“I only have a question!!!! When mobile app??” - Osiel (Discord)
“Mobile and you will grow massively. Crypto needs mobile because if you ever want to feel like a wallet, it must be pocketable. And it brings competition to the area.” - @tmmcmasters
“I really enjoy using the web app, would love to see it on mobile eventually.” - Lord Wndy (Discord)
Wallet Positioning
It is important to us that the Talisman mobile wallet is not only differentiated from other Polkadot ecosystem wallets, but also with respect to other well-known crypto wallets. We don't intend to make another generic me-too mobile app, but to make an attractive product that extends Talisman functionality and uniqueness to a mobile paradigm and brings new users to crypto and to Polkadot.
To those who say that there are too many mobile apps in Polkadot, we reiterate that increased competition drives innovation, which ultimately benefits the entire Polkadot ecosystem. As features become more differentiated, wallets will become increasingly important as a channel to attract and retain web3 users.
Further to our point, we believe that a diverse range of products is essential to meet the varied needs of different users, and this diversity should be encouraged. No single product can fully satisfy every user within the ecosystem. That said, we have no intention of encroaching on the domains of other wallets in the ecosystem. Instead, our mobile wallet will concentrate on enhancing our user-friendly experience, with a particular focus on portfolio management and (AI-assisted) trading.
Highlighted Features
What follows are concept mockups of features that we are planning to implement. Actual designs will be expanded and refined upon commencement of this project. Because this is a proactive proposal, detailed design and development work has not yet occurred.
🪬Talisman Sync
Synchronize Talisman mobile app with the Talisman extension. This feature enables seamless synchronization between the Talisman mobile and desktop browser extension. This functionality ensures that users have consistent access to their wallet across devices, allowing real-time portfolio management and enhanced flexibility, without the need for time consuming configuration and movement of recovery phrases.
🤖AI-Powered Trading
AI-powered trading bots and agents built into the wallet to deliver automated trading solutions and strategies. This is one of the features that leverages latest trends as an example of what can set Talisman apart from other crypto wallets to enhance functionality and boost user engagement.
🎒Polkadot Tokens Bundle
Get popular tokens with a single click. This feature simplifies the process for new users to discover and swap by offering a curated selection of tokens, making it easy to enter the Polkadot ecosystem quickly and effortlessly.
🔭Discover and Buy Trending Tokens
Users can discover hot and trending tokens in the Polkadot ecosystem, so that they can jump straight into the price action, straight from the comfort of their mobile phone.
🔔Price Alerts
Set price thresholds for their tokens and get notified. With Mobile, increasing the ability to set-up notifications opens a new world of utility for users. Price alerts are key to a trading wallet, enabling timely decision-making and helping users stay informed about market movements on the go.
🫶Refer Friends and Earn Rewards
Mobile brings an opportunity to focus on onboarding and sharing with friends, featuring convenient links and QR codes to make it easy for new users. For the launch of mobile, a referral program will provide even more incentive for current users to invite others to join Talisman.
About Talisman
We believe our mission in the Polkadot ecosystem is to design for the user, advocate for the user, and build for the user. This means staying ahead of the complex multi-chain functionality being built in Polkadot today and distilling it into an intuitive experience. The goal is to empower users to understand the tools at their disposal and complete tasks quickly and efficiently, all while leveraging the full potential of advanced features. Besides this, our goal is to facilitate liquidity to flow into Polkadot to the benefit of all in the ecosystem.
As of Jan 2025, Talisman has achieved the following traction:
- 140,000+ active installs as measured by the Chrome/Firefox app stores
- 19,000+ active users on Talisman extension
- Users in 189 countries
- 7.3+ million DOT in Talisman nomination pools
- The two largest nomination pools in Polkadot DOT staking
We build in an open, community-driven way and we are committed to building for the community, including users, teams, institutions, infrastructure providers, and any other ecosystem stakeholder. For more on Talisman’s mission and approach, please see our latest talks:
Warp Lizard and Natti on Polkadot Spaces, Sep 2024: Talisman's Cross-Chain Swaps https://x.com/i/broadcasts/1zqJVYkqPrnGB
Nipsey at Polkadot Decoded 2024: Conquering Browser Based Substrate Development With Talisman https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g10ehroz5es
Polkadot insider interview @ Thailand blockchain week: Unveil What Next For Talisman In 2024 w/ Jonathan Dunne https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JhLyOy1lkII
Nipsey at Sub0 Asia 2024: The Application Layer: Conquering Browser Based Substrate Development with Talisman https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MIJfshY60rk
I appreciate the progress made with the desktop app and the ambition to expand to mobile. However, the proposal lacks details about Talisman’s financial health, such as income statements or balance sheets —though perhaps I missed it. Providing this information would help assess the project's sustainability and determine how many more funding rounds might be needed. Supporting a company on the road to profitability is far more compelling than backing one reliant on ongoing treasury funding to avoid financial challenges. Transparency here would build confidence and strengthen community support for this initiative.