Cardano Infrastructure

The Challenge

Over several years we've built deep operational and engineering capability across the Cardano ecosystem. What started with stake pool infrastructure grew into a body of work spanning a governance portal, open-source WordPress plugins, blockchain data APIs, validator operations, and community onboarding tools. Each engagement compounds — operational insight feeds product decisions, infrastructure experience shapes the tools we build, and community work drives real-world adoption.

Our Approach

• Cardano Connect Governance Portal — Built a full-stack governance platform using Laravel API with MySQL/Postgres backing Cardano DB-sync data, paired with a Next.js frontend. The portal features interactive proposal timelines, DRep vote participation charts, stake pool pledge/delegation scatter plots, block explorers, and pool comparison tools. Supports internationalisation and serves the Cardano community as a transparency and governance participation tool.
• Cardano Connect WordPress Plugin — Developed an open-source plugin shipped to the WordPress plugin directory, enabling any WordPress site to integrate Cardano wallet connection (CIP-30), message signing (CIP-8), token-gated content, and Gutenberg blocks. Includes Blockfrost API integration, asset configuration, and a companion verification microservice for secure wallet authentication.
• Upstream SPO & Community Platform — Built and maintain upstream.org.uk, a Web3 content-managed website bridging WordPress CMS with Cardano wallet integration, token-gated content, and event management. Supports Upstream's work driving Cardano education and adoption across the UK and Europe.
• Stake Pool & Validator Operations — Built and operate bare-metal Cardano stake pools with physical server provisioning, security hardening, monitoring, alerting, and automated failover. Configured Midnight validator nodes for the sidechain preview network, including a custom Rust-based blockchain indexer syncing blocks and validator sets into PostgreSQL.
• Summit Mini Games & Onboarding — Created token-gated onboarding experiences for Cardano community summits. React-based mini games with Mesh.js wallet connection, SVG procedural graphics, and incentivised participation loops that drove high adoption rates at in-person events. Built by Pendulum for Upstream's community events.
• Ongoing technical assistance including community summit data repositories, constitutional workshop tooling, and SanchoNet explorer APIs.

The Outcome

A continuously expanding Cardano practice covering infrastructure through to user-facing products. Operating stake pools and validators gives us first-hand understanding of chain behaviour. Building Cardano Connect puts Web3 wallet auth into the hands of thousands of WordPress sites. The governance dashboards and explorer tools serve the community directly. Each piece reinforces the next — we don't just build for the Cardano ecosystem, we operate within it.

Key Takeaways

• Running your own infrastructure teaches lessons that consulting never can.
• Open-source plugins create ecosystem leverage — Cardano Connect bridges Web2 and Web3 for non-technical teams.
• Blockchain data platforms require careful schema design driven by query patterns, not chain structure.
• Creative onboarding (games, events, token-gating) drives adoption where traditional approaches fail.
• Multi-year ecosystem involvement builds compounding expertise that short engagements cannot replicate.