Background

Three months ago we submitted a small proposal ($2,000 for KYC verification). It was rejected with fair and constructive feedback: prove the network publicly first, show traction, then return with a milestone-based proposal. We did exactly that.

What we delivered since then, all independently verifiable

• Live public testnet with 6 active nodes (3 validator, 2 public RPC, and 1 private RPC dedicated to the indexer): https://telemetry.polkadot.io/#list/0x58e2de05e550e64bb73bb2aeb706431dae70dcd1b589d477033c6e3aef3680ae
• Full privacy flow working end-to-end: shield, private transfer, unshield, selective disclosure, usable today by anyone: https://app.orbinum.network/wallet/private
• Faucet: https://faucet.orbinum.network/
• Explorer: https://explorer.testnet.orbinum.network/
• Docs: https://docs.orbinum.network/
• EVM compatibility, chain ID 2700, listed on Chainlist: https://chainlist.org/chain/2700
• TypeScript SDK for developers, in active development: https://github.com/orbinum/ts-sdk
• Community traction: 4,800+ active members, 4,300+ active in the last 7 days, 2,500+ with on-chain testnet transactions (community program)
• Chain data: 36,000+ transactions, 20,000+ Shielded ORB, 45,000+ tree size

We invite every voter to run the full privacy flow before deciding. It takes only a few minutes with a browser and the faucet.

What Orbinum brings to Polkadot

Polkadot has no production shielded-pool privacy layer. Orbinum is Substrate + Frontier: a shielded UTXO pool with ZK proofs (shield, private transfer, unshield, selective disclosure for compliance) combined with full EVM compatibility. Connected via XCM, it gives every parachain and every ecosystem user access to private transfers without leaving Polkadot. The codebase is public: https://github.com/orbinum/

The request

Milestone-based funding across three workstreams. Funds released per completed milestone, not upfront.

1. Security audit - Independent audit by a recognized firm. Report published in full: $90,000
2. XCM integration - XCM live on a public testing ground, with docs for parachain teams: $35,000
3. Infrastructure - 6 months of public network infrastructure, metrics public: $25,000

Why now

The network works. The community is real and growing. What stands between Orbinum and delivering a privacy layer to Polkadot is exactly what this proposal funds. Last time we asked before showing proof. The proof is now live, and we ask the community to evaluate the work directly.

Beyond funding, we would also greatly value feedback from the W3F. In particular, we would appreciate any legal guidance or recommendations that can help ensure Orbinum is developed in a way that aligns with best practices for the Polkadot ecosystem and long-term sustainability.

Closing

We are grateful for the feedback that shaped this proposal; it made both the project and this request stronger. Orbinum is built to be part of Polkadot, and this funding takes it from a working testnet to an audited, XCM-connected privacy layer the whole ecosystem can use.

We welcome every question, and we encourage voters to try the network firsthand before deciding. You can reach us on this thread, on Discord, or on Telegram.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

— The Orbinum Team