QSTN Journey in Rootstock: Developer Spotlight

Published on: 15 October, 2024

The Rootstock Grants Program has been running since early 2023, with more than 67 grantees and over 17 dApps live on mainnet today.

One of the most recent builders on Rootstock and grantee, Orin Campbell, shares his thoughts about the Rootstock grants program, including what their platform QSTN is, why they chose to build it on Rootstock, how to overcome challenges of the industry, and advice for other builders on Bitcoin.

Got an idea for a web3 application? Build it today with the Rootstock Grants Program

Web3 Survey Tools

“At QSTN, we envision ourselves as the Web3 version of Google Forms or SurveyMonkey,” says Campbell. The platform allows businesses to create surveys and compensate respondents in Smart Bitcoin (RBTC) or Bitcoin-based NFTs. This approach aligns with Campbell’s belief that “data is a human rights issue,”

By doing so the platform creates new use cases for Bitcoin, turning it from a store of value to a tool that can empower users economically.

QSTN’s frictionless onboarding is another key differentiator. As Campbell explains “People can sign up with an email address, and we create crypto wallets for them automatically, making it easy for anyone to participate.”. This is especially useful for businesses and developers who want to onboard users into the Web3 space without requiring deep blockchain knowledge.

Why Rootstock?

When asked why they chose Rootstock for QSTN’s development, Campbell says “Immediately what attracted us to Rootstock was the fact that the smart contracts are EVM compatible. And so we can basically build on Bitcoin while, you know, leveraging contracts that are also compatible with Ethereum.”. Rootstock’s EVM compatibility makes it easy for Ethereum developers to transition and build dApps on Bitcoin’s robust and secure blockchain.

“The fact that we can monetize the value of Bitcoin through Rootstock while still using EVM-compatible tools made it an easy choice for us” Campbell adds, “Rootstock makes it easy for builders who already know Ethereum-based programming”.

The Rootstock Grants Program: Support Beyond Funding

For QSTN, being part of the Rootstock Grants program was more than just financial support. “Rootstock [community] has been super supportive of the entire grant process. We have telegram calls with different DevRels. We have Discord groups as well with dev support. So I would say this entire process has been super facilitated and super easy and super helpful. And we’re grateful to be a Rootstock grantee.” says Campbell. This level of mentorship and hands-on support is invaluable for developers navigating the early stages of building on a blockchain platform.

Campbell specifically credits Ongun from the Rootstock community, saying, “He’s been amazing throughout the process—whether it’s connecting us with the right resources or helping us navigate technical challenges.”

Overcoming Challenges in an Emerging Ecosystem

Building on a relatively early-stage ecosystem like Rootstock comes with its challenges, particularly in areas like NFT support. “One of the challenges we faced was that the NFT community on Rootstock isn’t as built out as we would like,” admits Campbell. However, the team at QSTN found solutions. “We decided to integrate with Artoshi platform so that users can complete surveys, earn NFTs, and view them directly in Artoshi on Rootstock.”

By solving this challenge, QSTN has enhanced the functionality of its platform and contributed to the broader Rootstock ecosystem, further demonstrating the importance of being adaptable and resourceful when building on an emerging blockchain.

Advice for Developers: Just Build It

For developers considering applying for the Rootstock Grants program or any other grant initiative, Campbell offers simple but powerful advice: “Just build it. You don’t have to be technical to have a great idea. Take a course, maybe teach yourself how to code, get into an accelerator, get into a hackathon”

The Future of QSTN and Rootstock

Looking ahead, Campbell is excited about QSTN’s launch on the Rootstock mainnet. “We’re going to add new features. We’re going to add privacy-preserving profiles so that people can participate in surveys and remain anonymous, but you can continue to track that user. We’re going to add in some AI credibility scores.”

QSTN’s integration with Rootstock not only highlights the platform’s flexibility and capability but also underscores the potential for future collaborations within the Rootstock ecosystem.