Why Yalabit is Building on Ice Open Network
Mr J. Snow
8/29/20253 min read
The foundation of our vision:
What is Ice Open Network?
Ice Open Network (ION) is a fast and scalable Layer-1 blockchain built to bring the Internet on-chain, ensuring that every app empowers users with control over their data, identity, and digital interactions.
The ION blockchain is a high-performance, multi-threaded, and multi-shard blockchain that is capable of processing millions of transactions per second. This makes it one of the fastest and most scalable blockchains in existence. The ION blockchain is built on a unique architecture that allows it to scale horizontally as the number of network participants increases, thereby ensuring that the network remains fast and efficient even as it grows.
source: ice.io/whitepaper
For a platform like Yalabit, the blockchain we build on is not a technical afterthought — it’s a core product choice. Yalabit combines fiat rails with crypto swaps, escrow markets, staking, and merchant tools. To serve both everyday users and crypto-natives, we needed an ecosystem that matches our vision. That’s why we chose the Ice Open Network (ION).
1. Our product needs in plain terms
Yalabit is designed to be a hybrid: fiat for convenience, crypto for ownership. This brings three key requirements:
Simple onboarding for first-time crypto users.
Non-custodial crypto flows for sovereignty.
Merchant-grade controls for trust and scale.
As our whitepaper states:
“Yalabit will be deployed as a DApp on Ice Open Network using the ION framework. Users log in via ION ID, enabling one-click sign-in and transaction authorization. Private keys are stored locally and encrypted with the ION ID Key Module.”
This is exactly the infrastructure we need to meet those requirements.
2. What ION gives us
Decentralized identity (ION ID)
With ION ID; Login, Transaction signing, Identity key management all works from just a click.
“ION ID is required for receiving Yala airdrops, receiving earnings from platform activities and crypto deposits.”
This ensures fair distribution while making onboarding simpler than traditional wallets.
MPC Wallet (ION Wallet)
Instead of seed phrases, ION Framework uses multi-party computation (MPC) to split and secure keys locally in user's device. Users don't need to manage multiple wallets, their ION Wallet on Online+ connects directly with Yalabit.
“All staking transactions interact with Online+ MPC wallet”
That’s non-custodial security with consumer-friendly UX.
True dApp deployment
We aren’t just hosting on servers — Yalabit itself will run as a dApp on ION. This gives transparency, composability, and long-term resilience.
Forking the ION Framework built with Flutter (written in Dart), Yalabit is a Single codebased Application with Flutter's core advantage of multiple platform compatibility and deployment for Mobile (Android/IOS) Desktop and Web.
We are deploying as a true Decentralize Application not just on Online+, but as an installable mobile app.
3. Hybrid architecture: fiat + crypto, working together
Fiat Balance (custodial): Users can store fiat for quick trades.
Crypto (non-custodial): Crypto flows directly from Online+ or external ION Wallets.
This balance of convenience and sovereignty is what sets Yalabit apart.
4. Escrow, P2P, and trust
Yalabit’s escrow flows (Goods, Services, Payment settlements) depend on secure, transparent settlements.
With ION identity and wallet infrastructure, every crypto escrow funding is transparent and verifiable.
5. Token mechanics & staking
The YALA token is tied directly to Yalabit’s ecosystem.
Staking: Users stake YALA via Online+, Users hold Yala Token in their ION Wallet on Online+.
Merchant verification: Requires dynamic amount of Yala token as per qualification requirements.
Rewards: 1–12 month lock periods with daily APY.
Deflationary model: revenue buybacks + burns.
Details in Yalabit's Whitepaper.
This aligns incentives between everyday users, merchants, and the long-term health of the token.
6. Why this matters for users
Onboarding is easier (ION ID vs. seed phrases).
Custody choice is preserved.
Merchants get real skin in the game via staking.
Escrows and swaps run smoother with fiat + crypto integration.
Or as we wrote in the whitepaper:
“Yalabit is designed to serve Africa and beyond, focusing on new crypto users who need safe, simple access to digital assets without losing ownership.”
Conclusion
By choosing Ice Open Network, Yalabit gains the right balance of decentralization, usability, and product flexibility.
It’s a decision that makes our hybrid vision possible: fiat convenience for the masses, crypto sovereignty for the future, and token incentives that strengthen the ecosystem.
We’re not just building another Escrow platform and P2P Crypto trading App. We’re building a decentralized financial foundation — and ION is the bedrock.