Mtumba is an innovative e-commerce platform designed to solve the challenges of trust, security, and fragmented payments in traditional secondhand marketplaces. By leveraging blockchain technology, M-Pesa mobile payments, and Privado ID for identity verification, the platform ensures a seamless, secure, and user-friendly environment for buying and selling secondhand goods.
In many secondhand marketplaces, both buyers and sellers face risks of fraud, non-delivery of goods, and limited access to reliable payment methods. Mtumba provides a secure solution through blockchain-based escrow contracts, ensuring transparency and trust in every transaction. M-Pesa integration ensures accessibility for users in regions where traditional banking is limited, while Privado ID enhances security through decentralized identity verification.
I used simple data mockup to illuistrate the application:
- Blockchain Escrow Contracts: Payments are held in secure escrow until both the buyer and seller confirm the transaction.
- M-Pesa Integration: Allows mobile payments for users without access to traditional banking services, making the platform accessible for a wider audience.
- Privado ID for Identity Verification: Uses decentralized identity technology to verify users, reducing fraud and ensuring privacy.
- Seller Portal: Sellers can easily list secondhand items for sale, including images, descriptions, and pricing.
- Buyer Portal: Buyers can browse items, view detailed descriptions, and initiate secure payments via M-Pesa or blockchain.
- Mobile-First Design: The platform is optimized for mobile users, ensuring a seamless experience across devices.
The Mtumba platform addresses the following key issues in traditional secondhand marketplaces:
- Lack of Trust: Buyers and sellers often lack confidence in the transaction process, with concerns over fraud or non-delivery. Mtumba solves this by utilizing blockchain escrow, ensuring that funds are only released when both parties confirm the transaction.
- Limited Payment Options: In many regions, users don't have access to traditional banking systems. Mtumba integrates M-Pesa, enabling users to participate in the marketplace using their mobile phones.
- Security and Privacy: Fraudulent activities and identity theft are common issues in online marketplaces. Mtumba uses Privado ID for decentralized identity verification, protecting users' privacy and ensuring secure transactions.
- Frontend: React.js for building a responsive and dynamic user interface.
- Backend: Node.js with Express.js for handling API requests and managing the marketplace logic.
- Blockchain: Ethereum (or Celo/Polygon) smart contracts for escrow payments, utilizing Solidity for contract development.
- Payments: M-Pesa API for mobile payments, integrated via Axios.
- Identity Verification: Privado ID for secure and decentralized identity verification.
- Database: Optional (MongoDB, PostgreSQL, etc.) for storing user data, listed items, and transactions (if implemented).
- Seller Lists Item: Sellers can log in and post items for sale through the Seller Portal, providing details such as the item's name, price, description, and images.
- Buyer Browses Items: Buyers can browse through available secondhand items in the Buyer Portal, view detailed descriptions, and initiate a purchase by clicking "Buy Now."
- Identity Verification (Privado ID): Buyers are verified using Privado ID, ensuring the marketplace is safe from fraud.
- Payments via M-Pesa or Blockchain: Buyers can choose to pay using M-Pesa or through blockchain escrow payments. M-Pesa is integrated to allow seamless mobile payments, especially for users in regions with limited banking access.
- Escrow Contract: If the buyer chooses blockchain payment, the funds are held in a secure escrow contract. The funds are released to the seller only when the buyer confirms that they have received the item.
- Transaction Completion: Once both parties confirm the transaction, the escrow releases the payment to the seller, ensuring a secure and transparent transaction process.
- Node.js (v14 or higher)
- npm or yarn
- MetaMask (for blockchain transactions)
- M-Pesa API credentials (for integrating mobile payments)
- Privado ID API credentials (for identity verification)
git clone https://github.com/your-username/mtumba-marketplace.git
cd mtumba-marketplace-
Navigate to the
backend/folder. -
Install backend dependencies:
npm install
-
Create a
.envfile in the backend directory and add your M-Pesa and Privado ID API credentials:MPESA_CONSUMER_KEY=your_consumer_key MPESA_CONSUMER_SECRET=your_consumer_secret MPESA_SHORTCODE=your_shortcode MPESA_PASSWORD=your_password MPESA_CALLBACK_URL=https://your-callback-url.com PRIVADO_API_KEY=your_privado_api_key -
Start the backend server:
node app.js
- Navigate to the
frontend/folder. - Install frontend dependencies:
npm install
- Start the frontend development server:
npm start
If you want to deploy the smart contract:
- Compile and deploy the MtumbaEscrow contract using Remix IDE or Hardhat.
- After deployment, add the deployed contract address in your
PaymentForm.jsor backend logic.
- List Items: Sellers can list items for sale via the Seller Portal.
- Browse and Buy: Buyers browse items and initiate payments via M-Pesa or Blockchain (escrow).
- Identity Verification: Buyers are verified via Privado ID, ensuring security and transparency.
- Complete Transaction: Once the buyer confirms receipt, the payment is released to the seller.
We welcome contributions to improve the platform! If you'd like to contribute:
- Fork the repository.
- Create a feature branch (
git checkout -b feature/your-feature). - Commit your changes (
git commit -m 'Add some feature'). - Push to the branch (
git push origin feature/your-feature). - Open a Pull Request.
This project is licensed under the MIT License. See the LICENSE file for details.
For any questions or issues, feel free to open an issue or reach out at [[email protected]].