RainGuard

The RainGuard is a decentralized peer-to-peer insurance protocol that uses trusted weather data to trigger automatic payouts for climate-related risks. It lets anyone build tailored protection against unpredictable events like droughts or heatwaves, without dealing with traditional insurers or slow, manual claims.

Users define what they want to insure by setting the weather condition, location, timeframe, and coverage amount. Experts compete to price this risk by offering premium bids, creating transparent, market-driven rates. Investors fund the payout pools and earn returns if no payout is needed, while insured users have full peace of mind knowing their risk is secured on-chain.

To keep the experience simple, the platform is designed for users who have no blockchain background. It uses a Circle paymaster to enable gasless transactions paid directly in USDT, so there is no need to hold ETH for gas. The interface guides users step by step, removing crypto complexity and focusing on clear insurance terms.

At the end of the insurance period, smart contracts automatically check weather data through Chainlink functions. If conditions are met, funds are released instantly, with no paperwork or disputes. Over time, experts build a reputation score based on how well they price risk, helping users pick reliable offers.

Insurance without middlemen, powered by data and governed by its participants.

The protocol runs on a set of smart contracts that handle the entire insurance lifecycle. Users begin by creating a request on the InsuranceManager contract, specifying the coverage amount, location, time window, and an array of weather conditions, each defined by type, operator, and threshold. Experts then review these open requests and submit offers with proposed premiums and detailed risk assessments. Once the user selects an offer, the contract updates the request status, and investors can fund the pool by sending USDC. When fully funded, the user pays the premium, which the contract automatically splits: 5% goes to the expert, while 95% is distributed among investors in proportion to their stake.

After the policy period ends, anyone can trigger settlement. The contract uses Chainlink Functions to fetch weather data from AccuWeather linked to that request. If the insured conditions were met, the user receives an instant payout; if not, investors are able to withdraw their funds. The system also tracks expert performance, updating reputations after each settlement to reflect the accuracy of their risk evaluations.

Everything runs gasless for both users and investors through Circle Paymaster, and is deployed on Mantle and Zircuit to ensure high scalability and low transaction fees. Custom getter functions like getRequestBasic, getOffers, and getInvestments expose all nested data efficiently to the frontend.

On the frontend side, the app is built with Next.js (App Router) and TypeScript, leveraging Scaffold-ETH 2 hooks for seamless blockchain interactions. The user interface is clean and intuitive: users can easily create insurance requests, compare expert offers with transparent reputation scores, and track funding progress in real time. Investors can browse available pools, contribute USDC, and monitor their positions. Once a policy goes live, the UI shows a countdown to expiry and clearly displays whether a payout was triggered or if investor withdrawals are available. Real-time weather data and settlement status are integrated directly into the app, powered by Chainlink Functions and AccuWeather.

By automating the entire process, on a decentralized stack, this protocol delivers faster, more transparent insurance without the usual paperwork or delays, unlocking a smarter way to hedge against weather risks.