SecureStay

Inspiration - a story from a friend

As an Asian woman who loves solo travel, I thrive on meeting new friends in hostels and Airbnbs. But no matter how exciting the journey, there’s always an unsettling fear lurking in the back of my mind—what if the host, who has all my personal information and a spare key, decides to enter while I’m still there? The thought of someone "breaking in" while I sleep or relax in a space that’s supposed to be mine, even temporarily, is terrifying.

That’s why we created SecureStay—a blockchain-based rental system designed to ensure hosts cannot access their property while tenants are inside.

What it does

SecureStay is a decentralized rental platform that eliminates unauthorized host access using smart contract-controlled door locks on the Solana blockchain. Renters book stays with secure, anonymous crypto payments, and only on-chain verified tenants can unlock the property. Hosts cannot override access or misuse backup keys, ensuring true safety and privacy for renters. Built-in penalty enforcement mechanisms further protect guests from violations.

How we built it

We developed SecureStay using Solana smart contracts to manage rental agreements, payments, and access control. The platform integrates blockchain-based NFT keys that grant temporary access to the property, ensuring that only the renter can enter during their stay. To further enhance security, we use IoT-enabled smart locks that interact directly with the blockchain, ensuring that access permissions remain immutable and decentralized.

Challenges we ran into

Integrating smart contracts with IoT door locks – Ensuring real-time, trustless communication between Solana contracts and physical smart locks was a major technical hurdle. Ensuring seamless renter experience – Balancing blockchain security with an easy-to-use interface for non-crypto users required careful design. Integrating the Solana infrastructure in of itself itself was a process of learning and trial and error.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

Built a fully decentralized, privacy-focused rental system where hosts never hold personal renter information or backup keys. Achieved fast, low-cost, and trustless transactions using Solana’s high-speed blockchain. Designed a seamless UX that makes blockchain rentals as simple as traditional platforms, but far more secure.

What we learned

Blockchain can do more than payments—by integrating real-world access control, we can enforce security and privacy like never before. User trust is critical—privacy-focused travelers need strong assurances that hosts cannot override security, requiring careful on-chain enforcement. Decentralization can enhance real-world safety, not just financial security.

What's next for SecureStay

We plan to:

Develop smart lock integration prototypes to support IoT-enabled locks.
Launch a pilot program with Airbnb hosts willing to adopt decentralized key management.
Enhance renter protections by implementing on-chain dispute resolution for unfair evictions or violations.
Develop a mobile app for easy NFT key management and seamless blockchain-based bookings.

SecureStay is more than a rental platform—it’s a revolution in digital trust and safety for travelers worldwide.