Counterparty (technology)

Counterparty

Stable release	9.55.2
Written in	Python, JavaScript
License	MIT
Website	counterparty.io

Counterparty is a financial platform for creating peer-to-peer financial applications on the bitcoin blockchain. The protocol specification and all Counterparty software is open source. The reference client is counterpartyd and a web wallet called Counterwallet showcases all protocol features. The protocol’s native currency, XCP, is the fuel that powers Counterparty. It is slightly deflationary, with approximately 2.6 million XCP having been created by burning Bitcoins in January 2014. Counterparty provides users with the world's first functioning decentralized digital currency exchange,^[1] as well as the ability to create their own virtual assets, issue dividends, create price feeds, bets and contracts for difference.^[2]

XCP

Counterparty has a native currency called XCP. It was originally issued using a provable method called "proof of burn". This method involves sending bitcoins to a special address that renders the coins permanently unspendable. By avoiding funding during its launch, Counterparty has ensured that developers and users have equal financial opportunities. During January 2014, 2125.63 bitcoins^[3] were sent to 1CounterpartyXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXUWLpVr^[4] (worth roughly US$1.8 million at the time).^[5] XCP is used in the Counterparty protocol to create new assets, make bets, and perform callbacks on callable assets. Counterparty used proof of burn to issue XCP, instead of a more traditional fund-raising technique for altcoin launches, to keep the initial distribution of funds as fair and decentralized as possible, and to avoid potential legal issues.^[5][6]

Use-cases

• Programmable Smart Contracts - Turing-complete smart contracts scripting is one of the most powerful Counterparty features. Users can write their own custom financial instruments and decentralized applications (Dapp). Counterparty contracts are 100% compatible with Ethereum scripting, and pretty much all contracts can be run on both platforms without code changes.
• Betting - Counterparty turns the bitcoin blockchain into a betting platform and prediction market. Oracles can create broadcasts of information, and users can then place bets on these broadcasts. Funds are escrowed automatically by the protocol, and benefit from being stored securely inside the bitcoin blockchain. Funds placed on bets are provably inaccessible until the bet is resolved or expires. Oracles can set a fee fraction to receive for their betting feeds, providing incentive to run their broadcasts.
• Tickets & Coupons - Assets can be used as tickets to a music event, parking tickets, coupons, etc.
• Token Controlled Access (TCA) - Token Controlled Access is the idea of granting access to private forums, chatrooms, games, projects or other social media based on the ownership of tokens. Different types of tokens represent different types of membership, and holders of that token can register and/or view the restricted content. To invite new users, smaller fractions of these tokens can be transferred. If the token is indivisible and scarce, it will limit the number of users others are able to invite. These tokens are also publicly tradable on the DEX and therefore can have a monetary value, and/or one proportional to other types of these tokens.
• Proof of Publication - Using broadcasts, users can publish timestamped information onto the bitcoin blockchain. This makes it possible to verify that something has been posted at a certain time, and it cannot be deleted.
• Crowdfunding - Counterparty assets can be used for crowdfunding. You can issue a certain amount of assets and sell these to start your project. Due to the high amount of trust involved, it is better to use a Counterparty-based crowdfunding platform which can perform due-diligence on your project. This will provide your users trust, and demonstrate the legitimacy of your project. There is nothing stopping you from doing this on your own, but users may rightfully be suspicious about your project.
• Derivatives - You can back Counterparty assets with tangible goods, such as gold.
• In-game Currency - To integrate your multiplayer game into the global economy, Counterparty assets can also be used as in-game currency.
• Altcoin Migration - If you have an altcoin that seeks to fulfill a specific purpose, but do not wish to continue mining, you can migrate it to Counterparty with proof-of-burn.
• Verifiable Voting -Counterparty supports voting through the use of user-created tokens. This means that you can post the terms and options of your vote as a broadcast, and let users vote on its outcome with full transparency by using tokens. If you create a token (EXAMPLE), you can create any other tokens (such as EXAMPLEVOTE) and pay distributions of EXAMPLEVOTE to all holders of EXAMPLE in one single action. Create a distribution payment and choose EXAMPLEVOTE as the currency to distribute. This way, all holders of EXAMPLE will receive EXAMPLEVOTE in the amount you specify. Now all you need are as many different bitcoin addresses as there are choices in your poll. For example: one bitcoin address for yes, one for no. To cast their votes, holders of EXAMPLE can then send the EXAMPLEVOTE they have received to whichever address they choose. The results of the poll will then be public and verifiable on the bitcoin blockchain, and can be visualized in a block explorer.

Software

Screenshot of Counterwallet Homepage

counterpartyd is the reference implementation of the Counterparty protocol, and Counterwallet is a deterministic web-wallet frontend to counterpartyd, in which all cryptography is handled client-side. Both are open source and hosted on GitHub.^[7] Counterparty offers support for Solidity.^[8]

Notable assets and issuers

• LTBCoin: Let's Talk Bitcoin, a podcast about bitcoin, has launched a Counterparty asset called 'LTBCOIN'. LTBcoin is a crypto-rewards system where people who help LTB to be useful are rewarded for their efforts. And it’s built on bitcoin. LTBcoin is the proprietary token for the Let’s Talk Bitcoin Network. It is the exclusive token accepted for sponsorships. It will provide the user a significant discount in the network wide and ACT-specific e-commerce stores. It can be used in the network for tipping and will generally be useful in every corner of the LTB universe. LTBcoin does not use computational mining. Instead, coins are distributed to the content creators, the community and the platform according to a fixed schedule. After a period of 260 weeks (5 years), all coins will be distributed and no new coins will be created. LTBcoin is a user-defined asset using the Counterparty protocol. LTBcoin can be traded on the Counterparty distributed exchange for XCP or other user-defined assets. The Counterparty Asset ID for LTBCoin is LTBCOIN.^[9][10]
• Storj: Storj (pronounced: storage) aims to become a cloud storage platform that can’t be censored or monitored, or have downtime. Storj is a platform, cryptocurrency, and suite of decentralized applications that allows users to store data in a secure and decentralized manner. The network consists of DriveShare nodes run by users around the world who rent out their unused hard drive space in return for Storjcoin X (SJCX). The decentralized aspect of Storj means there are no central servers to be compromised, and because of the use of client-side encryption, only the end-users have access to their unencrypted files and encryption keys. The Counterparty Asset ID for Storj is SJCX^[11][12] Storj in 2017 announced their intention to leave Counterparty.^[13] Storj migrated to Ethereum with an ERC20 token called STORJ.
• GetGems: GetGems introduces cryptocurrency in a secure, fast bitcoin cryptocurrency wallet with all of the messaging features of Telegram, the world’s most encrypted stand alone instant messenger. GetGems makes handling bitcoin as simple as sending a text message. There is an Android and iOS application for download available. The Counterparty Asset ID for GetGems is GEMZ^[14]
• FoldingCoin: FoldingCoin Inc. looks to harness computational power used in alternative cryptocurrency blockchains to be better used for medical and scientific projects with goals of solving world problems. In doing so, FoldingCoin Inc. looks to compensate participants with cryptocurrencies built on Counterparty. FoldingCoin Inc currently distributes tokens to participants of Stanford's Folding@home project.^[15] The Counterparty Asset ID for FoldingCoin is FLDC^[16]
• Swarm: Swarm is attempting to decentralize the online crowdfunding scene and has hopes to be "the Facebook of crowdfunding".^[17] The Counterparty Asset ID for Swarm is SWARM^[18]
• Spells of Genesis: Gaming company Everdreamsoft has developed Spells of Genesis as a blockchain based trading card game on the Counterparty platform. Spells of Genesis is a mobile game mixing the collection and strategic aspects of Trading Card games with the addictiveness of Arcade games.^[19] While working as a core of the whole game economy and background story, bitcoin and cryptocurrency will be used as an in-game means of exchange. The use of blockchain technology will allow game items to be easily and freely traded within the app and outside of it.^[19] The Counterparty Asset ID for Spells of Genesis is BITCRYSTALS.^[20]
• Tatiana Coin: Singer songwriter Tatiana Moroz released one of the earliest digital artist tokens. This token can be redeemed for products and services from Moroz. The Counterparty Asset ID for Tatiana Coin is TATIANACOIN^[21]
• RealEst. Coin: RealEst. Coin allows you to invest bitcoin into U.S. commercial real estate. This app token gives common investors the opportunity to crowdfund acquisitions of net leased commercial real estate, and secure payouts from the monthly lease payments of the tenant. The Counterparty Asset ID for RealEst. Coin is REALEST.
• A full list of currently developed assets on Counterparty can be found at XCPassets.org.^{[22][third-party source needed]}

Block explorers

Since Counterparty Assets are created within the bitcoin blockchain, the assets actually exist in any bitcoin block explorer, however, to decode the information on what bitcoin address has what asset an additional layer of block exploration needs to be applied. Currently there are two block explorers you can use to locate Counterparty assets in bitcoin wallets:

• Blockscan - Blockscan was the first block explorer built specifically for the Counterparty protocol. You can explore everything from the original burns used to generate XCP, to the most recent assets created by users. This feature rich website allows you to really dive into the blockchain to take a look at all the assets, broadcasts, and transactions that take place. Blockscan also offers additional features if you register for an account. Once you log into an account made on Blockscan you can verify addresses that you own by signing messages or broadcasting feeds and then your username will be associated with those wallets. This allows you to create voting scoreboards and change asset descriptions for ones you own in that wallet.
• Counterparty Chain - Counterparty Chain by CoinDaddy has a block explorer and API service for XCP assets (Counterparty). But CoinDaddy is not just simply a block explorer, they also have a whole suite of features available to the public including Asset registration, transfer services, asset enhancement, asset vending machines, and enhanced broadcasting.

References

External links

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