Counterparty (technology)
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| Stable release |
9.55.2
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|---|---|
| Written in | Python, JavaScript |
| License | MIT |
| Website | counterparty |
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, as well as the ability to create their own virtual assets, issue dividends, create price feeds, bets and contracts for difference.
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 were sent to 1CounterpartyXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXUWLpVr (worth roughly US$1.8 million at the time). 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.
With Counterparty, users can create their own currencies inside the bitcoin blockchain. These are separate from bitcoin the currency itself, but exist entirely inside ordinary bitcoin transactions. Tokens can be received, stored, and sent from any bitcoin address to any other. They can also be placed in cold storage. Counterparty tokens are not tied to the BTC balance of any given address. This means that sending/receiving bitcoins has no effect on the balance of tokens. Among other features, Counterparty adds the ability create, send, trade, and pay distributions on assets, in a fully decentralized and trustless manner. While Counterparty has its own internal currency (XCP), trading and creating assets does not require anything apart from regular bitcoin transaction fees.
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