http://spectrum.ieee.org/telecom/internet/ripple-credit-system-could-help-or... Article Chris had trouble posting to wlug. Also invited me to comments: https://ripple.com/ Ripple is an interesting p2p concept that is based on a type of community credit system whereby anybody (user) can grant credit lines to any other user that they trust. The network then finds a path through the network and makes links between trusted users and extends credit lines to settle balances for payments when money is requested to be transferred. It is an attempt to capitalise on a theoretical network effect for the case of many users. It has been around for a few years but was recently given a major revamp and a programming effort by some well-backed team of programmers have just released a invited-only beta test version. Apparently it will go live soon, and the new incarnation has its own ripple-credits for paying transaction fess and trading. Users can send payment credits in any of the major currencies, bitcoin or ripple-credits (not NZD kiwis though yet I don't think). I'm skeptical of the system working because of wide the use of credit, i.e. requiring people to settle up debts between themselves, and extending lines of credit to friends sounds fraught. For small amounts though it may work fine. It is an interesting experiment.