Bitcoin Forum

I could theoretically throw spare resources at projects for the bitcoin community.

The project would ideally be self sustaining at some point ( read :- cash flow positive ).

It seems the ideas I had around gambling been catered for, others around the lending community don't seem feasible.

Where does that leave us ?

- P2P escrow within the openscource free to use Bitcoin protocoll!
- Blockchain pruning or ways to provide a light wight solution to end users (maybe shift securing the network or whatever over to the miners?)
- P2P lending algorithm, like ripple?
- P2P currency exchange
...

This actually sounds like an awesome idea!  There should be some small fee to use the escrow service though, perhaps 1%, and it should be split by the people running the application.  I have no idea how you'd limit people to running 1 node per computer to keep from gaming the system or keep them from being able to access and steal the BTC held in escrow, but I'd run it if it was a safe way to generate small amounts of funds and I'd use it for escrow on my trades to support the P2P aspect.

Another huge issue would be determining how to resolve disputes.

This, hardcore. If P2P won't work, centralize it, and allow loans/repayments via SMS as well

Other ideas:

- A simple, open-source Windows, Linux and Mac app that simply reads the wallet file you drag to it, and spits out a text file containing all the private keys

- Convert the C++ blockchain parser (thread here (https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=88584.0)) into a nice, shiny, easy-to-use program that lets you pore over, examine, chart, etc. the data as much as you like

- Another lite open-source Android app (that works well) couldn't hurt. I'd download it.

- A "sweep" app for smartphones. Someone hands you a QR-code of a private key, you scan it, and the app collects all the unspent outputs and bundles them into one transaction sent to your default receiving address. All with one or two clicks for speed. (Optional: allow a "power-user" mode where you can scan multiple codes, choose which unspent outputs to spend, decide on transaction fee, split the amount across multiple receiving addresses, etc.)

- A (good!) strategy game where you can spend BTC to upgrade, and put up BTC competitively (you win, you earn his BTC, and vice-versa)


I'd pledge varying modest amounts of BTC to see any of the above get done.

The tendency for other bitcoin uses to value anonymity definitely would pose problems to large scale lending based in Bitcoin.

However, the value of a lending service similar to Prosper and Lending Club that would be based in Bitcoin would not be a worthless endeavor just because the veil of anonymity should need to be lifted.

IMO, to say that more wide-spread adoption of Bitcoin would imply anonymous usage of Bitcoin is rather silly and misguided.


Someone needs to come up with credit reporting and organized lending based in Bitcoin.

Immediate thought: Facebook app for sending BTC to friends.

A quick search shows it's been tried already, sort of, but hasn't exactly taken off:

https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=69071.0
http://pierreterre.com/blog/how-bitcoin-may-undo-applefacebook-30-sales-tax
https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Bitcoin-App.com

It seems like the idea so far has centered around the concept of sending bitcoins unannounced to people who don't know much about them and then hoping they'll use them.

I think it might do well by simply being an Instawallet-like service that makes it easier for people who already use bitcoins to send them to others on FB who also already use bitcoins. You would have to be signed up already to receive the coins, and then the system just transfers the funds internally when sending to someone else within the system. Charge a monthly rate (in bitcoin, of course) to use, possibly pre-paid, and it just might be profitable too.