Difference between revisions of "Bitcoin-OTC"

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The '''Bitcoin-OTC''' project is a marketplace for people to conduct [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Over-the-counter_(finance) over-the-counter] trading in bitcoin. It is located in #bitcoin-otc channel on the [http://freenode.net/ freenode] IRC network.
 
The '''Bitcoin-OTC''' project is a marketplace for people to conduct [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Over-the-counter_(finance) over-the-counter] trading in bitcoin. It is located in #bitcoin-otc channel on the [http://freenode.net/ freenode] IRC network.
  
Trading in the market is facilitated by the [[gribble]] bot, which takes care of maintaining the outstanding [http://bitcoin-otc.com/vieworderbook.php order book], as well as a web of trust user [http://trust.bitcoin-otc.com/viewratings.php rating system]. All trades are conducted between users directly, without any intermediation by the marketplace.
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Trading in the market is facilitated by the [[gribble]] bot, which takes care of maintaining the outstanding [http://bitcoin-otc.com/vieworderbook.php order book], as well as a web of trust user [http://bitcoin-otc.com/trust.php rating system]. All trades are conducted between users directly, without any intermediation by the marketplace.
  
 
The source code for all the related software, including bot plugins and the website, is open, and hosted on [https://github.com/nanotube/supybot-bitcoin-marketmonitor this github repository].
 
The source code for all the related software, including bot plugins and the website, is open, and hosted on [https://github.com/nanotube/supybot-bitcoin-marketmonitor this github repository].
  
 
==Web of trust network==
 
==Web of trust network==
The OTC Rating System is an irc-based web of trust network. Users can give each other ratings between -10 and +10. User must be identified and cloaked to enter ratings.
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The OTC Rating System is an irc-based web of trust network. Users can give each other ratings between -10 and +10. User must be [http://wiki.bitcoin-otc.com/wiki/GPG_authentication identified via a PGP key] to enter ratings.
  
 
Only one rating can exist between two people. The 'rate' command updates the existing rating if it is used multiple times. So as the trust increases or decreases, user can update the trust value for a particular user.
 
Only one rating can exist between two people. The 'rate' command updates the existing rating if it is used multiple times. So as the trust increases or decreases, user can update the trust value for a particular user.
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==Relying on the rating==
 
==Relying on the rating==
User have several ways to check if the identity of the person is genuine.
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* Running a 'whois' in freenode to make sure the user is 'logged in'.
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Users have several ways to check if the identity of the person is genuine. Once you check that the user is [http://wiki.bitcoin-otc.com/wiki/GPG_authentication identified via PGP key], you can query his rating with the 'getrating' command (sum of all ratings) or the 'gettrust' command (total of ratings by people you trust). You can also explore the [http://bitcoin-otc.com/viewratings.php trust network] and make sure that the person is well connected to a number of trusted users.
* Get a PGP signed message from the person, using the list of [[User GPG keys]].
 
* The 'getrating' command will show what hostmask the user had when he was entered into the WoT, make sure that matches his current hostmask. Explore the [http://trust.bitcoin-otc.com/viewratings.php trust network] and make sure that the person is well connected to a number of trusted users.
 
  
 
==See also==
 
==See also==
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* [http://www.bitcoin-otc.com Bitcoin-OTC website]
 
* [http://www.bitcoin-otc.com Bitcoin-OTC website]
 
* [http://bitcoin-otc.com/vieworderbook.php Market order book]
 
* [http://bitcoin-otc.com/vieworderbook.php Market order book]
* [http://webchat.freenode.net/?channels=#bitcoin-otc #bitcoin-otc] web-based access
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* [http://bitcoin-otc.com/viewratings.php Bitcoin-OTC web of trust]
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* [http://wiki.bitcoin-otc.com/ Bitcoin-OTC wiki]
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* [http://webchat.freenode.net/?channels=#bitcoin-otc #bitcoin-otc] IRC web-based access
  
 
[[Category:Exchanges]]
 
[[Category:Exchanges]]

Revision as of 16:13, 23 March 2011

The Bitcoin-OTC project is a marketplace for people to conduct over-the-counter trading in bitcoin. It is located in #bitcoin-otc channel on the freenode IRC network.

Trading in the market is facilitated by the gribble bot, which takes care of maintaining the outstanding order book, as well as a web of trust user rating system. All trades are conducted between users directly, without any intermediation by the marketplace.

The source code for all the related software, including bot plugins and the website, is open, and hosted on this github repository.

Web of trust network

The OTC Rating System is an irc-based web of trust network. Users can give each other ratings between -10 and +10. User must be identified via a PGP key to enter ratings.

Only one rating can exist between two people. The 'rate' command updates the existing rating if it is used multiple times. So as the trust increases or decreases, user can update the trust value for a particular user.

Only users with positive ratings in the system can rate other users.

The system calculates the cumulative trust received by a user from all ratings. Through the web interface, users can explore the trust ratings and interconnections between users.

Rating guidelines

Users are suggested to take the size of transactions, the nature of your relationship and interaction, length of history, etc, into consideration with giving out rating.

The basic guidelines on what ratings to hand out to people.

Rating Guideline
10 You trust this person as you trust yourself. Reserve this for close friends and associates you know in person.
8 Large number of high-value transactions, long period of association, very trustworthy.
5 You've had a number of good transactions with this person.
1 One or two good transactions with this person
-1 Person strikes you as a bit flaky. Unreasonable/unexpected delays in payment, etc.
-10 Person failed to hold up his end of the bargain, took payment and ran, fraudster.

Relying on the rating

Users have several ways to check if the identity of the person is genuine. Once you check that the user is identified via PGP key, you can query his rating with the 'getrating' command (sum of all ratings) or the 'gettrust' command (total of ratings by people you trust). You can also explore the trust network and make sure that the person is well connected to a number of trusted users.

See also

External Links