BitShares
BitShares is an open-source, public, blockchain-based real-time financial platform. It provides a built-in decentralized asset exchange, similar to New York Stock Exchange but for cryptocurrencies and without the need to trust a central authority to handle all the funds, that can execute trading using an international network of computers in which anyone can take part. BitShares also provides a cryptocurrency token called “BTS”, which can be transferred between accounts and is used to collect fees for network operations and as a collateral for loans.
This platform was designed by American programmer and entrepreneur Dan Larimar, and launched in July 2014.
Since March 2016 the project is a part of Microsoft Azure Blockchain as a Service package
BitShares objectives is to offer financial services, typically offered by banks, to end users. Therefore it operates with stablecoins such as bitUSD and bitCNY.
History
Inception
On June 2nd 2013, an entrepreneur named Dan Larimer has discovered a way of creating a fiat/Bitcoin exchange without fiat deposits by introducing a token that is backed by another token on the same blockchain.
While discussing this concept with other crypto-enthusiasts on various Internet forums, he introduced his ideas to Charles Hoskinson, a co-founder of Ethereum, who helped to vet the idea and develop a business plan. Together they presented the plan to Li Xiaolai, a Chinese Bitcoin tycoon, who agreed to fund the development. On 4th of July they have founded a company named Invictus Innovations. Few month later, In October 2013 Hoskinson and Larimer presented the concept of BitShares at the Atlanta Bitcoin Conference .
Larimer aimed to create Bitshares X, a blockchain platform that derives its value from a built-in business, specifically a decentralized bank and exchange, instead of an Internet meme (e.g Dogecoin) or some technical innovation (e.g Bitcoin, Ethereum). As he realized that the development would take time, he created BitShares PTS (also known as ProtoShares), a bitcoin clone whose tokens were planned to later be upgraded to Bitshares, so that the early backers could be involved with the project form the beginning by a way of mining and trading. The first PTS block was mined On November 5, 2013.
Few weeks later Daniel came to a conclusion that the concept mining was flawed. He argued that it lead to the network centralization in countries with cheap electricity and unfairly high entry requirements for participation, as mining on an average computer quickly became unprofitable
A month after the release of ProtoShares, around December 1st, he announced that his following projects instead of Proof of Work mining would utilize a Proof of Stake derivative, which, in his opinion, was a simple algorithm that could be used by anyone on their home computer.
On december 8th, 2013 Larimer introduced a new consensus algorithm – Delegated Proof Of Stake (see below), upon which the BitShares platform was built and launched on July 19th of the same year.
Main features
Performance and Scalability
According to the developers the platform is capable of processing 100,000 transactions per second (tps) and even more with minimal optimization. For comparison, Visa Inc., one of the largest financial providers in the world, handles, on average, 2000 tps with a maximum capacity of 24,000 tps.
Decentralized Asset Exchange
BitShares allows its users to trade on the built-in fully decentralized exchange (DEX). While traditional cryptocurrency exchanges rely on their own private servers to store, handle and control all the funds, they also have a history of theft, being hacked or closed down. The idea of a DEX is to have no access to its users’ private keys, which are the cryptographic equivalent of a strong password to a regular Internet account, and to operate on a distributed computer network. This way traders remain in full control of their money and the trading platform itself is more resistant to attacks.
Dynamic Account Permissions
All accounts on the platform can be set up to be controlled by multiple different accounts, reflecting the hierarchy of permissions in real life organizations, where the funds could be controlled by several people. Such a hierarchical control over funds creates an environment that is less prone to theft or hacking.
Referral Rewards Program
The blockchain has a built-in referral program which provides incentives to users that bring new people to the platform as increasing the amount of users strengthens the security of the whole network and raises its market value.
User-Issued Assets
Users on BitShares are able to create their own custom tokens in order to, for example, promote their business or facilitate crowdfunding for a startup. These tokens can be traded or held by other users as a regular cryptocurrency. The issuer can decide on the token name, description, initial distribution, trading fees and more.
Smartcoins
According to the developers, a “Smartcoin” is a token that has its value algorithmically adjusted to that of some asset, like US Dollar, a precious metal or a share of a company. These coins are generally referred as stablecoins on other cryptocurrency platforms. The value of Smartcoins on the BitShares platform is programmed to always be fully backed by its core currency, BTS. These tokens also provide the option to be automatically converted to BTS – “settled” – at any moment without the need to use an exchange.
BitShares coin belongs to the group of smart currencies. These include those virtual coins that do not just develop as a strong form of digital money, but their value is provided by the company’s service and products, as is the case with BitShares cryptocurrency.
There is the latest price of BitShares coin – BTS to USD.
Stakeholder-Approved Project Funding
BitShares has its own reserve pool to which it collects the transaction fees. The funds from this pool can be spent on the improvement of the network and its maintenance. Any user can propose a project and ask for funding. The other users then vote to decide if the proposal gets approved. This model allows the platform to be self-sustaining and rely less on external funding.
Named Accounts
The wallet addresses on the BitShares platform are readable, user defined account names, similar to the regular usernames on the Internet.
Delegated Proof Of Stake
Delegated Proof of Stake (DPOS) is a blockchain’s consensus model. It utilizes a voting system to control the network parameters such as transaction fees, block intervals, the number of block-producing nodes and to decide which nodes it will be. This predetermined list of nodes allows for transaction confirmation times of, on average, one second.
The block-producing nodes are called “witnesses”, their job is to group the transactions that have been broadcast to the network into “blocks” and add them to the blockchain. The block production is performed in a round robin pattern so that every node gets to produce one block per round. Each witness is paid for every valid block it produces while failure to do so results in no payment and a possibility of being voted out as a malicious node. Every day the network updates the witness list in accordance to the user votes.
Cases of the project and their benefits
The database is available to any company, especially those who have a direct relationship to the financial market. Virtual service inventory BitShares is famous for its reliability, as its functionality is monitored by two levels: cryptography and high distribution of a transparent network. If we compare this pattern with other registries operating around the world, they are very much lose it. The same paper copies are exposed to numerous risks. Since they are filled manually, they are not immune from errors and inaccuracies. They can easily be stolen, burned, lost or simply changed.
With regard to the virtual databases that are controlled by Central administration, they can be easily sold, copied, updated or modified. The situation is not better with tricked-out registries, with which financial and credit institutions work. They are completely absent transparency. The human factor encourages the creation of several copies of the original. But it still doesn’t save from the inner contradiction.
If you ask in any Bank who is really the owner of the gold reserve and how many times on bail managed to give consumers the same ounce, none of them will answer. And not because it is confidential information. It’s just that the registries are already technologically obsolete. One only manual reconciliation what is worth. Not only is it time-consuming and monetary, but it is also 100% unreliable. While the virtual database BitShares fully complies with all current standards of maintaining and preserving information.
The unique resource of the digital currency market has a special software that synchronizes the databases of its customers. They have access to BitShares software, creating a network of computers subscribers. The peculiarity of this functionality is that to create this network is enough to connect to the Internet only two PCs. Failure of the server is completely excluded. Silently change public data to anyone not under force, as any private PC that contains a complete duplicate of an existing registry.
In this embodiment, the project is not attractive to all fans of the cryptocurrency world, as a distributed multi – user private registry with an update, in other words-software, is regulated by public key cryptography and a clear list of rules. The essence of the usefulness of the functional lies in the fact that it is protected by the privilege of free speech and is public property. Although public information is publicly available, it can be modified and copied, but it is only possible to destroy the registry if the digital currency market disappears completely.
Since the business idea is created on the blockchain platform and belongs to the digital currency market, it is just supposed to have its own kind of cryptocurrency. Altcoin does exist. This is bitshares (BTS). It belongs to the group of smart currencies. These include those virtual coins that do not just develop as a strong form of digital money, but their value is provided by the company’s service and products, as is the case with BitShares cryptocurrency.
BitShares service closely correlates with the functionality of stock exchanges. At this site, you can also monitor the growth of its stock, conduct internal speculation to monitor the implementation of debt obligations.
The BitShares project develops according to its business model, has a personal stake, is managed by the Union of General Directors, which are chosen by the holders of securities. This joint venture has joint property tracked by electronic lists. Shareholders of BitShares are not only registered as token holders and are engaged in selection of candidates for the Board of Directors. Their votes are recorded directly in the project register itself. Shareholders carefully record all business transactions in the register, thereby preventing the appropriation of money by employees of the company.
The server accurately tracks the fulfillment of items of property rights in shares – BTS. Startup BitShares is engaged in processing financial transfers for a fee, profit is distributed to shareholders by repurchasing tokens. Any holder of the company’s share has the right to vote for someone of their delegates. Falls in the top 25. After approval, the selected delegates are expected to perform all possible tasks and monitor the functionality. For all these actions, they receive their earnings from shareholders.
If you look at this, the software BitShares prospects no can not be, if users stop gathering together to determine the value of the personal cryptocurrency. Each member of the cryptocurrency community increases the total price of the virtual database and receives the cost from other users of the Association.
Since 2013, the BitShares community has grown from a small group to a thousand people. It was created with the aim of establishing decentralized, market-based solutions to protect the work, freedom and property rights of all in General and each individual.
Financial institutions issue loans (debts) under the guarantee of no less valuable collateral. All these operations are monitored by using the registry. Earn banking institutions on interest paid on loans and attracting investment from investors. BitShares the company also provides loans, mostly in USD (), the secured asset in BTS. The duty of a startup called BitAsset. Who needs another currency can choose BitOil, BitSilver, BitGold, etc.
If banks are partially accustomed to using their reserves, then BitShares can afford to use 300% of the total reserves. Standard financial institutions have to use illiquid assets to fulfill obligations to depositors, while the virtual resource quietly uses personal tokens for this purpose and does not remain in loss. If taxpayers stop paying on loans in a timely manner, it will be problematic for a financial institution to pay interest on deposits in a timely manner, while investors will not face BitShares.
When this is necessary, people or companies use additional currency for the sake of getting out of a delicate situation. Usually, this can be anything: jewelry, securities, precious metals, Antiques, etc., the Project BitShares in this case, too, err on all sides. So it is able to offer the clients the solid range of assets: personal altcoin, the credit, virtual money – BitSilver, BitGold, BitUSD and so forth. Uniqueness of these assets lies in the fact that it is impossible to forge them, somewhere imperceptibly to transfer or piece to reduce their cost.
It is quite adequate comparison for the strengthened cryptocurrency community. Moreover, the country also published personal currency, have an elected government and obey a specific set of laws. All sorts of misunderstandings and problems are solved in the BitShares community by using all the database systems, obligations, smart contracts, insurance, etc.all honestly and transparently.
See also
External links
- BitShares website
- BitShares Twitter
- Telegram
- BitShares Reddit
- BitShares BitcoinTalk
- BitShares price and market state on Coin360
Twitter
Telegram
