Some questions about ecash[tm]
-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Some questions that I send into the ether in the knowledge, or hope, that the great and the good are listening, and will enlighten me... (Since this exercise strikes even me as incredibly presumptious, feel free to ignore this. [It takes less energy than flaming. If you must flame, do it in private email - I'll post a summary to the list :-)]) 1. Has there been any significant/in-depth coverage of the Mark Twain Banks product in the financial/ banking press? Digicash's press file stops just before the launch, and Digicash/Mark Twain Banks press releases are not exactly what I'm looking for. 2. In the Digicash ecash tutorial (also referenced from MT's website) the example is given of Alice sending ecash to Cindy (Candy, Clarissa?). Cindy's bank checks with Alice's bank before crediting Cindy's wallet with the $5.00 sent. In MT's FAQ, they refer, somewhat wistfully, to a future where the ecash systems of different banks may be able to interoperate. How difficult would such interoperation be? Is this something that is inherent/built into the Digicash supplied bank system? Or would it require significant changes to the way things are done? Similarly, since the software supplied by Digicash to MT customers seems somewhat MT specific, how easy would it be for future ecash issuers to piggy back on MT's customer base? How about merchants? 3. The MT ecash[tm] project is repeatedly referred to as an experiment, a system in beta phase. Any word on when the experiment will be over, or what it is trying to prove/discover? The thrust of these questions, of course, is How easy will it be for the next eBank? And the one after that? Is Digicash ready for the move to multiple issuers? Does it have the resources to assist another institution to launch ecash this year? This month? One a month for the year? Whatever. Too many questions that cannot possibly be answered, even if there were answers to give... Dm -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: 2.6.2 iQCVAwUBMPTVR1lo3j8JHzalAQG/JAP/dBNTMHdo4MP7TaIAZrKwMxt3U4fH/qsb TipYBcS8lgEgUsD9Pu/enIzxeEs52K6ARnq1BE6V/G1jxFVbfnLmfV6t6TWqRxSM 68FH3eX0+ZBGFGzDMmvOGWaibZETfHikv55q7ZuqYrnfZ+wrIPKlF+UGiNY3lJlw rpNkY3oBwqY= =0g2R -----END PGP SIGNATURE-----
On Thu, 11 Jan 1996, David Murray wrote:
1. Has there been any significant/in-depth coverage of the Mark Twain Banks product in the financial/ banking press? Digicash's press file stops just before the launch, and Digicash/Mark Twain Banks press releases are not exactly what I'm looking for.
I wrote a paper on the economic aspects of ecash and other electronic cashes last month. I believe I posted it onto cypherpunks. Main conclusion was that ecash is equivalent to cash in terms of bank practice and money supply. I'll send you a copy if you want. Not seen any mention in the academic press though (either of my paper or of any others). PS the ecash mailing list is low volume and pretty focused. discusses securty and economics and stuff. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Patiwat Panurach Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it. eMAIL: pati@ipied.tu.ac.th Boldness has genius, power and magic in it. m/18 junior Fac of Economics -Johann W.Von Goethe -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dave, The following may be of some help: DigiCash bv was founded by Dr. David Chaum, a digital cash and electronic security expert. DigiCash announced the first software-only product, called Ecash, that allows the transfer of digital cash over the Internet. CURRENTLY, DigiCash tech- nology is being used in electronic wallets and smart cards; but IN THE LONG-TERM, the technology will be used for MANY MORE applications. ... Company Information: Kruislaan 419 1098 VA Amsterdam The Netherlands Phone: 31 20 665 2611 Fax: 31 20 668 5486 http://www.digicash.com E-mail: info@digicash.nl ... Security RSA Data Security public key cryptography, including en- cryption, authentication, and digital signatures, as well as PROPRIETARY blind signature technology. Unique Attributes Blind signature technology ensures anonymous transactions. The above is excerpted from Lisa Morgan's chapter, "Internet Com- merce," in: Frederick Cooper et al Implementing Internet Security New Riders Publishing 1995 Capitalization is mine. Cordially, Jim
participants (3)
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David Murray -
James M. Cobb -
Patiwat Panurach (akira rising)