This is Tredd, a software library that allows a buyer and a seller of some information to exchange payment for data securely.

It relies on the Ethereum blockchain and includes a demonstration client and server (in cmd/tredd).

• A buyer sends a request for some content to a seller.
• The seller responds with an encrypted copy of the content.
• The buyer publishes a payment-proposal contract to the blockchain.
• The seller reveals the decryption key via the contract, together with a collateral payment.
• The buyer verifies the content and decryption key, releasing payment and returning the collateral to the seller.
• If the content or decryption key cannot be verified, the buyer recovers the proposed payment and keeps the collateral.

For more information, see this detailed explanation of Tredd’s design and operation.

(There is also an appendix.)

For the motivation behind Tredd, see Why Tredd.

For step-by-step instructions for running the Tredd server and client, see Trying Tredd.

You must have Go installed.

go tool task build