Adding privacy and currency to social networking

Social networking and e-commerce sites have many mechanisms with which they encourage generation of user content, represent user trust and reputation relationships, and control access to desirable digital resources. Using anonymous electronic cash (or scrip), the proposed system RepScrip provides the preceding three features and adds optional (to the user) anonymity and a certain level of commodification and interoperability with similarly-configured sites. With an electronic cash protocol like that described by Chaum, we show how online services can issue scrip to users as a representation of positive value in their dealings with those users. Like cash in a bank account, this currency may be withdrawn and exchanged with a third party. By holding the currency of that issuer, this third party (who may not have had any previous contact with the issuer) may now access resources with whichever privileges are afforded to those holding the issuer´s scrip.