Serverless, anonymous order processing for goods and services
In order processing prevelent today with fiat currency, the key instrument, is a proof of payment, against which the order is fulfilled. In this paradigm, order fulfilment for an identity/account is contingent on the answer to the question : Is there proof of payment ? Such use of proof of payment, is the reason payment processing servers exist. Cryptocurrency based order processing prevalant today continues using this paradigm, with an ugly mashing together of the decentralized blockchain with centralized payment processing servers. Mapping cryptocurrencies to a paradigm developed for fiat, does injustice to the potential that crypto-currencies hold for anonymous, serverless order processing.
The blockchain is already an undisputable and available record of a payment. What is needed to fulfil an order is proof that fulfilment is being requested by the actual payer. This can be achieved via a token generated by the payer using the private key associated with the sending address. We call this token the i.am.payer token. In this order processing flow, fulfilment is done against a valid i.am.payer token. A valid i.am.payer token satisfies two conditions:
(1) The payment claimed in the token was indeed recorded on the blockchain
(2) The presentation of the token is occuring for the first time
This mechanism obviates the need for payment processing servers, and allows payers to maintain anonymity if they take care to use sender addresses that cannot be associated with them. Uses include anything at all paid for online, including downloads (software, music, videos etc) and event tickets (concerts, movies etc).