The path to Bitcoin is littered with the corpses of failed attempts. I’ve compiled a list of about a
hundred cryptographic payment systems, both e-cash and credit card based technologies, that are
notable in some way. Some are academic proposals that have been well cited while others are actual
systems that were deployed and tested. Of all the names on this list, there’s probably only one that
you recognize — PayPal. And PayPal survived only because it quickly pivoted away from its original
idea of cryptographic payments on hand-held devices!
hundred cryptographic payment systems, both e-cash and credit card based technologies, that are
notable in some way. Some are academic proposals that have been well cited while others are actual
systems that were deployed and tested. Of all the names on this list, there’s probably only one that
you recognize — PayPal. And PayPal survived only because it quickly pivoted away from its original
idea of cryptographic payments on hand-held devices!