Q1: Your thoughts on XCP and crypto-exchanges: we all want to see XCP gain popularity on crypto-exchanges. Personally I would be relatively more interested in the possibility of getting existing exchanges tapping into the DEX than more exchanges adding XCP.
What are your thoughts on this - more exchanges or more integration with the CP DEx?
I don’t think adding XCP to more exchanges should be a point of emphasis. If Counterparty becomes more useful to more useful, then exchanges will add it. I say let the free market work.
I think ultimately a low or zero trust exchange that has a great user experience is the best long-term solution. But so far the market has chosen to favor centralized exchanges over the DEx. Smart contracts will allow the opportunity for innovation in trustless trading of assets on Counterparty. I’m optimistic we will see some incremental steps toward more decentralization when this becomes live on mainnet.
Centralized exchanges do not have any market incentive to integrate with the DEx. So I don’t believe we will see this happen.
Q2: In order of your preference in terms of end user community engagement, etc. what do you think should get more attention in 2015 - Counterwallet, counterparty-gui or something else?
Desktop and mobile wallets are going to be key to more widespread adoption of the protocol. I think we should support 3rd party developers to implement their own wallets. We will have succeeded when Counterwallet is considered a good reference implementation, but is not the most used wallet.
I think in-depth documentation of the protocol is necessary to make this happen. And eventually the protocol should be formalized and versioned so wallet makers can update their software as needed.
Q3: What do you see as the main impediment to increased adoption by developers (main reasons in order of significance)?
- Lack of protocol documentation and 2) Immature software
Let me clarify #2. I think the development team is doing a great job of evolving the reference implementation of the server and wallet software. But it is moving fast and things do break often at this stage.
I believe continuing to mature the software and improving reliability of both counterparty server and counterwallet will help developer adoption in the short term.
Q4: Features (apart from Smart Contracts, which are a big theme in 2015): what do you see as high priority features for this year - off-chain transactions, counterparty-gui plugins, mobile client support, etc.?
For me, the priority list is:
- Smart Contracts
- Protocol documentation and standardization
- Support for 3rd Party Wallet Development
- Counterwallet Stabilization and Support
- Mobile Wallet
- Standalone Desktop Wallet