If you had the power to selectively disclose your on-chain activities, what would you do with it?

 

Here at Data Ownership Protocol, we’re aiming to ensure this is no longer a hypothetical question. 

 

Want to keep your account balance confidential? No problem. Don’t want a transaction broadcast to the world? Job done.

 

For the first time, DOP is delivering unprecedented levels of customizability — and we believe this could catalyze the adoption of blockchain technology.

 

We’re barely scratching the surface of how this could benefit the masses. Here are just seven potential use cases.

1. Protecting your business interests

Let’s imagine that you allow your clients to pay you in cryptocurrency.

 

Right now, the all-or-nothing approach to transparency in the blockchain sector means they can discover everything about your past dealings as soon as you share your address.

 

This could include how much you’re charging others for similar work. It could also expose your other clients — and if this information falls into the wrong hands, rivals may end up attempting to poach your business.

 

In the fiat world, no self-respecting entrepreneur would dream of allowing anyone to see what’s coming in and out of their bank account, and how much revenue they’ve made in the past 12 months. Why should crypto be any different?

2. Keeping transactions confidential

We’ve all had times when we’ve been a little bit embarrassed to buy something — like medicine, for instance.

 

But that isn’t the only reason why you wouldn’t want someone to know about every payment you make.

 

Paying from a crypto wallet can allow a business or individual to see who else you’ve interacted with — allowing a pattern about your spending habits to form. 

 

A lack of transparency can also be pretty serious. You may be wishing to donate to politically sensitive causes, or acquire something in an authoritarian state where your transactions are closely monitored. The exposure of sensitive information could cost your job, and even put your safety at risk in extreme circumstances.

 

DOP can also be a compelling alternative to central bank digital currencies. Critics say there are serious privacy issues about CBDCs that could emerge in the future — amid fears some governments may even use them to restrict purchases of things like flights and meat.

3. Shielding against cybercriminals

If you’re lucky enough to have a considerable crypto balance, your wallet could become a target for malicious actors staging audacious thefts. Phishing attacks masquerading as legitimate businesses are all too common — with some victims losing hundreds of thousands of dollars. Through DOP, you can keep exact figures private. Simply display the logos of the cryptocurrencies in your wallet, make generic disclosures (such as saying you own less than 2 ETH,) or reveal nothing at all. 

 

While we’re based on the Ethereum blockchain, it’s crucial to note that we’re blockchain agnostic. DOP offers full compatibility with a plethora of ERC-20 tokens — including big names like PEPE, UNI, APE, USDT, USDC, and SHIB. Want to keep the fact that you’re an avid investor in memecoins to yourself? With our protocol, it’s never been easier.

4. Improving NFT ownership

Owning non-fungible tokens isn’t always easy — especially for those with blue-chip collectibles. Just like a huge stack of ETH can make you vulnerable to cybercriminals, possessing a Bored Ape or a CryptoPunk can be a risk, too. 

 

In some circumstances, you might be looking to build your brand by proving you own coveted digital art — or seeking to prove to a prospective buyer that it’s in your possession. The selective transparency that DOP offers gives you the freedom to have it on display, or make it for your eyes only.

 

Alternatively, if you’d prefer to discreetly snap up Meebits or Cool Cats, our protocol can ensure that purchases fly under the radar. And given how we’re compatible with a vast array of decentralized apps and wallets, DOP will be there whenever you need it.

5. Establishing credibility

Sometimes, when on the hunt for new opportunities in crypto, you need to show you mean business. 

 

Particular investments come with strict eligibility criteria — meaning only those with a certain net worth or annual income can get involved.

 

Selective transparency gives you a way of establishing credibility and disclosing information to approved counterparties.

 

This tool could also be useful for proving you have adequate collateral for a loan.

6. Making wallets and dApps better

Let’s be honest now: humans are creatures of habit. Once we find a brand or a company we like, we’re far more reluctant to try alternatives.

 

The same is true when it comes to crypto. As newcomers start to explore the space, they find the exchanges they like, the wallets they trust, and the dApps they enjoy.

 

Far too often, privacy-preserving protocols are completely siloed from the rest of the ecosystem — meaning that, if you prize confidentiality, you’ll have to stop using the tools you’re familiar with.

 

Here at DOP, we strongly believe that it shouldn’t have to be this way. Our protocol is fully interoperable with the great DeFi platforms, decentralized exchanges and prediction markets that are already out there.

 

There’s no need to change your routine, or attempt to navigate unfamiliar interfaces. Instead, we’re supercharging the dApps and wallets used by millions — giving their users a level of privacy that wasn’t available before. You’re welcome, guys.

7. Scaling Ethereum

DOP is a “have your cake and eat it” protocol. Not only do we put your privacy first, but we’re helping the Ethereum network to scale — and making transactions much more scalable and far less expensive than at present.

 

We’ve created an off-chain protocol powered by zero-knowledge cryptography that processes user transactions away from the Layer 1 blockchain — bolstered by zero-knowledge proofs.

 

Aside from the privacy benefits, this unlocks faster transaction times — with computations happening instantaneously off-chain. Goodbye confirmation delays.

 

Next, we’re driving down gas fees — taking them to a fraction of what a conventional Ethereum transaction costs. $20 to send crypto to a friend at peak times? No thank you.

 

Better still, DOP is scalable and can support a high volume of transactions — creating a perfect marriage with the world’s second-largest blockchain. 

And that’s just the beginning

There are many compelling reasons to use DOP — and we’re just getting started. In the crypto world, the ingenuity of users often unlocks even more use cases. 

 

So: what are the applications that you have identified? How could our protocol make your on-chain life even better? What are the features you’re most excited about? We can’t wait to hear from you. Get in touch with us — we’re @dop_org on X.