diff --git a/README.md b/README.md index dadf0a47f2..ab67c60ad2 100644 --- a/README.md +++ b/README.md @@ -1,42 +1,30 @@ -The Elements Project +Elements blockchain platform ================================= -This is the integration and staging tree for the Elements Project, a series of -improvements and extensions to the Bitcoin protocol. +This is the integration and staging tree for the Elements blockchain platform, +a collection of feature experiments and extensions to the Bitcoin protocol. +This platform enables anyone to build their own businesses or networks +involving sidechain pegged Bitcoin or arbitrary asset tokens. -What is the Elements Project? ------------------ -Elements is an open source collaborative project where we work on a collection -of experiments to more rapidly bring technical innovation to Bitcoin. Elements -are features that are proposed and developed in this technical community that in -arbitrary combinations can be fashioned into sidechains. - -https://github.com/ElementsProject/elementsproject.github.io - -Learn more on [the Elements Project website](https://www.elementsproject.org). - -What is Bitcoin? +Confidential Assets ---------------- -https://www.bitcoin.org - -Bitcoin is an experimental new digital currency that enables instant payments to -anyone, anywhere in the world. Bitcoin uses peer-to-peer technology to operate -with no central authority: managing transactions and issuing money are carried -out collectively by the network. Elements Alpha is the name of open source -software which enables the use of this currency. +The latest feature in the Elements blockchain platform is Confidential Assets, +the ability to issue multiple assets on a blockchain where asset identifiers +and amounts are blinded yet auditable through the use of applied cryptography. -For more information, as well as an immediately useable, binary version of -the Bitcoin Core software, see https://www.bitcoin.org/en/download. + * [Confidential Assets Tutorial](share/rpcuser/assets_tutorial.sh) + * [Confidential Assets Demo](https://github.com/ElementsProject/confidential-assets-demo) -What is Elements? +Features of the Elements blockchain platform ---------------- Compared to Bitcoin itself, it adds the following features: + * [Confidential Assets][issued-assets] * [Confidential Transactions][confidential-transactions] * [Additional opcodes][opcodes] * [Deterministic Peg][deterministic-peg] * [Signed Blocks][signed-blocks] -Previous elements that have been integrated into Core: +Previous elements that have been integrated into Bitcoin: * [Segregated Witness][segregated-witness] * [Relative Lock Time][relative-lock-time] @@ -55,3 +43,12 @@ information or see http://opensource.org/licenses/MIT. [opcodes]: https://www.elementsproject.org/elements/opcodes [deterministic-peg]: https://www.elementsproject.org/elements/deterministic-pegs [signed-blocks]: https://www.elementsproject.org/elements/signed-blocks + +What is the Elements Project? +----------------- +Elements is an open source collaborative project where we work on a collection +of experiments to more rapidly bring technical innovation to the Bitcoin ecosystem. + +https://github.com/ElementsProject/elementsproject.org + +Learn more on [the Elements Project website](https://www.elementsproject.org).