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title: Blockchain Commons 2021 Roadmap Summary
tags: [article / in process]

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# Blockchain Commons 2021 Roadmap Summary
###### tags: `article / in process`

Blockchain Commons has strived to advance the state of blockchain technology and open infrastructure over the past two years, and is planning for considerable more work in 2021.

This is our current development Roadmap as of the end of Q1 2021. The exact amount of progress on this Roadmap is dependent in part on funding levels from various Sustaining Patrons as well as Sponsors for specific projects. Contact Christopher Allen [ChristopherA@BlockchainCommons.com](mailto:ChristopherA@BlockchainCommons.com) if you are interested in supporting one of these projects.

## Recent Development Cycles

Blockchain Commons came fully online in 2020 and has produced quarterly reports of its progress in [Summer 2020](https://www.blockchaincommons.com/quarterlies/2020-Q3-Report/), [Fall 2020](https://www.blockchaincommons.com/quarterlies/2020-Q4-Report/), and [Winter 2021](https://www.blockchaincommons.com/quarterlies/Q1-2021-Report/).

Our most notable accomplishments over the last year include:

**Developer Community:** Developed an active [Airgapped Wallet Community](https://github.com/BlockchainCommons/Airgapped-Wallet-Community/discussions) support wallet interoperability specifications; multiple companies have joined. Blockchain Commons joined [COPA](https://www.opencrypto.org/) ([announcement](https://www.blockchaincommons.com/partnerships/BCC-Joins-COPA/)) to support open access to patents. Graduated our [first class of summer interns](https://www.coindesk.com/blockchain-commons-interns-open-source-developers). 

**Research:** Oversaw the development and expansion of our [Universal Resources](https://github.com/BlockchainCommons/Research/blob/master/papers/bcr-2020-005-ur.md) for [many cryptographic data types](https://github.com/BlockchainCommons/Research/blob/master/papers/bcr-2020-006-urtypes.md), and most recently developed a [request/response system](https://github.com/BlockchainCommons/Research/blob/master/papers/bcr-2021-001-request.md). Developed [Lifehash](https://github.com/BlockchainCommons/LifeHash) to visually identify cryptocurrency accounts and the [Torgap architecture](https://github.com/BlockchainCommons/torgap) to protect privacy and defeat correlation. Worked with sustaining patron [Bitmark]
(https://bitmark.com/) to architect a multisig solution for their upcoming Autonomy bitcoin wallet.

**Development:** Released: our [crypto-commons reference libraries and cli utilities](https://github.com/BlockchainCommons/crypto-commons); our initial [Gordian reference utilities](https://github.com/BlockchainCommons/Gordian) such as [Gordian Wallet](https://github.com/BlockchainCommons/GordianWallet-iOS), [Gordian Server](https://github.com/BlockchainCommons/GordianServer-macOS), [Gordian Cosigner](https://github.com/BlockchainCommons/GordianCosigner-iOS), and [Gordian Guardian](https://github.com/BlockchainCommons/GordianGuardian-iOS); our [LetheKit](https://github.com/BlockchainCommons/bc-lethekit) DIY hardware kit; and our [Spotbit pricing server](https://github.com/BlockchainCommons/spotbit). A number of these tools have been ported to other languages by the Airgapped Wallet Community.

**Documentation:** Published [Learning Bitcoin from the Command Line 2.0](https://github.com/BlockchainCommons/Learning-Bitcoin-from-the-Command-Line) and expanded our [Smart Custody work](https://www.smartcustody.com/) with ["Designing Multisig for Independence & Resilience"](https://github.com/BlockchainCommons/Gordian/blob/master/Docs/Multisig.md).

**Advocacy:** Testified in Nevada, North Carolina, and Wyoming. Christopher led subcommitee in Wyoming pass a bill to [define digital identity](https://wyoleg.gov/Legislation/2021/SF0039), and was member of another team that helped pass a bill for [DAO based LLCs](https://wyoleg.gov/Legislation/2021/SF0038). Did not succeed in passing bill given special protection to private keys.

## Current Cycle (Planned & Funded)

This listing includes our top priorities for the current cycle, based on current funding levels.

**Developer Community:**

* **Gordian Seal.** _(Project sponsor: Bitmark)_ Finalize a [Gordian Seal](https://hackmd.io/KFIw-SUnRGyv3A8c6VpTXQ) program for Bitcon wallet, and a Blockchain Commons [Code of Ethics](https://hackmd.io/SJbeoXaFScmGM4_-AmNZeQ).
* **Increase Airgap Wallet Community Participation.** Get more companies to adopt UR, and participate in airgap and multisig wallet specifications and demos of interoperability.

**Research:**

* **UR Expansion.** Add more data types for Universal Resources as required by community. Account and policy maps, Quick Connect 2.0, add more examples of crypto-request and response, in particular related to PSBT and SSKR. 
* **SSKR Expansion.** _(Project sponsor: Bitmark)_ Expand SSKR recovery shards for use with more than 32 bytes of data, encrypted metadata, and more. Begin design for UR-based Encrypted CBOR.
* **SSKR UX.** Resolve UX best practices for use of SSKR recovery shards.
* **XPub Privacy.** Create best practices for avoiding current problem of reuse of xpubs in multisig wallets.
* **Family Multisig.** _(Project sponsor: Bitmark)_ Explore best practices for familial multisigs and digital asset smart contracts for inheritance.

**Development:**

* **Gordian QR Vault.** Prepare QR Vault for release in Apple's app-store.
* **Gordian Wallet/Server.** Modernize and update Gordian Wallet and Server, including integration of some new features available latest Bitcoin Core.
* **Encrypted CBOR** _(Project sponsor: Bitmark)_ Develop reference tool for encrypted CBOR, for later use with UR, SSKR metadata and other scenarios.
* **Sweep Tool.** _(Project sponsor: Bitmark]_ Develop command-line multisig sweep tool for use with descriptor-based multisig accounts, that can leverage Tor-based bitcoin explorers such as Esplora and Gordian Server.
* **SSKR.** Acquire third-party security reviews for our SSKR and Shamir libraries.
* **apt-get Integration.** Make our CLI tools available through `apt-get` in particular for Debian & TailsOS.

**Documentation:**

* **UR & Gordian Architecture.** Higher level intro/overview of UR and Gordian code and best practices for wallet developers. Including an initial UR architecture intro video for developers.
* **UR UX, Lifehash and Digests.** Document current best UX practices variety of types of Universal Resources.
* **SSKR.** Document use of SSKR recovery shards for use by developers and users, with examples.

**Advocacy:**

* **Identity Discussions.** Write articles to offer background and reasoning for recently passed Wyoming identity law and how it applies to Self-Sovereign Identity.

## Current Cycle (Under Consideration)

These are priorities that we would like to include in the current cycle, but under current funding levels they are likely to instead move to the next cycle.

**Developer Community:**
* **Grow Airgap Wallet Community.** Get more  non-bitcoin companies to adopt UR specification, in particular around seeds, crypto-request of hdkeys, and SSKR. This includes Ethereum wallets, DID/VCs services, and other privacy tools that leverage cryptographic keys.

**Development:**

* **Gordian Guardian.** Continue development of Guardian for potential app-store release.
* **ECDSA Sign-to-Contract.** Add ECDSA and Schnorr Sign-to-Contract feature to musign-rust.
* **Gordian Server.** Add c-lightning support to Gordian Server.
* **Web QR/UR.** Create a web-based QR/UR scanner that can also work under Tor.
* **Multisig Coordinator.** Architect or create a web-based policy and transaction coordinator for multisigs.
* **Rust Libraries _(for DCD? Square Crypto?)_.** Port existing libraries (tbd) from Swift/C++ to Rust.
* **BTCR 2.0 Decisions.** _(for DCD? possibly leveraging interns)_. Research, document, and possible POCs on various aproaches to BTCR 2.0, such as op_return vs BIP322 vs. Single Use Seal. 

**Documentation:**

* **Video Documentation.** Create additional UR and SSKR videos.
* **BTCR 1.0.** _(for DCD? leverage interns)_ Complete of BTCR 1.0 for pre-segwit bitcoin, finalize implementation and documentation. Prepare for testing and interoperability.

**Research:**

* **Deep Link Research.** Consider use of deep links for multiple apps on a single device, evaluate security risks vs convenience.

**Advocacy:**

* **Identity Discussions.** Advocate more states and nations to take up legislation, and advocate for trust-minimized and self-sovereign solutions.

## Next Cycle (Under Consideration, Partially Funded)

This is the core of the next cycle of work, starting in July, following the priorities listed in Current Cycle.

**Developer Community:**
* **Evangelize Gordian Seal.** Get more companies to sign up for our best practices and the Gordian Seal.

**Research:** 

* **JSON-LD Exploration.** _(for DCD?)_ Explore underspecification of JSON-LD and Schnorr in particular as related to bitcoin standards.
* **Schnorr Preparation.** Prepare for release of Taproot/Schnorr.
* **Publish Intern Research.** Review and release various summer intern research projects.
 
**Development:**

* **Gordian Recovery.** _(Project Sponsor: Bitmark)_ Release Gordian Recovery iOS app to Apple's App Stores (Mac & iOS) to support sweep recovery of descriptor-based multisig wallets such as Bitmark's Autonomy.
* **Spotbit Development.** _(Project sponsor: HRF, leverage interns)_ Refactor & resolve latency issues with Spotbit pricing server over Tor. Add fee estimation services.
* **Timelock Work.** _(Project sponsor: Bitmark)_ Incoporate timelock proof-of-concept into Gordian reference apps.
* **Brew Integration.** Make our CLI tools available through `brew` in particular for MacOS & Debian.
* **Timestamps Work.** Deploy Tor-gapped Timestamps API.
* **BTCR 2.0 Design.** _(for DCD? possibly leverage interns)_ Work with others in community to make final design choices, start specification, documentation, and plan initial POC implementation and interoperability priorities.
* **Publish Intern Research.** Review and release various summer intern development projects.

**Security Review:**

* **Autonomy Review.** Review Autonomy based on #SmartCustody adversaries and risk modeling.
* **Private Review.** Complete architectural review of a third-party's DID/VC-based identity system.

**Sys Admin:**

* **Esplora Deployment.** Deploy Blockchain Commons Esplora instance & release scripts for third-party implementation and usage.

**Documentation:**

* **HRF Use Cases, Engagement Model, Risk Model, Threat Analysis** _(Project Sponsor: HRF, leveraging interns)_
* **Tools for Human Rights Activists.** _(Project Sponsor: HRF, leveraging interns)_ Document Tails, private keys, bitcoin etc. for use by activists.

**Advocacy:**

* **Private Key Advocacy.** _(Project Sponsor: HRF, leveraging interns)_ Advocate for special legal protection for private keys. Research potential alternative legal approach. Support either version in legislation.
* **Identity Discussions.** _(Project Sponsor: HRF, leveraging interns)_ Advocate more states and nations to take up legislation, and advocate for trust-minimized and self-sovereign solutions.

## Future Cycles (Currently unfunded)

Further future plans includes research or work on taproot/schnorr bitcoin opportunities, [BIP 119 Covenants](https://github.com/bitcoin/bips/blob/master/bip-0119.mediawiki) and proof-of-reserves, [BIP-322 signing](https://github.com/bitcoin/bips/blob/master/bip-0322.mediawiki), trust-minized cryptographic authorization (LSAT/OCAP/ZCAP), BTCR 2.0, other DIDs, herd privacy, NFTs, single-use seals, vaults, P2P VCs, VSS and major updates to Learning Bitcoin 3.0 & #SmartCustody 2.0.

We also plan to work with the larger community, submitting our WIP research to standard orgs and working with activists to produce more user stories and engagement models.
