Discussion
Thank you for that. I actually set up this "marketplace" two years ago, and it is essentially just a directory. Since then, we have had various discussions with different people about setting it up on a Nostr basis. However, there is a fundamental problem with that. It needs to be moderated to some extent, and certain types of products are (Islamically) not allowed. For example, I cannot let people sell red wine through it.
The fact that it's a Bitcoin marketplace is actually just a side note, as it is the most halal form of money.
Let’s talk more. We’re solving a similar problem set from another angle. Basically, compliance. Doesn’t matter what form it takes- it’s possible to solve for whatever walled garden you want your marketplace to have.
Sounds interesting. Who is "we" and where can I read more about this compliance stuff?
Myself + nostr:nprofile1qqsrppmpgpe3nckflth7xsd9e7shqc8z2vsw034mfce78uh7ela3zfsprpmhxue69uhkx6pwwp6hyurvv4ex2mrp0yhxxmmdqyt8wumn8ghj7un9d3shjtnswf5k6ctv9ehx2aqg333jq (+ some designers, soon to have another dev on board too) are building nostr:nprofile1qqsfmys8030rttmk77cumprnsqqt0whmg0fqkz3xcx8798ag8rf8z3spy9mhxue69uhkummnw3erqvfwvdhh2mn5v4exxmr0vd4hw6tnv5hxjmcprdmhxue69uhkummnw3ezuumhd9ehxtt9de5kwmtp9e3ksl6wh9p but the first thing we’re working on is actually a merchant portal & tools to put up products across ALL marketplaces.
Compliance isn’t necessarily the right word… Basically we know we need to be able to filter out illegal (or maybe haram in your case) products to operate a Nostr market in certain jurisdictions. There’s no reason what we are building can’t be applied to any kind of filter that the market operator chooses.
DM for more details, but the code is all public on nostr:nprofile1qqsfmys8030rttmk77cumprnsqqt0whmg0fqkz3xcx8798ag8rf8z3spy9mhxue69uhkummnw3erqvfwvdhh2mn5v4exxmr0vd4hw6tnv5hxjmcprdmhxue69uhkummnw3ezuumhd9ehxtt9de5kwmtp9e3ksl6wh9p GH repo too.
Can you give a simple explanation for someone who's not into programming about how the market works?
It's actually pretty simple. It's just a directory where sellers can list themselves and their products or services for free. Interested buyers can contact the sellers directly and work out the details. The marketplace itself isn't involved in buying or selling—everything happens peer-to-peer between the buyer and the seller.
How is the market accessed? Do you need to install something on the computer or is it like a website?
Normal website. Only a browser needed.
I have an idea for a marketplace free from government intervention for my region. I believe some moderation is necessary to prevent fraudulent sellers and buyers from ruining the business and to avoid the sale of undesirable products.
If the marketplace is local I would even consider basing it on a chat protocol, like Matrix. Websites can be taken down easily.
Are you using any escrow system in your Marketplace?
I'm not handling any payments. It's just a directory. Buyers contact sellers directly and everything else happens behind the scenes. I don't even log it. It's just an email form to contact the seller directly. Or they can use their email client or sometimes the seller has an online store and the buyers don't even have to use email. It's really P2P.
In my region, there are many small merchants who are increasingly being extorted by the government. The idea is promising.
Imagine a marketplace that operates without government intervention, but where the manager has the ability to manage and moderate content. In this setup, payments would go through the site itself before being released to the seller. What would be the best way to implement this? I don’t have extensive knowledge on the subject; I only have a basic understanding of WordPress with WooCommerce (like Dokan and WC...)
I'm sorry to break it to you, but you already failed at 'without government intervention '. 😉
Otherwise, Dokan is good. I've set up a marketplace with it.