An apparatus for content transaction consensus, the apparatus comprising: a memory configured to store computer-readable program code; and a processor configured to access the memory, and execute the computer-readable program code to cause the apparatus to at least: receive a request to initiate a transaction for play of video or audio content, the request being received from a data network connected device having a native player; validate the transaction by consensus in a peer-to-peer network that maintains a distributed ledger; store a record of the transaction in the distributed ledger only when the transaction is validated, the record including a reference file for the video or audio content, wherein the reference file includes a plurality of player control parameter values and linking data for one or more designated content sources outside the peer-to-peer network; and provide access to the reference file by the data network connected device to enable the data network connected device to play the video or audio content, the data network connected device being enabled to at least: provide player control commands to the native player based on the player control parameter values, including player control commands directing the native player to acquire content data compatible with the native player from within a content data file of one or more of the designated content data sources via the data network using the linking data; acquire content data by the native player from the one or more content sources; and play, by the native player, the content acquired from each content source in accordance with the player control commands. a memory configured to store computer-readable program code; and a processor configured to access the memory, and execute the computer-readable program code to cause the apparatus to at least: receive a request to initiate a transaction for play of video or audio content, the request being received from a data network connected device having a native player; validate the transaction by consensus in a peer-to-peer network that maintains a distributed ledger; store a record of the transaction in the distributed ledger only when the transaction is validated, the record including a reference file for the video or audio content, wherein the reference file includes a plurality of player control parameter values and linking data for one or more designated content sources outside the peer-to-peer network; and provide access to the reference file by the data network connected device to enable the data network connected device to play the video or audio content, the data network connected device being enabled to at least: provide player control commands to the native player based on the player control parameter values, including player control commands directing the native player to acquire content data compatible with the native player from within a content data file of one or more of the designated content data sources via the data network using the linking data; acquire content data by the native player from the one or more content sources; and play, by the native player, the content acquired from each content source in accordance with the player control commands. receive a request to initiate a transaction for play of video or audio content, the request being received from a data network connected device having a native player; validate the transaction by consensus in a peer-to-peer network that maintains a distributed ledger; store a record of the transaction in the distributed ledger only when the transaction is validated, the record including a reference file for the video or audio content, wherein the reference file includes a plurality of player control parameter values and linking data for one or more designated content sources outside the peer-to-peer network; and provide access to the reference file by the data network connected device to enable the data network connected device to play the video or audio content, the data network connected device being enabled to at least: provide player control commands to the native player based on the player control parameter values, including player control commands directing the native player to acquire content data compatible with the native player from within a content data file of one or more of the designated content data sources via the data network using the linking data; acquire content data by the native player from the one or more content sources; and play, by the native player, the content acquired from each content source in accordance with the player control commands. provide player control commands to the native player based on the player control parameter values, including player control commands directing the native player to acquire content data compatible with the native player from within a content data file of one or more of the designated content data sources via the data network using the linking data; acquire content data by the native player from the one or more content sources; and play, by the native player, the content acquired from each content source in accordance with the player control commands.