Patent ID: 8688563

Claim:
A method of exchanging alternative currencies, the method comprising: creating, at an alternative currency platform, a plurality of user accounts; receiving, from a first user in the plurality of user accounts, an alternative currency exchange offer, wherein the alternative currency exchange offer includes one or more offer terms and associated assets; determining, at the alternative currency exchange platform, one or more users in the plurality of user accounts which are suitable users to enter into the alternative currency exchange offer based at least in part on the offer terms; publishing the one or more users to the first user; receiving a selection of a second user from the one or more users from the first user; receiving, from the second user, a request to submit the alternative currency exchange offer to an assessor; analyzing, by the assessor, the alternative currency exchange offer to determine a relative value of the offer by weighing the alternative currency exchange offer; based on the analysis, generating a value score for the alternative currency exchange offer; determining that the value score meets or exceeds a minimum threshold, wherein based on the value score a value ranking of the alternative currency exchange offer is made; in response to determining that the value score meets or exceeds the minimum threshold, certifying, by the assessor, the offer as a valued offer and providing the first and second users with the value ranking; in response to the assessor certifying the alternative currency exchange offer, extending the alternative currency exchange offer from the first user to the second user; in response to receiving acceptance of the offer from the second user, verifying the associated assets of the first user and the second user; in response to verification of the assets of the first user and second user, providing settlement of the alternative currency exchange offer; receiving, at the alternative currency platform, a request from the first user to transfer at least a portion of the virtual currency to a financial account of the first user; in response to the request, determining a conversion of the at least a portion of the virtual currency to a cash value; and transferring the cash value of the at least a portion of the virtual currency to the financial account.