# What is Kosu?
Kosu is a decentralized network and protocol that functions to provide an aggregated order book for virtual settlement systems. More specifically, the Kosu network, a bonded proof-of-stake blockchain built on Tendermint Consensus, coacts with the Kosu system contracts, a set of Ethereum-based contracts, to align shareholder incentives and manage the overall network state. The result is a curated, verifiable, public set of order messages.
For market makers, Kosu provides an unrestricted venue for order message broadcast. For traders, Kosu offers a highly accessible liquidity source for a tremendous variety of virtual assets.
Click here for a technical introduction to the Kosu protocol.
# Use cases
Developers, applications, and businesses can leverage Kosu for a variety of use cases, finance-related or otherwise.
- Tap into a global liquidity source from anywhere in the world, without restriction.
- Complement 0x-mesh by providing an aggregated view of the p2p mesh network (decentralized relayer) or by providing new peers an additional bootstrapping solution.
- Build a "matcher" – an exchange system build atop Kosu
- Trade fully client-side with a Kosu network node, and an Ethereum client
- Experiment with Kosu event-based API for new types of decentralized applications
- ...
# Core protocol
The core protocol is implemented as a bonded proof-of-stake aggregation network, supported by a system of Ethereum contracts. The network itself is currently built on Tendermint Consensus.
Click here to read a system overview, or about token mechanics or validator curation.
# Developer tools
Paradigm Labs is also leading development of a variety of developer tools to enable rapid development on top of Kosu. A non-exhaustive list is below.
- Kosu.js (source code here)
- Primary library for interacting with the Kosu contract system and network
- Includes tools for making, signing, and posting orders
- Allows execution/settlement of trades as a taker
- Enables "listening" to the Kosu network event API to build order books
# Community
Paradigm Labs is committed to developing Kosu as open-source software. Connect with the team and the community to share ideas, give feedback, and ask for help.
- Documentation at docs.kosu.io
- Source code hosted and developed on GitHub
- Subscribe to our subreddit
- Follow us on Twitter, and on Medium
- Ask for help on our chat server