How a new protocol is transforming the way we share, track, and steward resources in commons-based economies
01 — The Problem
We’ve Been Thinking About Resources All Wrong
Every day, millions of tools sit idle in garages. Vehicles spend 95% of their time parked. Industrial equipment depreciates while waiting for its next use. Our economy is built on a fundamental assumption: resources must be owned to be used.
But what if there was another way? What if resources could flow freely through networks of people and organizations, tracked not by who owns them, but by who’s caring for them, where they are, and how they’re being used?
This is the vision behind the Resource Transport/Flow Protocol (RTP-FP)—a new framework for managing shared resources in commons-based economies. It’s not just a technical specification; it’s a fundamental rethinking of how resources move through our world.
02 — The Paradigm Shift
From Transfers to Flows
Traditional systems treat resource movement as a series of discrete transfers—ownership changes hands from A to B, then from B to C. It’s a linear, static view that captures only one dimension of what’s actually happening.
Traditional Transfer Model
- Linear ownership changes: A → B → C
- Focus on endpoints and transactions
- Private ownership assumption
- Single-dimension tracking
- Static, discrete events
Resource Flow Model
- Multi-path circulation through networks
- Continuous lifecycle perspective
- Commons-based stewardship
- Five-dimensional tracking
- Dynamic, interconnected flows
RTP-FP recognizes that when a power drill moves from a makerspace to a community member, multiple things are happening simultaneously: the tool is physically relocating, custodial responsibility is shifting, its value state is being assessed, legal rights are being granted, and information about its history is traveling with it.
03 — Five Dimensions
Tracking What Actually Matters
RTP-FP introduces a revolutionary concept: resources exist in five dimensions simultaneously, and each dimension can move independently. Understanding this multidimensional nature is key to managing shared resources effectively.
| Dimension | Description |
|---|---|
| Physical | Where is the resource in space? How is it moving? What environmental conditions is it experiencing? GPS tracking, RFID, and manual check-ins all feed this dimension. |
| Custodial | Who is currently responsible for the resource? What’s the chain of custody? This isn’t ownership—it’s stewardship, with both responsibilities and benefits. |
| Value | What condition is the resource in? How has its utility changed? This tracks depreciation, maintenance status, and usage patterns over time. |
| Legal | What rights and responsibilities apply? Access permissions, usage restrictions, compliance requirements, and liability all live here. |
| Information | What documentation travels with the resource? Maintenance records, provenance, manuals, and digital twin data create a complete history. |
Why does this matter? These dimensions often move at different speeds and through different pathways. Legal rights might transfer instantly via smart contract, while the physical resource takes three days to ship. Information about the resource’s history persists forever, even as custody changes repeatedly. Traditional systems can’t capture this complexity.
04 — Network Flows
Resources in Motion
In RTP-FP, resources don’t follow linear supply chains. They circulate through networks of agents, pools, and hubs—available when needed, returning when not. Think of it less like a conveyor belt and more like a living ecosystem.
🏠 Agent ⟷ 🔄 Hub ⟷ 📦 Pool ⟷ 🌐 Network
In this model, a 3D printer might flow from a university makerspace to a startup incubator, then to an individual maker, then back to a community repair hub. Each transition is tracked across all five dimensions, building a rich history of the resource’s journey through the network.
The key characteristics are:
- Dynamic — multiple paths available simultaneously
- Circular — resources return to pools for redistribution
- Multi-path — different agents can access resources through different routes
- Network-based — no single point of failure or control
05 — Trust Without Centralization
The Participation Receipt System
How do you build trust in a decentralized network where there’s no central authority verifying transactions? RTP-FP solves this with Participation Receipts—a peer-to-peer reputation system that builds trust through direct interaction.
Every economic interaction generates exactly two receipts: one from each party. When you borrow a tool from a makerspace, you receive a receipt acknowledging the loan, and you issue a receipt confirming you received it in good condition. These receipts accumulate over time, building a nuanced picture of each participant’s reliability.
The beauty of bi-directional receipts: Unlike traditional reviews where one party rates another, both participants are accountable. Did you return the tool on time and in good condition? Did the lender provide accurate information about its state? Both sides of every interaction are recorded.
This reputation score then influences how much validation is required for future transactions. Highly trusted agents can move resources with minimal overhead, while newcomers go through more verification. The system creates natural incentives for good stewardship.
06 — Governance & Validation
Five Layers of Trust
In a decentralized system without central authorities, how do you ensure that every resource flow is legitimate, compliant, and trustworthy? RTP-FP implements a comprehensive five-layer validation pipeline that checks everything from data structure to community consensus.
Layer 1: Semantic Validation
Validates data structure and relationships using JSON-LD and SHACL shapes. Ensures every resource flow event conforms to the ValueFlows ontology and RTP-FP extensions.
Layer 2: Business Rules
Checks RTP-FP specific requirements: bi-directional receipts, multi-dimensional consistency, and governance compliance. Verifies that both parties have fulfilled their obligations.
Layer 3: Cryptographic Verification
Validates agent signatures, capability-based access, and data integrity through Holochain’s cryptographic infrastructure. Every action is signed and verifiable.
Layer 4: Cross-System Compliance
Checks compliance with external regulations, supply chain standards (GS1, schema.org), and cross-system requirements. Bridges to the existing economic infrastructure.
Layer 5: Social & Reputation
Validates through the participation receipt system. Checks community trust scores, social consensus, and reputation thresholds for each participant.
Dimensional Governance
Each of the five dimensions has its own governance rules and validation requirements. This ensures that every aspect of a resource flow is properly managed.
| Governance Area | Scope |
|---|---|
| Physical Governance | Multi-source location verification, environmental monitoring, transport method approval. Requires GPS, RFID, or manual check-in confirmation. |
| Custodial Governance | Custody chain validation, permission management, transfer authorization. Ensures continuous chain of responsibility with no gaps. |
| Value Governance | Condition assessment, depreciation tracking, utilization metrics. Validates that value changes are justified and documented. |
| Legal Governance | Access rights management, compliance checking, liability coverage. Ensures all parties have appropriate permissions and coverage. |
Dispute Resolution
When conflicts arise, RTP-FP provides a structured resolution process. Challenges are reviewed by peer validators—agents with high reputation scores and relevant expertise. The system uses a multi-validator consensus mechanism: validators independently assess the evidence and vote on the resolution.
How consensus works: Each validator’s vote is weighted by their reputation score. A resolution is adopted when it reaches a threshold level of weighted agreement. If consensus can’t be reached, the dispute escalates to broader community governance.
The protocol also includes automated pattern-based resolution for common dispute types. Machine learning models trained on historical disputes can suggest resolutions for straightforward cases, reserving human judgment for complex or novel situations.
Evolving Rules
Governance rules themselves are not static. They’re encoded as semantic data (JSON-LD) and can evolve through community consensus. The system analyzes violation patterns, collects community feedback, and generates rule evolution proposals that are voted on by the network.
This creates a living governance system that adapts to new use cases, changing regulations, and lessons learned from operation—all without requiring central authority to dictate changes.
07 — Semantic Interoperability
Speaking a Universal Language
One of RTP-FP’s most powerful features is its foundation on ValueFlows—an existing vocabulary for describing economic activities—combined with JSON-LD for semantic data exchange.
What does this mean in practice? When a resource moves from one system to another—say, from a local tool library’s software to a regional sharing network—both systems can understand exactly what’s being described. Not just “this is a drill” but “this is an economic resource conforming to this specification, currently in the custody of this agent, with these access rights, having undergone these maintenance events.”
Tech Stack:
- ValueFlows RDF
- JSON-LD 1.1
- Holochain
- SHACL Validation
- Decentralized IDs
The protocol runs on Holochain—a framework for building truly peer-to-peer applications where each participant maintains their own source of truth while validating against shared rules. There’s no central server, no single blockchain to congest. Just a network of agents coordinating through shared protocols.
08 — Core Principles
The Philosophy Behind the Protocol
1. Stewardship Over Ownership
Resources have custodians, not owners. Custodians have responsibilities to maintain and care for resources, and benefits from their use. But the resource ultimately belongs to the commons.
2. Low-Friction Movement
The protocol minimizes transaction overhead for trusted participants. Resources should flow as easily as possible, with validation proportional to risk.
3. Lifecycle Completeness
From creation through active use, maintenance, and eventual decommissioning—every phase of a resource’s life is tracked through the same framework.
4. Distributed Governance
Rules evolve through community consensus. Disputes are resolved by peer validators. No central authority dictates terms—the network governs itself.
09 — Applications
Where This Comes to Life
🔧 Tool Libraries & Makerspaces
Track tools across multiple community spaces, coordinate maintenance, and build reputation for responsible borrowers.
🚗 Transportation Pools
Manage shared vehicle fleets with usage-based cost distribution, maintenance scheduling, and environmental tracking.
🏭 Equipment Sharing Networks
Industrial equipment that would otherwise sit idle can flow between organizations based on need.
💻 Digital Commons
Software licenses, computing resources, and digital infrastructure managed as shared resources.
10 — The Vision
Toward a Flow Economy
“The protocol’s emphasis on stewardship over ownership provides the foundation for resource sharing networks that prioritize sustainability, accessibility, and collective benefit.”
RTP-FP isn’t just a technical specification—it’s a bet on a different kind of economy. One where resources are used more efficiently because they’re shared more easily. Where trust is built through direct interaction rather than institutional intermediaries. Where the full lifecycle of every resource is visible and managed.
The tools exist. The standards are maturing. From local tool libraries to global equipment sharing networks, from community makerspaces to cross-organizational resource pools—the infrastructure for a flow economy is being built, one protocol at a time.
11 — Get Involved
Join the Movement
RTP-FP is an open protocol, designed to evolve through community contribution. Whether you’re building a local sharing library, developing software for commons-based organizations, or simply interested in alternative economic models, there’s a place for you.
Key Resources:
- ValueFlows — Economic vocabulary
- Holochain — Peer-to-peer infrastructure
- JSON-LD — Semantic interoperability
Resource Transport/Flow Protocol — Building infrastructure for the commons economy