<blockquote>
  <p>What are the best examples of such 'other purposes' and projects, especially the ones that are not altcoins? </p>
</blockquote>

<p>Things that do proof of existence like <a href="https://opentimestamps.org/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">OpenTimestamps</a> are not for transfering money but rather committing something (in this case, a hash) to the blockchain so that it is essentially preserved forever.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-09-15T17:18:29.947Z
2017-09-15T17:18:29.947Z
Ava Chow
<p>As Andrew said, <a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trusted_timestamping#Decentralized_timestamping_on_the_Blockchain" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Timestamping</a> is one powerful use of the blockchain. Another example is <a href="https://namecoin.org" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Namecoin</a> which uses the blockchain for DNS registration. And also, <a href="https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Colored_Coins" rel="nofollow noreferrer">coloured coins</a>, which are used to keep track of ownership of basically anything being transferred around. The blockchain can also be used for storing certificates, check out <a href="http://www.blockcerts.org" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Blockcerts</a>. There are probably many more examples, people are very creative :)</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-09-16T00:38:39.780Z
2017-09-16T00:38:39.780Z
meshcollider
<p>In the Ethereum Homestead docs there is a paragraph</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>But as bitcoin began attracting greater attention from developers and technologists, novel projects began <strong>to use the bitcoin network for purposes other than transfers of value tokens</strong>. Many of these took the form of “alt coins” - separate blockchains with cryptocurrencies of their own which improved on the original bitcoin protocol to add new features or capabilities.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Questions are: 
<br>1. What are the best examples of such 'other purposes' and projects, especially the ones that are not altcoins?
<br>2. What are the most prominent altcoins that haven't lost their significance?</p>

<altcoin>
Apart from its main purpose, what is bitcoin network used for?
Tair Yunussov
# Apart from its main purpose, what is bitcoin network used for?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2017-09-15)

In the Ethereum Homestead docs there is a paragraph

> But as bitcoin began attracting greater attention from developers and technologists, novel projects began **to use the bitcoin network for purposes other than transfers of value tokens**. Many of these took the form of “alt coins” - separate blockchains with cryptocurrencies of their own which improved on the original bitcoin protocol to add new features or capabilities.

Questions are:
  
1. What are the best examples of such 'other purposes' and projects, especially the ones that are not altcoins?
  
2. What are the most prominent altcoins that haven't lost their significance?

**Tags:** altcoin


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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2017-09-15. Score: 1

> What are the best examples of such 'other purposes' and projects, especially the ones that are not altcoins?

Things that do proof of existence like [OpenTimestamps](https://opentimestamps.org/) are not for transfering money but rather committing something (in this case, a hash) to the blockchain so that it is essentially preserved forever.


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### Answer by username_2 on 2017-09-16. Score: 1

As Andrew said, [Timestamping](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trusted_timestamping#Decentralized_timestamping_on_the_Blockchain) is one powerful use of the blockchain. Another example is [Namecoin](https://namecoin.org) which uses the blockchain for DNS registration. And also, [coloured coins](https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Colored_Coins), which are used to keep track of ownership of basically anything being transferred around. The blockchain can also be used for storing certificates, check out [Blockcerts](http://www.blockcerts.org). There are probably many more examples, people are very creative :)


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