Ripple has to be the coolest application of this whole social XXXX (network, software etc) trend. Thanks for Bubble Generation for pointing this out to me. It is even an open source project, the sourceforge project home page is here. Too bad it doesnt look like Ripple has a lot of traction getting code contributors. (But if they need a PM, I’m able and willing)

I think the idea has legs given enough resources and integration with an existing social network (linkedin?). What has me excited was that there is actually an analog analog in Asia. Given their less developed financial markets, emerging countries in Asia has long developed P2P, micro-lending, and social network based “mini-financial markets.” When I was little, I remember groups of relatives, neighbors, or co-workers will form co-ops (no more than 10 people) where members of group will take turn borrowing from the rest of the group for a short duration (~1 year). Credits are established through friendships or blood relations implying simple understanding of the borrower’s willingness to pay back as well as financial standing. Ofcourse Ripple extends that model by finding trusted “chains” rather than circles which makes sense given our ability to map networks through technology. Although I do think marketing wise, Ripple shoud focus on acquiring “group” based lending networks which will be much easier to achieve critical mass while “chain” based model will allow it to scale in the future.