# Counterparty

URL: https://blockspace.wiki/glossary/counterparty/

The protocol whose assets carry [counters](https://blockspace.wiki/glossary/counter/). For counters it supplies identity, ownership, naming, transfer and, since its v11 [taproot envelope](https://blockspace.wiki/glossary/taproot-envelope/), the content itself. Counterparty Core is its node software. It decides message validity, asset identity, ownership and content; the counters indexer never reimplements that consensus. ("Bitcoin Core" is the separate Bitcoin node; the counters docs always name the two in full.)

Sources:

- Bitcoin Counters v3, indexer and wallet: README (BitcoinCounters/counters) · https://github.com/BitcoinCounters/counters
- Bitcoin Counters build reference v3 · https://github.com/BitcoinCounters/counters/blob/HEAD/docs/build-reference-v3.md
- Blockspace Holdings records

Updated: 2026-10-20