>     * Gradient proof of burn identities (PoB-IDs)

>     * The purpose of a PoB is to:

>     * Associate a cost with creating an ID that people are willing to
> trade with, in order to create a financial disincentive for Sybil
> attacks
>      * Signal the level of risk associated with an individual trade

>     * On point #2, if you are trading goods not valued higher than say
> $100, purchasing a PoB identity of $10 signals lower risk than trading
> with an identity purchased with $0.2.
>      * It is reasonable to assume that poor people will not be trading
> multi-million dollar yachts on OpenBazaar and would not need to
> purchase (or ascribe) a high valued PoB identity. 
>     * So poor people can purchase a relatively low cost identity if they
> wish
>      * Please note, this is not the only way counter party risk will be
> signaled, it will be one of many factors to consider

>     * Proof of burn identities are optional (at this stage of discussion
> by the devs)

>     * If you choose not to purchase a PoB identity, then you will need to
> develop your reputation through the bitcoin-otc style web of trust
> that will be used to manage reputations and ratings (some discussion
> ongoing about integrating a PoW/PoB with making a rating)
>      * Without a PoB-ID, it will take longer to establish a good
> reputation that people will be willing to trade with... but
> essentially if they see than the identity has no PoB value ascribed to
> it, but has a high trust rating across a broad network other
> well-regarded identities, your trade risk may be regarded as
> equivalent to a PoB-ID (maybe even better) 
>      * Also, without a PoB-ID, the trade you make with a buyer/seller may
> have more contractual safeguards in place (i.e. surety bonds, closely
> monitored trade by an arbiter, other stuff we or the market hasn't
> thought of yet)
>      * Even if people can create hundreds of identities for free, without
> a good web of trust reputation and a PoB-ID, it is unlikely that
> people will trade goods above a certain value.