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As of June 12, 2018, there were 1,628 Cryptocurrencies available, with a total market cap around $300 Billion^1),2). DIDO implementations and interest in them are currently in the technology Hype Cycle as defined by Gartner.

[nick] Where in the cycle?

Figure 1: Gartner Group Hype Cycle

[julie] 1st sentence 'motivating the RA' - attributes motivation to inanimate object. Can you reword? -- done -- check if you like

[julie] 'it is unknown' in mid-paragraph - classic passive wording, can you fix? - my wording. agree that something like "we don't know" would be more active but not appropriate for a doc like this. so I think the way it is must remain.

A major concern motivating the need for a Reference Architecture (RA) is the lack of a comprehensive mechanism to evaluate all the risks associated with DIDO implementations (especially cryptocurrencies). Many of the risks to DIDOs are common to distributed computing and have already been identified and addressed using risk mitigators in existing processes, procedures, and standards. An example is vulnerabilities in source code. However, it is unknown how rigorously these risk mitigators have been applied to DIDOs, if at all. Specifying a Reference Architecture and cross-referencing its components to a set of existing standards establishes the following:

• An actuarial framework for assessing risks associated with existing products
• Metrics for evaluating, comparing, and selecting existing products
• A roadmap for future standard implementation, enhancement, and development