Surely the problem at hand is not simply an atomic transaction in a distributed system, any HN reader worth her salt can do that. The problem is satisfactorily

Surely the problem at hand is not simply an atomic transaction in a distributed system, any HN reader worth her salt can do that. The problem is satisfactorily handling money laundering, fraudulent transactions, and a myriad other user-facing issues. A better question is what regulation should exist in this space, and the actual mechanics of the payment. Who gets to say the buyer's money is good, and that the seller has adequately dealt with the conditions of sale?