OpenBazaar, a decentralized marketplace that uses Bitcoin, has released its first version of its peer-to-peer marketplace and is available for download on the OpenBazaar website.

The test version of the software was launched on March 1st, which saw over 25,000 downloads from 126 countries. Users posted more than 3,000 listings to test out the software in preparation for the public release.

OpenBazaar has a unique approach to perform online commerce. Unlike the online marketplace giants Alibaba, Amazon, or eBay, this new platform isn’t controlled by any company or organization. Instead of visiting a website, buyers and sellers simply need to download and install a program and OpenBazaar will connect them directly.

Moreover, as there are no middlemen in the trade, users are not required to pay any fees to use the network, and there are no terms and conditions to sign.

“Trade was meant to be free. This idea inspired us to spend the last two years building OpenBazaar. Starting today, anyone in the world with access to an Internet connection can use Bitcoin and OpenBazaar to exchange goods and services freely. We can’t wait to see how people will use this tool”, Project leader Brian Hoffman said in a statement.

Currently, bitcoin is the only supported payment method. Bitcoin is used because of its “unique” benefits over other payment methods, inlcuding low fees and no permission required to send or receive Bitcoin.

Last year, OpenBazaar raised US$1 million in seed funding from Union Square Ventures, Andreessen-Horowitz, and angel investor William Mougayar to form a company, enabling full-time development of the protocol and software.

The company, named ‘OB1’, will continue releasing improved versions of the software over the coming months, and will begin offering services to users on the network.