> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.sendme.network/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.sendme.network/protocol-overview/participants-and-roles.md).

# Participants and Roles

In scope of this document we will operate on such terms as participants and roles. Let’s begin with a definition of them to avoid confusion:

1. **Participant** – is an individual or an entity that may have a certain role in the system;
2. **Role** – is a distinguishing set of properties that defines the capabilities available to a participant.

There are three types of participants, namely:

1. [**Issuer**](/protocol-overview/participants-and-roles/issuer.md) – is the party responsible for issuing and managing the digital currency on-chain. A good example of an issuer is the Central Bank of a country.
2. [**Entity**](/protocol-overview/participants-and-roles/entity.md) – is the type of participant that represents a legal entity.
3. [**Individual**](/protocol-overview/participants-and-roles/individual.md) – is the type of participant who represents a natural person.

From the perspective of function within the system, there are two roles that are supported by the **sendme** Protocol:

1. [**Validator**](/protocol-overview/participants-and-roles/validator.md) – is responsible for verification and ongoing monitoring of properties associated with entities or individuals.
2. [**Merchant**](/protocol-overview/participants-and-roles/entity.md) – provides services or sells goods in a retail or wholesale model.  

Due to the distributed nature of the system, any wallet may participate in the Protocol provided it complies with the rules that the [Compliance Processor](/protocol-overview/compliance-processor.md) enforces. Further sections of the document provide a more detailed description of the roles and participants.

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