diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes
index 358ff9b..284fc63 100644
--- a/.gitattributes
+++ b/.gitattributes
@@ -2,5 +2,5 @@
 *.sec* filter=git-crypt diff=git-crypt
 *.key* filter=git-crypt diff=git-crypt
 secrets/** filter=git-crypt diff=git-crypt
-local.key.asc !filter !diff
+*.asc !filter !diff
 .gitattributes !filter !diff
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..cd70bec
--- /dev/null
+++ b/README.md
@@ -0,0 +1,32 @@
+## A toy chain
+
+The chain should have these properties:
+
+   - Running on at least 2 pre-defined nodes (IP addresses given in a config file / no additional discovery necessary)-
+   - PoW, with every node a miner-
+   - The difficulty is fixed (i.e., block time is not), each block rewards 100 coins-
+   - ECDSA cryptography; addresses may be pure public keys-
+   - Protect against double spending
+   - Transactions can have additional data payload, signed by the sender (and there needs to be a way to set it)
+   - Blocks can have additional data payload (and there needs to be a way to set it)
+   - Implement a simple REST-like web service API which implements the following services and returns JSON data:
+     * Query the block count.
+     * Query a single block and return all its transaction data.
+     * Query a single transaction and return all its data.
+     * Create a transaction from JSON data and accept it for mining
+
+
+ note:
+   sensitive data are encrypted w/ git-crypt;
+   please send your public key if you need access
+   or ask for a shared DH secret
+
+
+   decrypt can be done with the command :
+
+   ```sh
+   export ASKPASS=ssh-askpass
+   git-crypt unlock
+   #gpg --decrypt local.key.asc | git-crypt unlock -
+
+   ```