Abstract: A method of effecting a transaction with a micropayment platform that includes a merchant-participant, a consumer-participant, a micropayment system, and a distributed ledger, the method includes receiving by the micropayment system from the merchant-participant a digital promise to pay document (DPP), validating the DPP by the micropayment system, the DPP including at least a payable amount, which includes an amount payable to the merchant-participant; sending a message to the merchant-participant indicating that the amount payable to the merchant-participant is available by checking an account associated with the consumer-participant; creating a transaction file based on the DPP, and recording the transaction file in the distributed ledger by the micropayment system; debiting from the account associated with the consumer-participant an amount corresponding to the amount payable to the merchant-participant; crediting an account of the merchant-participant with an amount indicated to be payable to the merchan