1. A system for open electronic commerce where both customers and merchants can securely transact comprising: a customer trusted agent; a first money module associated with said customer trusted agent, and capable of securely communicating with said customer trusted agent; a merchant trusted agent capable of establishing a first cryptographically secure session with said customer trusted agent; a second money module associated with said merchant trusted agent and capable of securely communicating with said merchant trusted agent, and capable of establishing a second cryptographically secure session with said first money module; where said merchant trusted agent transfers electronic merchandise, via said first cryptographically secure session, to said customer trusted agent which provisionally retains said electronic merchandise; where said customer trusted agent provides first payment information to said first money module and said merchant trusted agent provides second payment information to said second money module; where said first money module transfers electronic money, in an amount consistent with said first and second payment information, to said second money module via said second cryptographically secure session; where said first money module informs said customer trusted agent upon successful transfer of said electronic money, whereupon said retention of electronic merchandise is no longer provisional, and where said second money module informs said merchant trusted agent upon successful receipt of said electronic money.