Counterparty is not anonymous.  Everyone knows it is being built by 'Robby' - https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=102837

You can check precisely from where the whole thing started: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=265488.msg3822194;topicseen#msg3822194 

Robby wanted to join Mastercoin and he started telling everyone how they suck and he is an experienced professional who has done many big projects.  Mastercoin didn't get impressed with Robby's 'big swinging dick' attitude - so they told him "No thanks".  So Robby went off and did his own thing: CounterParty.  Robby built something nice.  However, the Mastercoin infrastructure is much more than Robby's fast programming ability.  Mastercoin is a community of dedicated hard working guys who COOPERATE together.  Robby is a single dominant personality who wants to take over and tell others who don't agree with him - they suck. 

We'll see which holds up.  Robby's work is no doubt nice.  But Robby is not a community of cooperating parts.  Counterparty will copy Mastercoin and every step - in some places, CP will even look better.  But CP will not be able to pass MSC as CP is mere a one man show with loads of coding skill. 

It is a shame really.  Mastercoin could have used contributions from Robby.  But his dumb-ass personality got in the way.   He isn't the kind of guy who cooperates with others.  'My way or the highway'.  So - he took the highway.  Bye-bye robby.