Using a counterstreaming electron beam to support a nonlinear wakefield for particle acceleration is investigated theoretically. This scheme has the following advantages over the plasma wakefield accelerator (PWFA): (1) easier beam loading; (2) higher transformer ratio; and (3) easier beam‐pulse shaping. Additionally, the achievable accelerating gradient (GeV/m) is as large as that which can be obtained with a PWFA. A numerical comparison between this scheme and the PWFA is given.