⚙️ The Three-Gear Currency

Credits for Services. Marks for Reputation. Joules for Locked Value.

Liana Banyan uses three interlocking currencies that serve different purposes but work together as gears in a machine. All three are platform service units — they provide access to platform services, not cash or investment returns.

IMPORTANT: Credits, Marks, and Joules are platform service units. They cannot be cashed out, transferred to others, or exchanged for money. They function like arcade tokens — valuable within our ecosystem, but not financial instruments.

The Three Gears

         ┌─────────────┐
         │   CREDITS   │
         │  (Services) │
         └──────┬──────┘
                │
     ┌──────────┼──────────┐
     │          │          │
     ▼          ▼          ▼
┌─────────┐ ┌─────────┐ ┌─────────┐
│  MARKS  │ │ CREDITS │ │ JOULES  │
│  (Rep)  │ │  (Hub)  │ │ (Value) │
└─────────┘ └─────────┘ └─────────┘
     │                     │
     └─────────┬───────────┘
               │
         ┌─────┴─────┐
         │ PLATFORM  │
         │  ACCESS   │
         └───────────┘

Gear 1: Credits

The service access currency

What Credits Are

• 1 Credit = $1 worth of platform services (fixed value)
• Platform’s primary transaction currency
• Used for voting, purchasing services, backing projects

How to Get Credits

What You Do With Credits

• Vote on projects — Influence what gets built
• Purchase products — Buy from the marketplace
• Back campaigns — Fund new creations
• Donate to initiatives — Support charitable work
• Pay for services — Hire providers, use manufacturing network

Credit Rules

• ❌ Cannot be transferred to other members
• ❌ Cannot be cashed out for USD
• ✅ Used for all platform services
• ❌ Cannot buy Marks or Joules directly

Think of Credits like arcade tokens: You buy them to access services within the platform. They’re valuable here, but only here.

Gear 2: Marks

The reputation currency

What Marks Are

• Reputation tokens that can’t be bought
• Earned only through contribution
• Measure of community trust

How to Earn Marks

What Marks Unlock

Mark Rules

• ❌ Cannot be bought
• ❌ Cannot be transferred
• ❌ Cannot be converted to Credits
• ✅ Permanent (once earned, kept forever)
• ✅ Public (everyone can see your Mark level)

Gear 3: Joules

The locked-value service currency

What Joules Are

• Platform service units with locked-in value at time of earning
• Like a “special arcade token” that always buys the same amount of service, even if prices change
• Earned when you back projects or contribute to the platform

How to Earn Joules

Joule Multipliers

Multipliers stack! Example: Pre-Mint (5x) + First 100 (2x) + Forest rank (3x) = 30x multiplier

What Joules Provide

• Locked-in service value — Your Joules always buy services at the rate when you earned them
• Voting weight — Higher Joule counts have more influence on governance decisions
• Platform attribution — Recognition for your contributions
• Priority access — Earlier access to new platform services

The “Locked Value” Advantage

REGULAR CREDITS:
  Year 1: 100 Credits buys X services
  Year 3: Platform grows, prices adjust
  Year 3: 100 Credits might buy less than X

JOULES:
  Year 1: Earn 100 Joules worth 100 Credits of service value
  Year 3: Those same 100 Joules STILL buy 100 Credits worth at ORIGINAL rates
  Result: Your purchasing power is PROTECTED

Think of Joules like a lifetime gym membership at locked-in prices. The gym can raise prices for new members, but YOUR rate stays the same.

Joule Rules

• ❌ Cannot be bought directly (must be earned)
• ❌ Cannot be transferred (tied to your account)
• ❌ Cannot be cashed out for money
• ✅ Provide locked-value service access
• ✅ Provide governance voting weight
• ✅ Permanent (once earned, kept forever)

How the Gears Interlock

The Participation Cycle

1. BUY CREDITS
   │
   ▼
2. USE PLATFORM → Back projects, complete tasks
   │
   ▼
3. EARN JOULES → Locked-value service credits
   │
   ▼
4. EARN MARKS → Reputation unlocks multipliers
   │
   ▼
5. JOULES + MARKS → Better rates on future activity
   │
   ▼
6. BUILD YOUR BUSINESS → Use services to support external ventures
   │
   ▼
   REPEAT (operational advantage compounds)

Example Journey

Sarah joins Liana Banyan:

1. Buys 100 Credits ($100 for platform service access)
2. Backs 2ndSecond Medallion at Pre-Mint (50 credits)
   • Earns 250 Joules (50 × 5x multiplier)
   • Joules lock in 250 Credits worth of service value
3. Project ships → Platform allocates 25 bonus Credits
4. Completes a bounty → Earns 50 Marks + 100 Credits
5. Now has:
   • 175 Credits (for platform services)
   • 250 Joules (locked service value)
   • 50 Marks (reputation level)
6. Backs HexIsle at Minted (75 credits)
   • Earns 225 Joules (75 × 3x)
7. After 6 months:
   • 450 Credits (from bonuses and work)
   • 475 Joules (locked service access)
   • 200 Marks (unlocking Sprout benefits)

Sarah’s $100 → Access to 450+ Credits worth of platform services, plus locked-value Joules for future use.

Important: Sarah cannot cash this out. She uses these Credits and Joules for platform services — manufacturing, fulfillment, governance, etc. If she wants to make money, she builds a business using these services and raises capital externally (Kickstarter, etc.).

Currency Comparison

The Arcade Token Model

All three currencies work like arcade tokens:

Why this matters: This is NOT an investment platform. You’re not buying securities or equity. You’re buying access to services, like buying a gym membership or arcade tokens.

FAQ

Can I convert Marks to Credits?

No. Marks represent reputation earned through contribution. They unlock benefits but can’t be monetized.

Can I buy Joules?

No. Joules can only be earned by backing projects or contributing. This ensures service credits go to active participants.

What’s the point of three currencies?

Each serves a different purpose:

• Credits = service access (buying power within platform)
• Marks = reputation (trust level, unlocks features)
• Joules = locked-value service access (inflation protection)

Separating them ensures each type of value is earned appropriately.

Can I lose Marks or Joules?

Marks and Joules are permanent once earned. You can’t lose them. However, active violations of community standards can result in account restrictions.

Can I cash out my Credits or Joules?

No. Credits and Joules are platform service units, like arcade tokens. They provide access to services within the Liana Banyan ecosystem. If you want to make money, use the platform services to build a business and raise capital externally through Kickstarter, Wefunder, or other platforms.

What happens to my currencies if I leave?

• Credits: Remain in your account (can use for services if you return)
• Marks: Tied to your account (inactive but preserved)
• Joules: Tied to your account (inactive but preserved)

How to Make Money on Liana Banyan

Liana Banyan is a service platform, not an investment platform. Here’s how members actually make money:

1. Complete gig work — Other members and businesses pay you for tasks
2. Build a business — Use platform services (manufacturing, fulfillment) to run your operations
3. Raise capital externally — Launch campaigns on Kickstarter, Wefunder, etc.
4. Keep your profits — LB is your vendor, not your investor

Your Credits and Joules make your business operations cheaper. They’re tools for building, not passive income sources.

Get Started

1. Buy Credits →
2. Browse Projects →
3. Find Bounties →

“Credits access. Marks unlock. Joules protect. Build your business.”