Joule Eligibility on Progress Bars

Poor users deserve the same value protection as everyone else.

The Problem

Credits and Joules have identical value at the moment of purchase:

• 1 dollar = 1 Credit = 1 Joule

But Joules are Forever Stamps — they lock in value. If the platform economy grows, Joules are worth MORE than what you paid.

The unfairness: A user with only 25 dollars who buys Credits and spends them immediately gets no benefit from potential platform growth. They’re effectively subsidizing future growth for others.

The solution: Let early purchasers CHOOSE between Credits OR Joules.

The Mechanics

Basic Rule

For each production progress bar, the first X percent of purchases are Joule-eligible.

This means:

• Purchaser can choose: “Give me Credits” OR “Give me Joules”
• Same price either way
• Joules get Forever Stamp protection

The Tiered Unlock System

Using a 15K progress bar as example:

The Formula

At each 10th percentile milestone:

New Joule-Eligible = 5% × (Remaining Gap to Next Milestone)

Example (15K progress bar):

• 0%: Joule-eligible = 5% × 15,000 = 750 dollars worth
• At 10%: Joule-eligible = 5% × (15,000 - 1,500) = 675 dollars worth
• At 20%: Joule-eligible = 5% × (15,000 - 3,000) = 600 dollars worth
• … continues

Total Joule-eligible across full bar: Approximately 25-30% of total

The “Reserve” Mechanism

Users don’t have to convert immediately. They can hold their Joule-eligibility in Reserve.

How It Works

1. User purchases 25 dollars worth during Joule-eligible window
2. System records: “User has 25 Joule conversions available”
3. User can choose to:
   • Convert immediately to Joules (locked rate now)
   • Hold in Reserve (apply later when they want)
   • Take as Credits (forfeit Joule option)

Why Reserve Matters

A poor user might want to:

• Spend Credits now for immediate needs
• BUT hold the option to convert to Joules later
• This preserves their value protection without forcing a choice

LB Loses Nothing

This is a timing shift, not a value loss:

• Same amount of currency issued
• Same economic activity
• User just gets to choose the form

Unlocking Between Progress Bars

The Joule option for one progress bar doesn’t unlock until:

Option A: Previous progress bar reaches 100% Option B (Recommended): Previous progress bar reaches 50%

This creates a cascade effect where momentum on one bar helps unlock the next.

Special Circumstances (Joule Direct Purchase)

Outside the progress bar system, Joules can be purchased directly at a premium:

Standard Premium Math:

• Want 100 Joules directly?
• Pay 120 dollars (20% premium)
• But your Joules are locked at 120 dollars worth
• If platform grows 50%, your Joules are worth 180 dollars

Database Implementation

CREATE TABLE joule_eligibility (
  id UUID PRIMARY KEY,
  progress_bar_id UUID NOT NULL,
  total_joule_eligible DECIMAL(12,2),
  joule_eligible_claimed DECIMAL(12,2) DEFAULT 0,
  current_milestone INTEGER DEFAULT 0,
  created_at TIMESTAMP DEFAULT NOW()
);

CREATE TABLE user_joule_reserves (
  id UUID PRIMARY KEY,
  user_id UUID NOT NULL,
  amount DECIMAL(12,2) NOT NULL,
  locked_rate DECIMAL(6,4) NOT NULL,
  source_progress_bar_id UUID,
  status TEXT DEFAULT 'reserved', -- 'reserved', 'converted', 'forfeited'
  reserved_at TIMESTAMP DEFAULT NOW(),
  converted_at TIMESTAMP
);

UI Implementation

At Purchase Time

[ ] Credits (spend immediately)
[x] Joules (Forever Stamp - locks value)
    ℹ️ Joule option available! You're in the first 5%.
    
[ ] Reserve (decide later)
    ℹ️ Hold your option. Convert anytime.

Progress Bar Display

[███████░░░░░░░░░░░░░] 35% of 15K
    
Joule-Eligible Windows:
✓ 0-5%    (750/750 claimed)
✓ 10-12%  (675/675 claimed)  
◷ 20-22%  (420/600 available) ← You are here
○ 30-32%  (pending)
○ ...

Related Documents

• Credits & Joules
• Forever Stamp Mechanics
• 5K Sponsor Offering

“Everyone deserves the same shot at value protection.”