Gov/en/Portal:Economy/Karma-Tokens
💡 In simple words: Karma tokens are like points you collect on the platform. You earn them by taking part, and you can use them later for rewards or services, a bit like airline miles.
Wiki Core · Concept
Karma Tokens
By sharing unused resources and/or contributing as a volunteer, you can earn Karma tokens, usable within your Rings of Trust to get access to services and goods such as housing, transportation or food. Karma tokens are a barter-style unit for otherwise unused resources in the functional economy, creating a citizen participation with an exchange network (initial hypothesis; not a currency in the legal sense). "Karma token" is a working name and may change; the token was previously called "WIL token" and, before that, "Miles Credits". Finding a durable name is the subject of a draft open call.
Karma Tokens at a Glance
| Symbol | 🔗 |
| Convertible to CHF | No |
| Usable for | Services in ecosystem |
| Earned via | Funding, contribution |
| Value driver | Supply & demand |
| Usage scope | Rings of Trust |
| Coefficient | 1–10 |
| See also | Karma Token Market |
| See also | Rings of Trust |
Karma tokens are a type of WikiDeal Credit exchangeable for services and goods within the WikiDeal ecosystem — specifically within Rings of Trust. Unlike Rewards, Karma tokens are not convertible to CHF. Instead, they enable a functional complementary economy where housing, transport, food, tutoring, and many other services can be accessed directly.
Karma tokens are the currency of the WikiDeal community economy — not speculative, not financial, but immediately useful.
What Are Karma tokens?
Karma tokens represent access to services. When you earn Karma tokens — through funding WikiDeal, contributing to a programme, or participating in community activities — you can spend them on services offered by other WikiDeal members within Rings of Trust.
How Karma tokens Work
- Earning — Karma tokens are earned through funding contributions (as P1 reward), volunteering, programme participation, or as a small welcome amount.
- Spending — Karma tokens can be exchanged for services offered within Rings of Trust (agreements between ≥2 User Groups).
- Value determination — The Karma Token Market algorithm sets Karma token value based on supply and demand within each Ring. More service providers → lower Karma token value per service. Fewer providers → higher value.
- Usage coefficients — Each Ring applies a usage coefficient from 1 (restricted access) to 10 (widely accepted across many Rings). Higher coefficient = more versatile Karma tokens.
The Double Indicator
Karma tokens carry a double indicator that reflects two dimensions of value:
- Value of service — What the Karma tokens can be exchanged for (what service, what quality)
- Availability / frequency — How often that service is available and how many providers offer it
A Karma token for rare services in a small Ring is worth more per unit than Karma tokens in a saturated Ring with many providers offering the same service.
Supply and Demand Dynamics
Karma tokens follow community supply and demand:
- More service providers → more Karma tokens in circulation → lower Karma token value per service
- Fewer providers → Karma tokens become more valuable per unit
- High-demand services → Karma token value rises for those services
This is not speculation — it is a transparent reflection of real economic activity within the community.
No Self-Generation
Karma tokens cannot be self-generated by a User Group or individual. The only exception is a small welcome amount granted to new members to facilitate their first interactions in the ecosystem. This prevents inflation and ensures Karma tokens remain tied to real contribution or funding.
Needs Addressed
Karma tokens address the need for a functional internal economy within WikiDeal — one that does not depend on CHF, does not create financial risk, and enables community members to exchange value directly. This is the "complementary currency" dimension of WikiDeal: not a substitute for money, but a supplement that enables cooperation.
See also: Rewards Rewards Explained Karma Token Market Rings of Trust 12 Programmes Need-Driven Funding
💡 Improve this concept — submit a proposal via Open Call