MARKS, CREDITS, AND JOULES — THE COMPLETE CURRENCY GUIDE
Liana Banyan Corporation Last Updated: December 1, 2025
THE THREE-CURRENCY SYSTEM
Liana Banyan uses three interconnected currencies that work together like a differential in a car—allowing users from different economic situations to participate equally while maintaining platform stability.
Critical Principle: All three currencies are EQUAL IN VALUE.
$$1 \text{ Credit} = 1 \text{ Mark} = 1 \text{ Joule}$$
The difference is not value—it’s how you acquire them and what you can spend them on.
CREDITS — The Primary Currency
What Are Credits?
Credits are the main platform currency for all standard transactions.
Initial Value: 1 Credit = $1 USD (as of December 1, 2025)
Long-term Value: Floats based on internal platform economy, not permanently pegged to USD.
How to Get Credits
- Purchase: Buy directly with any fiat currency
- Earn: Complete work on the platform
- Receive: Payment for goods/services sold
- Claim: Medallion ownership includes Credits
What Credits Can Buy
- Platform membership (5 Credits/year)
- All goods and services on the marketplace
- Project investments
- Voting on products
- Hiring for positions
- Tips (primary method)
- Everything on the platform
Key Rules
- Non-transferable for cash: You cannot sell Credits to another user for external currency
- Spend only: Credits are spent within the platform, not withdrawn as cash
- Only LB issues Credits: No user can create or sell Credits
MARKS — The Effort Currency
What Are Marks?
Marks are issued in two ways:
- Effort-debt: When a user from a weak-currency economy purchases Credits
- Rewards: For participation, achievements, and promotional activities
The Effort-Debt Mechanism
Example: Bob lives in an economy where his currency is worth 0.8 relative to the baseline.
When Bob wants 1 Credit:
- Bob pays the equivalent of $1.00 in his local currency
- His currency is only worth $0.80 to us
- Bob receives: 1.0 Credit + 0.2 Marks debt
The 0.2 Marks represents the “gap” between what Bob paid and what it’s worth externally. But Bob gets the full Credit value immediately—he’s not penalized for his economy.
Clearing Marks Debt
Marks debt is cleared through platform participation:
| Activity | Marks Cleared |
|---|---|
| Complete work order | 10% of payment value |
| Purchase goods/services | 5% of transaction |
| Cast verified vote | 0.01 Marks |
| Receive positive review | 0.05 Marks |
| Refer new user (who activates) | 0.10 Marks |
The Birthright Mechanic
If Bob can’t or won’t clear his Marks debt:
- The debt becomes redeemable equity
- Other members can purchase Bob’s equity (paying Bob in Credits)
- Bob has 1 year to redeem (buy back) his equity at original + 10%
- After 1 year without redemption: equity transfers permanently to purchaser
Philosophy: You can sell your birthright (like Esau). But I wouldn’t. And unlike Esau, you have ample time to redeem it.
What Marks Can Buy
Marks have restricted usage—they cannot be used for everything:
✅ Marks CAN buy:
- Essential goods (food, medical supplies)
- Tips (but only as a percentage of a Credit transaction)
- Hiring costs (with conditions—see below)
❌ Marks CANNOT buy:
- General marketplace items
- Project investments
- Membership fees
- Voting rights
Marks for Hiring (Special Rules)
Marks can cover hiring costs, but ONLY if one of these conditions is met:
- Project plan (mini-business plan) submitted, OR
- 50% down payment in Credits, OR
- Sufficient vouchers to fully cover the hire
This prevents Marks from being used speculatively without commitment.
Marks from Rewards (Not Debt)
Marks are also issued as rewards:
- Treasure hunt prizes
- Achievement bonuses
- Promotional campaigns
- Referral rewards
These Marks are not debt—they’re earned value that follows the same usage restrictions.
JOULES — The Forever Stamp
What Are Joules?
Joules are stored value issued when a user from a strong-currency economy purchases Credits.
The Surplus Storage Mechanism
Example: Mary lives in Switzerland where her currency is worth 1.4 relative to the baseline.
When Mary wants 1 Credit:
- Mary pays the equivalent of $1.00 in her local currency
- Her currency is worth $1.40 to us
- Mary receives: 1.0 Credit + 0.4 Joules
The 0.4 Joules represents the “surplus” value Mary contributed beyond what the Credit cost.
The Forever Stamp Mechanic
Joules lock in the exchange rate at the time of acquisition—like the Post Office’s Forever Stamps.
Example:
- Today: Mary acquires 0.4 Joules when 1 Credit = $1.00
- One year later: 1 Credit = $1.50 (platform economy grew)
- Mary’s 0.4 Joules still convert to 0.4 Credits
- She paid $0.40 equivalent, now receives $0.60 worth of Credits
This protects strong-currency users from appreciation—they locked in their rate.
What Joules Can Buy
Joules convert to Credits at the locked rate, then can buy anything Credits can buy.
Redemption:
- Joules → Credits (at locked rate)
- Then spend Credits normally
Key Rules
- No expiration: Joules are “forever stamps”
- Locked rate: Always convert at acquisition-time rate
- No direct spending: Must convert to Credits first
- Non-transferable: Cannot sell Joules to other users
THE DIFFERENTIAL IN ACTION
How It All Works Together
MARY (Strong Economy, 1.4) BOB (Weak Economy, 0.8)
│ │
Pays $1.00 Pays $1.00
(worth 1.4) (worth 0.8)
│ │
▼ ▼
┌─────────────┐ ┌─────────────┐
│ 1.0 Credit │ │ 1.0 Credit │
│+0.4 Joules │ │+0.2 Marks │
│ (stored) │ │ (debt) │
└─────────────┘ └─────────────┘
│ │
└───────────► PLATFORM ◄────────────────┘
(stable)
Both Bob and Mary get exactly 1 Credit worth of value.
- Mary’s surplus (0.4) is stored as Joules for later
- Bob’s gap (0.2) is tracked as Marks to clear through participation
- The platform economy stays stable regardless of external currency chaos
Why This Matters
Without the differential:
- Bob pays more (relative to his economy) than Mary
- Mary gets a discount Bob can’t access
- Platform systematically excludes weak-economy users
With the differential:
- Everyone gets equal value
- Economic differences are absorbed through Marks/Joules
- Bob can participate fully, clearing his debt through effort
- Mary banks surplus value for later use
TRANSACTION CONFIRMATION: “AS YOU WISH”
All platform transactions return the confirmation: “As You Wish”
This is a reference to The Princess Bride, where the phrase means “I love you” expressed through action.
Transactions triggering “As You Wish”:
- Vote cast
- Product purchased
- Credit transferred
- Project funded
- Hire confirmed
- Tip sent
- Marks cleared
- Membership renewed
Every transaction is an act of participation, acknowledged as meaningful.
SUMMARY TABLE
| Currency | Value | Acquisition | Can Buy | Restrictions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Credit | 1.0 | Purchase with fiat, earn through work | Everything | Non-transferable for cash |
| Mark | 1.0 | Effort-debt (weak economy) or rewards | Essentials, tips (%), hiring (conditional) | Cannot buy general items |
| Joule | 1.0 | Surplus storage (strong economy) | Everything (after conversion) | Must convert to Credits first |
LEGAL NOTES
MARKS, CREDITS, and JOULES are platform currencies with value only within Liana Banyan.
- Not legal tender
- Not securities
- Not cryptocurrency
- Non-transferable between users for external value
- Platform reserves right to modify terms
- Closed-loop system (spend only, no cash withdrawal)
QUESTIONS?
About Credits: How to purchase, earn, spend About Marks: Debt clearing, usage restrictions, equity conversion About Joules: Forever stamp redemption, conversion process
Contact: support@lianabanyan.com
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