PATENT BAG #54

THREE-GEAR CURRENCY DIFFERENTIAL FOR PLATFORM ECONOMIC STABILITY

Innovation Category: Economic Infrastructure / Platform Currency Systems Created: December 1, 2025 Inventor: Jonathan Jones Status: Concept Complete — Ready for Provisional Filing

INNOVATION TITLE

Multi-Tiered Currency System with Dynamic Exchange Buffering and Effort-Based Debt Clearing for Cross-Border Economic Stabilization in Digital Platforms

Short name: The Differential Economy or Three-Gear Currency Differential

ABSTRACT

A digital platform currency system comprising three interconnected currencies (Credits, Marks, Joules) functioning as a mechanical differential to absorb external economic fluctuations while maintaining internal platform stability. The system enables users from disparate economic conditions to participate equally by compensating for currency strength differentials through effort-based debt mechanisms and stored-value instruments, without requiring cryptocurrency knowledge or wallet infrastructure.

BACKGROUND / PROBLEM STATEMENT

The Problem

Global digital platforms face inherent inequality when users from different economic regions participate:

1. Currency Strength Disparity: Users in weak-currency economies pay proportionally more (relative to local purchasing power) than users in strong-currency economies
2. Exchange Rate Volatility: External forex fluctuations create unpredictable costs for international users
3. Economic Exclusion: High-friction currency conversion creates barriers to participation
4. Speculation/Gaming: Open currency exchange enables arbitrage that extracts value from the platform

Prior Art Limitations

INNOVATION DESCRIPTION

The Differential Metaphor

In automotive engineering, a differential allows wheels on the same axle to rotate at different speeds while maintaining stable power transfer. This innovation applies the same principle to platform economics:

• Drive Shaft: Human effort and ingenuity (the inexhaustible power source)
• Differential: Three-currency system (Credits, Marks, Joules)
• Axle: Platform internal economy (stable regardless of external conditions)
• Wheels: External currencies (USD, EUR, GBP, etc., spinning at different rates)

The Three Currencies

CRITICAL: All three currencies are EQUAL IN VALUE by definition.

• 1 Credit = 1 Mark = 1 Joule
• Difference is in ACQUISITION, not VALUE
• Different usage restrictions apply to each

GEAR 1: CREDITS — The Axle (Primary Transaction Currency)

Definition: Stable internal platform currency for all transactions

Characteristics:

• Initial anchor: 1 Credit = $1 USD (arbitrary baseline, December 1, 2025)
• Value floats based on internal platform economy, not pegged to external currency
• Fractional denomination allowed (0.01 Credit minimum)
• Non-transferable between users for cash
• Only issued and sold by platform operator
• Backed by aggregate platform transaction volume and work-in-progress

Pricing Mechanism: Cost + 20% margin determines Credit prices for all goods/services

GEAR 2: MARKS — The Compensator (Effort-Debt Currency)

Definition: Micro-currency representing either small rewards or effort-debt obligations

When Issued as Debt:

• User’s local currency worth less than baseline (e.g., 0.8 exchange rate)
• User pays full local amount → Receives 1 Credit + 0.2 Marks debt
• Marks debt = difference between local currency value and Credit value

Debt Clearing Mechanisms:

• Platform participation (work completed, purchases made, votes cast)
• Automatic deduction from net profits earned on platform
• Percentage of each transaction applied to Marks balance

Usage Restrictions:

• Marks can ONLY be spent on essential goods/services (food, medical)
• All other transactions require Credits
• This ensures Marks serve their purpose (effort-debt clearing) without becoming a parallel currency for general commerce

Exceptions with Conditions:

Tips:

• Tips CAN be paid in Marks
• But ONLY as a percentage of Credits spent in the same transaction
• Example: 10 Credit purchase → Up to X Marks tip allowed

Hiring/Project Needs:

• Hiring CAN use Marks, but ONLY until position is filled
• Before posting, one of these must be met:
  • Project plan (mini-business plan) submitted, OR
  • 50% down payment in Credits, OR
  • Sufficient vouchers to fully cover the hire
• This restriction applies ONLY to hiring and project resource needs

Equity Conversion (Birthright Mechanic):

• If Marks debt not cleared within defined period
• Debt converts to “redeemable equity” — claimable by other platform members
• Original debtor retains time-limited redemption window to reclaim
• After redemption window: equity transfers permanently to purchaser
• Modeled on “birthright” concept — sellable but redeemable with grace period

GEAR 3: JOULES — The Capacitor (Stored-Value Currency)

Definition: Stored potential energy capturing surplus from strong-currency economies

When Issued:

• User’s local currency worth more than baseline (e.g., 1.4 exchange rate)
• User pays standard local amount → Receives 1 Credit + 0.4 Joules stored

Forever Stamp Mechanic:

• Joules lock in exchange rate at time of purchase
• Convertible to Credits at locked rate regardless of current rates
• Example: User acquires 0.4 Joules when 1 Credit = $1.00
• Later, 1 Credit = $1.50, but 0.4 Joules still converts to 0.4 Credits
• Protects strong-currency users from appreciation while banking surplus value

Redemption:

• Convert to Credits at locked rate (simple, clean)
• No expiration — “forever stamps”

SYSTEM MECHANICS

Transaction Flow: Weak Economy User (Bob)

Bob (Greece, 0.8 exchange rate)
         │
    Pays €1.00 (worth $0.80)
         │
         ▼
   ┌─────────────────────────┐
   │ PLATFORM DIFFERENTIAL   │
   │                         │
   │ Input: €1.00 ($0.80)    │
   │ Output: 1.0 Credit      │
   │         0.2 Marks debt  │
   └─────────────────────────┘
         │
         ▼
   Bob receives 1 Credit
   Bob owes 0.2 Marks (cleared through participation)

Transaction Flow: Strong Economy User (Mary)

Mary (Switzerland, 1.4 exchange rate)
         │
    Pays CHF 1.00 (worth $1.40)
         │
         ▼
   ┌─────────────────────────┐
   │ PLATFORM DIFFERENTIAL   │
   │                         │
   │ Input: CHF 1.00 ($1.40) │
   │ Output: 1.0 Credit      │
   │         0.4 Joules      │
   └─────────────────────────┘
         │
         ▼
   Mary receives 1 Credit
   Mary banks 0.4 Joules (stored value, locked rate)

Arbitrage Prevention

Problem Prevented: Bob buys Credit at 0.8 rate, sells to Mary at 1.4 rate, extracts 0.6 value

Solution:

• Credits non-transferable between users for cash
• Only platform issues/redeems currency
• Credits can only be spent on platform goods/services
• Closed-loop system prevents external arbitrage

CLAIMS

Claim 1: Three-Currency Differential System

A digital platform currency system comprising three interconnected currencies functioning as a differential mechanism to absorb external economic fluctuations while maintaining internal platform stability.

Claim 2: Primary Stable Currency (Credits)

Wherein the first currency (Credits) serves as stable internal transaction currency with value determined by aggregate platform economic activity rather than external currency pegging.

Claim 3: Effort-Debt Currency (Marks)

Wherein the second currency (Marks) serves as effort-debt instrument issued when user’s local currency value falls below platform baseline, clearable through platform participation activities.

Claim 4: Stored-Value Currency (Joules)

Wherein the third currency (Joules) serves as stored-value instrument capturing surplus when user’s local currency value exceeds platform baseline, with exchange rate locked at time of acquisition (“forever stamp” mechanic).

Claim 5: Birthright Equity Conversion

Wherein unclearable Marks debt converts to transferable equity interest with time-limited redemption window, enabling debt holders to reclaim equity before permanent transfer to purchaser.

Claim 6: Closed-Loop Arbitrage Prevention

Wherein platform currencies cannot be transferred between users for external currency, preventing arbitrage exploitation of exchange rate differentials.

Claim 7: Market-Discovery Pricing

Wherein platform goods/services are priced through market discovery with fixed margin (Cost + X%) applied, with prices denominated in Credits and floating based on supply/demand rather than external currency rates.

Claim 8: Differential Absorption Mechanism

Wherein the combined operation of Credits, Marks, and Joules functions as mechanical differential allowing users from disparate economic conditions to participate with equivalent value receipt regardless of local currency strength.

ADVANTAGES OVER PRIOR ART

IMPLEMENTATION NOTES

User Experience: “As You Wish” Confirmation System

All platform actions that execute a transaction return the confirmation phrase “As You Wish” — a reference to The Princess Bride where the phrase means “I love you” expressed through action.

Actions triggering “As You Wish” response:

• Vote cast
• Product purchased
• Credit transferred
• Project funded
• Hire confirmed
• Tip sent
• Membership renewed

This creates emotional resonance: every transaction is an act of participation in the cooperative economy, acknowledged with the platform’s way of saying “your contribution matters.”

Database Schema (Conceptual)

-- User currency balances
CREATE TABLE user_balances (
  user_id UUID PRIMARY KEY,
  credits NUMERIC(12,2) DEFAULT 0.00,
  marks NUMERIC(12,2) DEFAULT 0.00,      -- Positive = debt owed
  joules NUMERIC(12,2) DEFAULT 0.00,      -- Stored value
  joules_locked_rate NUMERIC(8,4),        -- Rate when Joules acquired
  created_at TIMESTAMP,
  updated_at TIMESTAMP
);

-- Marks equity marketplace
CREATE TABLE marks_equity_listings (
  listing_id UUID PRIMARY KEY,
  debtor_user_id UUID,
  marks_amount NUMERIC(12,2),
  asking_price_credits NUMERIC(12,2),
  redemption_deadline TIMESTAMP,
  purchaser_user_id UUID,
  status VARCHAR(20),  -- 'listed', 'purchased', 'redeemed', 'transferred'
  created_at TIMESTAMP
);

Exchange Rate Oracle

System requires real-time or daily exchange rate data to calculate Marks/Joules differentials. Options:

• Public forex API integration
• Basket-of-goods calculation (Big Mac Index style)
• Platform-internal marketplace discovery

RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER INNOVATIONS

This innovation connects to:

• Innovation #1: Platform Cooperative Ownership Model (medallion system)
• Innovation #7: Tab System (Credits/Marks dual currency — now expanded to three currencies)
• Innovation #15: Cost+20% Margin Model (pricing mechanism for Credits)
• Innovation #23: Medallion-Based Governance (Credits enable voting rights)

POTENTIAL APPLICATIONS

1. Global freelance platforms — Equalizing pay across economies
2. International cooperatives — Fair value distribution regardless of member location
3. Remittance systems — Reducing friction in cross-border value transfer
4. Humanitarian platforms — Enabling participation from economically disadvantaged regions
5. Educational platforms — Fair access regardless of local economic conditions

REGULATORY CONSIDERATIONS

What This System IS:

• Closed-loop platform currency (like Disney Dollars, arcade tokens)
• Internal reward/credit system
• Participation tracking mechanism

What This System IS NOT:

• Money transmission (no user-to-user cash transfer)
• Securities offering (Marks debt is obligation, not investment)
• Cryptocurrency (no blockchain required, though compatible)
• Banking (no cash withdrawal/redemption)

Recommended: Legal review before deployment in each jurisdiction

FILING INFORMATION

Suggested Filing: USPTO Provisional Patent Application Estimated Claims: 8-12 Priority Date: Upon filing Full Application Deadline: 12 months from provisional filing

Related Filings:

• Provisional #63/925,672 (November 25, 2025) — Innovations 1-37
• Provisional #63/927,674 (November 30, 2025) — Innovations 38-53
• This innovation (#54) — Next provisional filing

INVENTOR NOTES

“The insight came from thinking about differentials in cars. How do you let wheels turn at different speeds while the axle stays stable? That’s exactly the problem with global platforms — currencies spinning at different rates, but you need the internal economy to stay consistent.

The three gears came from realizing you need different mechanisms: one for the stable core (Credits), one for compensating deficits (Marks), and one for storing surplus (Joules). Together they absorb the chaos of external markets while keeping the platform fair.

If this works, it’s bigger than a platform feature. It’s a proof of concept that economic access can be equalized through mechanical design, not charity.”

— Jonathan Jones, December 1, 2025

PATENT BAG #54 COMPLETE Ready for provisional filing FOR THE KEEP ⚔️