what if you could own a share of the infrastructure that protects nature — not a single forest or wetland, but the entire operating layer?
the .basin certificate is a group certificate — an instrument that funds BASIN Natural Capital, the originator and operator behind the ensurance protocol.
from basin protocol to ensurance
ensurance started as the BASIN Protocol — a system of .basin accounts representing place, purpose, and people. as the protocol matured, it expanded into the broader ensurance protocol with multiple onchain groups: .refi, .boulder, .tokyo, .ai, .bioregion, and many more.
.basin remains the foundational group — now focused on watersheds (the original meaning of "basin") plus operational accounts for protocol development and original $ENSURE investors.
think of .basin as the originator. the other groups extend the protocol into new territories, communities, and use cases. this certificate funds the core.
what .basin does
BASIN Natural Capital safeguards nature's stocks (ecosystems) and flows (ecosystem services) — the infrastructure that underpins all physical, financial, and spiritual wealth.
through ensurance.app, .basin coordinates:
- 549 agents — watershed accounts, operational infrastructure, and early protocol participants
- 15 ecosystem types — from inland wetlands to marine systems, tropical forests to polar regions
- 19 ecosystem services — clean water, climate stability, pollination, soil formation, and more
how the certificate works
| feature | what it means |
|---|---|
| tradable | buy, sell, or transfer on secondary markets |
| yield-bearing | returns from protocol activity and proceeds distribution |
| 1:1 protocol share | every certificate represents equal participation in ensurance |
| direct funding | proceeds flow to .basin operations immediately |
the mechanics
- you purchase a .basin certificate
- funds flow directly to BASIN Natural Capital's operating account
- those funds support watershed agents, protocol operations, and ecosystem protection
- you hold a tradable, yield-bearing share of the protocol
- as the system grows, your participation grows with it
why fund the operating layer?
most conservation instruments fund specific projects. that's necessary — but it misses something.
the coordination layer matters.
who routes capital to the right places? who maintains the infrastructure that makes natural assets investable? who ensures proceeds reach stewards efficiently? who builds the tools that let new groups like .boulder and .tokyo launch their own ensurance programs?
funding .basin funds the answers to those questions. it's infrastructure investment for nature.
what you're actually holding
| aspect | traditional conservation | .basin certificate |
|---|---|---|
| liquidity | locked, illiquid | tradable anytime |
| returns | none (donation) | yield from protocol activity |
| scope | single project | entire operating system |
| exit | none | secondary market |
| transparency | annual reports | onchain, real-time |
reduced risk, increased resilience
ensurance at the asset level delivers reduced risk, increased resilience, and greater well-being — for investors, communities, and ecosystems alike.
the .basin certificate gives you exposure to that entire system: the watersheds, the services, the agents, the proceeds, and the protocol infrastructure that enables other groups to participate.
who this is for
- institutional allocators seeking exposure to natural capital infrastructure
- impact investors who want returns aligned with ecological outcomes
- protocol participants building long-term positions in ensurance
- anyone who understands that infrastructure matters as much as individual projects
taking action
the .basin certificate is available on the specific ensurance page. each purchase directly funds the operating layer that makes natural capital investable.
this isn't charity. it's infrastructure investment — with liquidity, yield, and a share in the system protecting nature at scale.