Insurance pays you after your house burns down. Ensurance funds the firebreak that prevents the fire.
This distinction matters because nature does not recover like property. A degraded wetland cannot be rebuilt with a check. A collapsed fishery cannot be compensated back to productivity. For natural capital, prevention is not just better than cure—it is often the only option.
ensurance vs insurance
| Aspect | Insurance | Ensurance |
|---|---|---|
| Timing | After damage | Before damage |
| Model | Risk transfer | Risk prevention |
| Payment | Indemnity for loss | Premium for protection |
| Outcome | Compensation | Preservation |
| Natural capital fit | Poor (irreversible loss) | Strong (ongoing stewardship) |
Ensurance is a proactive funding mechanism for natural capital protection. Instead of waiting for ecosystems to degrade and then paying claims, ensurance creates continuous funding flows for stewardship, monitoring, and restoration—from day one.
how ensurance works
The ensurance system uses three primary instruments:
coins
General ensurance coins (like $ENSURE) represent broad support for ecosystem protection. When you hold or trade these coins, value flows to natural capital stewardship across the protocol. Think of it as generalized ecosystem backing—not tied to a specific asset, but supporting the system as a whole.
certificates
Specific ensurance certificates are tied to individual natural assets—a particular wetland, forest, or watershed. Certificate holders fund ongoing protection of that specific asset and receive verification of its ecological health over time. This is direct, traceable impact.
agents
Ensurance agents are AI-powered accounts that can autonomously manage natural capital portfolios. They monitor ecosystem health, execute trades, allocate resources, and respond to conditions—extending stewardship beyond what manual management allows.
the ensurance lifecycle
- Unensured → Natural asset exists but lacks protection funding
- Ensured → Ongoing premiums fund active stewardship and monitoring
- Entrust → Permanent protection achieved through long-term commitment
This progression moves natural assets from vulnerable to protected to permanently secured—a pathway that traditional insurance cannot provide.
why this matters for investors
Ensurance creates a new asset class: instruments backed by real natural capital with measurable ecological outcomes. Unlike carbon offsets (which often lack additionality) or ESG funds (which often lack specificity), ensurance instruments are:
- Tied to real, verifiable natural assets
- Funded by ongoing premium flows
- Monitored through continuous MRV (measurement, reporting, verification)
- Structured for both impact and return
For those seeking exposure to nature-based solutions with real accountability, ensurance provides a mechanism that did not previously exist.
getting started
Ensurance is live. You can:
- Explore ensurance instruments →
- See how this applies to your organization →
- Talk to someone who can help →