---
title: coins
canonical_url: https://ensurance.app/manual/coins
markdown_url: https://ensurance.app/manual/coins.md
subtitle: general ensurance
section: instruments
---

# coins

*general ensurance*

Coins are nature-linked ERC-20 currencies where market activity indirectly funds ecosystems. They represent **general ensurance**—broad participation in natural capital protection.

## why

Direct funding of natural assets requires commitment and expertise. But many participants want exposure to natural capital without managing specific assets.

Coins provide:
- Liquid, tradeable participation
- Indirect funding through market activity
- Diversified exposure across ecosystems
- Familiar currency mechanics

They're the entry point—money that expresses care for nature. In the two-sided capital structure, coins serve both members and participants: flow investors can hold them as a form of participation, and trading activity generates proceeds that fund protection. Coins are the only **indirect** funding instrument — certificates (both policies and lines) are direct.

## what

### coin characteristics

| Property | Description |
|----------|-------------|
| **Standard** | ERC-20 |
| **Scope** | Protocol-wide or theme-specific |
| **Funding model** | Indirect via trading activity |
| **Yield** | Via proceeds distribution |
| **Liquidity** | Tradeable on DEXs |

### coin names

Coins share one mechanic. The name says what the coin is about: a species, a place, or a purpose. The browsable list is /general and `GET /api/general`. Names change as coins are issued. Do not treat a printed ticker as the catalog.

ENSURE is a protocol coin used in proceeds and programs. It is not a row in that browsable list.

### how coins fund nature

```
Trading Activity
 ↓
Fees Generated
 ↓
Proceeds Collected
 ↓
Routed to Agents & Natural Assets
 ↓
Protection & Stewardship Funded
```

Coins don't directly purchase land or conservation easements. They create market activity that generates proceeds, which then flow to natural asset protection.

## how

### holding coins

Coins can be held in:
- Your **owner account** (🟢 external wallet)
- your **operator account** (the account created when you sign in)
- An **agent TBA** (tokenbound account)

When agents hold coins, they participate in the market on your behalf.

### trading coins

Coins trade on decentralized exchanges via 0x aggregation:

| Action | What Happens |
|--------|-------------|
| **Buy** | Swap stablecoins/ETH for ensurance coins |
| **Sell** | Swap ensurance coins for other assets |
| **Swap** | Exchange between ensurance coin types |

All swaps route through optimal liquidity paths. Proceeds are collected automatically.

### proceeds from coins

Coin holders receive proceeds through:

1. **Protocol rewards** — Distributed from protocol activity
2. **Pool fees** — When coins are in liquidity pools
3. **Agent distributions** — When held in agent TBAs

See proceeds for detailed mechanics.

**Distribution eligibility:** Only members (agent account holders) who hold coins in connected wallets receive protocol distributions. Participants can hold and trade coins but do not receive distributions.

### technical implementation

**contract standard:** erc-20

**Deployed on:** Base L2

**Key features:**
- standard erc-20 transfers
- trading activity feeds proceeds

**Query coin data:**
```
GET /api/general
GET /api/general/{contract}
```

### coin vs certificate

| Aspect | Coins | Certificates |
|--------|-------|-------------|
| Standard | ERC-20 | ERC-1155 |
| Scope | Protocol-wide | Asset-specific |
| Funding | Indirect (trading) | Direct (purchase) |
| Liquidity | High (DEX tradeable) | Lower (marketplace) |
| Yield source | Protocol rewards | Premium stream + protocol distributions |
| Distribution eligibility | Members with agent accounts | Members with agent accounts |

Coins are for liquid participation. Certificates are for direct commitment.

## related

- certificates — Specific ensurance instruments
- ensurance — The member-owned protocol and two-sided capital structure
- proceeds — How value flows from coins
- pools — Liquidity for coin trading
- agents — Actors that hold coins