Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
This FAQ provides answers to common questions about the Natural Capital Unit (NCU) and the NCU.fi platform. For a complete overview, we encourage you to read the full NCU Whitepaper.
Getting Started
Getting started is simple:
- Create an Account: Sign up on the NCU.fi platform.
- Complete Verification: Fulfill any required KYC/AML identity verification steps.
- Explore Campaigns: Browse the available projects and choose one to support.
- Purchase NCU: Use a supported payment method to purchase NCU tokens.
- Track Your Impact: Use the Digital Monitoring Dashboard to follow the project's progress.
For more details, please explore the following resources:
- The NCU Whitepaper: For a complete, in-depth explanation of our project.
- How It Works: A summary of our platform mechanics.
- Contact Us: Reach out to hello@ncu.fi with any further questions.
Investment and Tokenomics
The initial price for the first funding phase (Phase 1) is $0.13 USD. As outlined in our whitepaper's phased funding model, the primary issuance price for subsequent funding rounds is projected to be higher to reflect the demonstrated growth and value of the ecosystem.
The total supply of NCU is fixed, but its release into circulation is carefully managed and tied to our 10-year funding plan. New tokens enter the circulating supply primarily when they are sold to fund new projects. This issuance follows the "Proof-of-Deployment" principle, meaning the release of capital and tokens is directly linked to verifiable progress in our real-world conservation efforts.
The total supply is fixed at 2,000,000,000 (2 billion) NCU. This entire supply is minted at the Token Generation Event (TGE) to ensure transparency, with the vast majority locked in publicly verifiable vesting contracts. This strategy ensures a gradual, predictable release over many years, preventing market shocks and aligning all stakeholders with the long-term vision.
Yes. Once issued, NCU tokens are ERC-20 compliant and can be traded on secondary markets, such as decentralized exchanges (DEXs).
Holders can benefit in four primary ways:
- Potential for Capital Appreciation: The value of NCU tokens may increase as the portfolio of nature assets grows and market demand for verifiable impact rises.
- Revenue Sharing: By staking their NCU, holders can earn a share of the revenue generated by the NCU.fi platform.
- Governance Rights: Holders can participate in the project's future by voting on key decisions through the NCU DAO (Decentralized Autonomous Organization).
- Measurable Impact: Your investment provides the capital for tangible, positive environmental change that you can track transparently.
Sustainability and Impact
"Nature uplift" is a term for a verifiable improvement in the health, resilience, and value of our natural capital. The NCU token is the financial representation of this uplift, converting scientifically measured improvements in biodiversity, carbon sequestration, and ecosystem health into a tradable digital asset.
NCU's impact metrics are specifically designed to align with the world's leading frameworks, providing decision-useful data for corporations, investors, and governments. This includes:
- UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Directly supporting SDG 15 (Life on Land), SDG 14 (Life Below Water), SDG 13 (Climate Action), SDG 6 (Clean Water), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities), SDG 3 (Good Health), and SDG 2 (Zero Hunger).
- Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD): Providing the granular, verifiable data that organizations need to report on their nature-related risks, impacts, and dependencies.
We use five scientifically-backed Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to provide a holistic view of nature uplift:
- Biodiversity Unit (b.U.)
- Carbon Sequestration (tCO2e)
- Water Index
- Soil Index (%SOM)
- Air Index (ton PM2.5)
General Questions
The Natural Capital Unit (NCU) is a blockchain-based token representing digital equity in the success of the nature-positive ecosystem it finances. It is designed to fund and measure verifiable improvements in natural capital—including biodiversity, carbon sequestration, and the health of our air, water, and soil. By investing in NCU, you are not just funding conservation; you are holding a stake in the economic success of a portfolio of real-world environmental projects.
NCU.fi is the platform designed to bridge the critical funding gap for nature. It converts investments in high-quality environmental projects into tradable NCU tokens, enabling individuals, corporations, and governments to directly finance ecosystem restoration and enhancement. Our mission is to make investing in the planet both impactful and financially rewarding.
NCU provides a unique, multi-faceted solution that improves upon traditional models:
- Holistic Impact: While carbon credits focus on a single metric, NCU tracks a comprehensive set of five KPIs, including biodiversity, water quality, and soil health.
- Direct Ownership & Transparency: Built on the Ethereum blockchain, every transaction is traceable. Your NCU token represents a direct link to a portfolio of verified nature assets.
- Shared Economic Upside: Unlike a simple credit or donation, NCU is a utility and governance token. It allows holders to share in the platform's success through mechanisms like revenue distribution (staking) and governance rights.
- Scientific Rigor: All projects are scientifically vetted and monitored by our partner, Napital Group, ensuring the integrity of the "nature uplift" being funded.
How It Works
The platform operates on a clear, four-step model:
- Fund Projects: You contribute capital to verified nature restoration and sustainable projects listed on the platform.
- Receive NCUs: In return, you receive NCU tokens at the current primary issuance price, representing your share in the ecosystem's value.
- Dynamic Primary Pricing: The platform's funding model is dynamic. As the value of the NCU network grows on secondary markets, the primary issuance price for future campaigns is adjusted upwards to reflect this growth, ensuring fairness and rewarding early supporters.
- Track Impact: You can monitor the real-world environmental impact of the entire project portfolio through our public-facing Digital Monitoring Dashboard.
The Digital Monitoring Dashboard is your window into our operations. It is a public-facing platform that provides a transparent, near real-time view of:
- The five Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) across all funded projects.
- Project milestones, funding status, and reports.
- Key token data, including circulating supply and market activity.
Project integrity is paramount. Our verification process is multi-layered:
- Scientific Vetting: Our partner, Napital Group, uses its high-impact NCI framework and advanced technology (like eDNA and bioacoustics) to design and monitor projects.
- Third-Party Audits: All funded projects are subject to mandatory audits by independent verifiers to ensure outcomes are real and accurately reported.
- Proof-of-Deployment: Our tokenomics are built on a "verify-first, distribute-later" principle, where funds and tokens are released contingent on the achievement of verified project milestones.
Governance and Security
NCU.fi is designed for progressive decentralization. We will transition to a full Decentralized Autonomous Organization (DAO) by 2027. This will occur in phases: from a centralized team initially, to a hybrid model with community voting, and finally to a full DAO where token holders govern all major decisions.
Security is a top priority. Our strategy includes:
- Built on Ethereum: We leverage the security and decentralization of the world's most battle-tested blockchain.
- Smart Contract Audits: Our smart contracts undergo regular, independent audits to identify and fix potential vulnerabilities.
- Best Practices: We follow industry best practices for data protection and platform security.
We mitigate project risk through rigorous due diligence, scientific oversight from Napital Group, and mandatory third-party audits. Furthermore, our "Proof-of-Deployment" model ensures that capital is released in tranches based on performance, not all at once. This minimizes risk and ensures funds are allocated effectively toward achieving real-world impact.
Regulatory and Compliance
We are committed to compliance and operate in accordance with global standards like GDPR. However, the regulatory landscape for digital assets is evolving. NCU.fi is not currently registered or authorized by bodies like the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) for the promotion of virtual assets. We strongly advise you to consult with your own legal and financial advisors.
Yes. Due to varying regulations, residents of certain jurisdictions may be restricted from purchasing NCU tokens. For example, users based in the United Kingdom must discuss their eligibility with us before purchasing. Please ensure you comply with your local laws.
Investing in any digital asset carries inherent risks. Key risks for NCU include market volatility, evolving regulations, and operational risks related to project execution. For a comprehensive overview, please read the "Risk Factors and Mitigations" section of our whitepaper.
