Bartercard
Bartercard runs the world's largest commercial trade exchange. Member businesses sell goods and services for trade dollars and spend them with other members, with access to an interest-free credit line. One trade dollar equals one unit of the local currency. The network started on Australia's Gold Coast in 1991 and now serves tens of thousands of businesses across eight countries.
The largest commercial trade exchange: a 35-year-old mutual-credit network where businesses trade with interest-free trade dollars. Strong on traction and real-economy issuance, weak on sovereignty and fiat independence.
M69 Score
Scored against the Money2069 Manifesto — see methodology. Higher = more aligned.
Detailed Rating Breakdown
Issuance Model3x3.0
Trade dollars issue through member trading and interest-free credit lines. Supply tracks real economic activity inside the network and contracts as balances clear, but issuance is permissioned to paying members and runs on a credit mechanism.
Spending Power Stability2x2.0
The trade dollar is pegged one to one to the national currency by network convention. No independent stability mechanism or benchmark; it inherits the inflation of the fiat it mirrors.
Fiat Independence & Interoperability2x2.0
Unit of account is borrowed from national fiat at parity. No fiat reserves are needed since it is mutual credit, but pricing, tax treatment and fees all run on fiat rails.
Traction2x4.0
Roughly 34,000 to 55,000 business cardholders across eight countries after 35 years of continuous operation. Trade dollars are the working unit of account inside the network; New Zealand members alone trade over T$100 million a year.
Sovereignty2.0
A private company operates the custodial ledger and can freeze accounts or close the exchange. Franchised operations across several countries spread jurisdictional risk slightly.
Governance2.0
Corporate management sets the rules; members have no formal governance role. Membership terms are documented but changeable by the operator.
Resilience3.0
35 years of operation through ownership changes, recessions and the shift to digital. Centralized infrastructure, but fee income gives sustainable funding.
Inclusivity2.0
Open to businesses in member countries, but joining and monthly fees plus business-only membership exclude individuals and the informal economy.