Basic Income Earth Network (BIEN)
Global hub of the basic-income movement since 1986: a UK-registered charity (no. 1177066) linking 30+ national affiliates, running annual world congresses (24th in Brazil 2025; 25th at Toronto Metropolitan University, Aug 19-22 2026, themed 'Basic Income and the Polycrisis'), the UBIdata research portal, and a Piloters Network connecting live pilots. Co-founded by Guy Standing and Philippe Van Parijs; defines and promotes basic income as a periodic cash payment unconditionally delivered to all on an individual basis, without means-test or work requirement. Site actively publishing as of July 2026.
The oldest and most connective institution of the basic-income movement — 40 years, 30+ national affiliates, annual world congresses, actively publishing through July 2026. Scored as what it is: an advocacy network, not a money. It holds the movement's memory and convenes its pilots (UBIdata, Piloters Network), but it issues nothing, stabilizes nothing, and lives inside the fiat frame — hence a low M69 score despite genuine traction quality within its own category.
M69 Score
Scored against the Money2069 Manifesto — see methodology. Higher = more aligned.
Detailed Rating Breakdown
Issuance Model3x1.0
BIEN issues no money — it is an advocacy/research network; every issuance criterion is absent by construction (scale anchor: absent = 1).
Spending Power Stability2x1.0
No currency, no stability mechanism; the UBI it advocates would be fiat-denominated state payments.
Fiat Independence & Interoperability2x1.0
Fully inside the fiat frame: the policy it promotes is state-issued fiat cash, and the organization runs on conventional donations.
Traction2x3.0
40 years old and fully active (news through Jul 2026; 24th Congress Brazil 2025, 25th Toronto Aug 2026); 30+ national affiliates and strong academic/media recognition (TR-08 5, TR-02 5) — but no currency users, no merchants, no unit-of-account function (TR-03/04/05 at the floor).
Sovereignty2.0
A single UK charity registration is a shutdown/capture point (SO-01), though the international affiliate network would survive the entity; nothing is technically enforced.
Governance3.0
Formal charity governance: statutes, elected Executive Committee, General Assembly at congresses, public accounts; deliberation partly in closed committees and principles are not protected beyond charity law.
Resilience2.0
Survived 40 years, founder transitions and movement winters (RE-01 4) on thin membership/donation funding (RE-07 ~3); no economic mechanism exists to stress-test.
Inclusivity3.0
Membership open worldwide at nominal cost; advocacy is explicitly for the economically excluded; no seigniorage or benefits to distribute.