Manikoin
Manikoin is the digital local currency of Maniwa, a city in Okayama, Japan. One manii equals one yen and the money spends only at member shops inside the city. A council of the city, the chamber of commerce, regional banks and local welfare and tourism groups runs it. Users charge at dedicated machines, by bank transfer, at Lawson Bank ATMs and at post offices. It reached 20,000 users and 229 member shops by early 2025 and passed 25,000 users in August 2025. In January 2025 its app grew into Maniapuri, a wider city platform with a digital resident card and services for child care, transport and health.
Maniwa's yen-pegged municipal currency with strong small-city penetration (25,000 users in a city of about 40,000) that in 2025 became the shell for a full civic super-app. Standard Japanese municipal prepaid vector with mid-band traction.
M69 Score
Scored against the Money2069 Manifesto — see methodology. Higher = more aligned.
Detailed Rating Breakdown
Issuance Model3x2.0
Units exist only when residents charge yen 1:1; issuance is fiat conversion plus city-funded point campaigns, a prepaid voucher rather than debt-free creation from economic activity.
Spending Power Stability2x2.0
Pegged 1:1 to the yen with no independent stability mechanism; imports yen inflation; 5% campaign rebates are discretionary subsidy.
Fiat Independence & Interoperability2x1.0
Fully yen-denominated and yen-backed; charging runs through regional banks, convenience-store ATMs and post offices.
Traction2x3.0
20,000+ users and 229 shops with 175 million yen moved by end of fiscal 2024, past 25,000 users by August 2025 in a city of about 40,000; city page updated September 2025 and spring 2026 campaigns announced. Band 10K-100K users, 100-1,000 shops.
Sovereignty1.0
Closed municipal loop on the vendor iRidge's platform, overseen by a city-led promotion council; custodial balances, terminable by the city.
Governance2.0
A multi-stakeholder promotion council of city, chamber, banks, welfare and tourism bodies decides campaigns; rules are published on the city site but users have no formal voice.
Resilience2.0
Single vendor and single app; the super-app pivot deepens platform lock-in even as it broadens everyday utility; runs on city campaign budgets.
Inclusivity3.0
Free to join for residents with a smartphone; post-office setup support and ATM charging lower the barrier for older users; the digital resident card layer adds an identity tie.