- Bitcoin Zero is an ERC-20 token delivering Bitcoin with net zero emissions (carbon neutral).
- This is accomplished via a wrapper that combines a single Bitcoin with the retiring of 10 tonnes of CO2 from REDD+ rainforest projects certified by Verra and other international standard agencies each time a Bitcoin Zero is minted.
- This breakthrough is possible now that Universal Carbon (UPCO2) is available to anyone who wants to build upon the world’s first tradable carbon token.
SAN FRANCISCO — December 17, 2020 Today Universal Protocol Alliance (UPA), a coalition of leading blockchain companies launches Bitcoin Zero (BTC0): real Bitcoin, net zero emissions. Bitcoin Zero is a wrapper token that consists of 1 BTC which has been rendered carbon neutral at the time of minting by the retiring of 10 tonnes of REDD+ carbon credits in the form of 10 Universal Carbon, UPCO2 tokens. Bitcoin Zero (BTC0) will be available for trading today on digital money platform Uphold.
“The launch of Bitcoin Zero means that finally everyone can accomplish two important goals: Owning Bitcoin, while also doing good for the planet by stimulating demand for voluntary carbon credits,” said JP Thieriot, CEO of Uphold. “Imagine if on top of all the other benefits, crypto can be made to save the rainforests?”
Two weeks ago, UPA launched Universal Carbon (UPCO2), the world’s first tradable REDD+ carbon credit token. Each UPCO2 Token represents one tonne of CO2 pollution averted by a certified REDD+ project preventing rainforest loss or degradation. Every Token is backed by a Verified Carbon Unit [VCU], a digital certificate issued by Verra and other international standards agencies, which allows certified projects to turn their greenhouse gas (GHG) reductions into tradable carbon credits.
“Once we successfully digitized rainforest carbon credits, our product teams looked around and asked the big question. How do we now attack a massive opportunity with this new tool that we have created? When they came to me with the Bitcoin Zero concept a light bulb went on,” said Matthew Le Merle, Universal Protocol Alliance Chairman and Fifth Era Managing Partner.
“The amazing power and utility of the Universal Protocol token factory is that we can create tokens in days not months. Once we had the idea, it has taken us just ten days to make Bitcoin Zero a reality.”
As with all Universal Protocol stablecoin and crypto-commodity tokens (UPCO2, UPXAU, UPUSD, UPBTC, UPEUR, BTC0), Bitcoin Zero is available to any digital wallet, digital exchange or indeed every other entity that would like to make these powerful digital solutions available to their customers.
“The internal combustion engine was an incredible invention. But its creators didn’t anticipate the need to price the externalities of greenhouse gases through a built in carbon tax. Satoshi’s creation of bitcoin and the proof of work algorithm to secure it was equally creative and equally lacking in a means to price in the externalities. Bitcoin zero squares the circle by setting the ongoing carbon footprint of Bitcoin back to zero,” said Greg Kidd, Founder Hard Yaka.
About Universal Protocol Alliance
Universal Protocol Alliance’s vision is that every asset class will be digitized and tokenized. We are an alliance of like-minded cryptocurrency companies and blockchain pioneers including Bittrex Global, CertiK, Fifth Era, Hard Yaka, Infinigold, Ledger, and Uphold. We know how to tokenize and transparently substantiate any asset. Our mission is to build out the world’s leading tokenization platform, ushering in a new era in finance. Learn more at www.universalprotocol.io.
About Uphold
A digital money platform serving more than 4 million customers in more than 150 countries. Uphold has powered almost $7 billion in transactions since its inception in 2014. The Silicon Valley firm opens around 10,000 accounts a day as consumers seek a more versatile and cost-effective home for their financial lives. Leveraging blockchain technology, the platform provides both consumers and businesses with easy access to 36 digital assets, 27 national currencies, four precious metals and 50 fractional U.S. equities. Uphold’s unique trading experience – ‘Anything-to-Anything’ – allows customers to trade directly between asset classes, saving time and money. Uphold supports financial inclusion by enabling customers virtually anywhere to open an account in less than a minute and trade with no minimum investment amounts. Customers can send money to virtually anyone with an email address free of charge.
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