13/08/2026
Hi everyone, Dmitriy here. I want to break the radio silence - this update is long overdue, and it's part status update, part personal reflection. Take it with a grain of salt.
It was a genuine pleasure and privilege to work with the team on this project. Unfortunately, we hit a disagreement we weren't able to work through, despite my best efforts to stay in the conflict and resolve it. As a result, Mohua 2042 has taken ownership of the project. This wasn't my decision, and I don't agree with how it was handled - I'll be honest, there's still some residual frustration about the way things unfolded.
With Mohua 2042 now steering, the direction has changed: they've decided to stick with the traditional time bank model. Personally, I believe New Zealand has seen numerous attempts at Green Dollar and Timebank systems using a zero-balance ledger, and most have fizzled out for similar reasons. The ones that have survived seem to have done so mainly because of ongoing funding, not because the model itself proved more resilient.
My intention from the start was to innovate how local currency is designed - to build a system that could stand the test of time, support community initiatives with local credits, and create real incentive for members to keep those credits circulating.
With how things played out, I feel like I dropped the ball and fell short of the promises I made and that's not sitting easily with me.
But the passion hasn't gone anywhere. I still believe strongly in local currencies, and I still think we need one that uses physical vouchers - accessible, usable for everyday goods and services, a genuine full-fledged local currency. The fire is still there.
What's needed is a team to bring this forward - real work to unite the community under this vision and push it into being.
If you also believe in what I've tried to bring, drop a comment - even just a few words of encouragement. And if you've got energy to put toward this, let's talk. Honestly, I feel a bit stalled right now and could use some fresh perspectives, so if you'd be open to meeting up and helping me think through next steps, I'd really appreciate it.
