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In a bold move to embrace the ever-evolving digital landscape, the Unidata Program Center (UPC) announces the creation of the UniCoin meme token ($UNI$).
“Thanks to the tremendous success of our series of NFTs of Hurricane Katrina, we have developed a much more robust understanding of blockchain technology,” says Unidata Director Mohan Ramamurthy. “We feel that we as a science support organization, alongside the broad communities of data and memecoin enthusiasts, are ready for a truly data-driven cryptocurrency.”
While not directly pegged to specific datasets, UniCoins are meant to evoke the immense value of the Earth Systems Science data Unidata makes available to the community. Early conceptions of the UniCoin ecosystem involved allowing holders of $UNI$ to exchange tokens for data accessed via Unidata systems, but since data are provided to users at no cost, this just seemed silly. Instead, UniCoins are intended (in the words of the Securities and Exchange Commission’s Staff Statement on Meme Coins) for “entertainment, social interaction, and cultural purposes.”
“As do many science organizations these days, we face some funding challenges,” says Unidata Deputy Director Ryan May. “While we’re launching $UNI$ in the spirit of research, we’re also aware of the potential for community exuberance (or maybe the odd crypto billionaire) bidding up the value of our token. We’re ready to use any extraordinary resources that do come our way to support our mission to transform the Earth Systems Science community, research, and education by providing innovative data services, tools, and expertise.”
New tokens will be added to the blockchain using a “Proof-of-Network-Distribution” consensus mechanism. Instead of traditional mining, UniCoins will initially be distributed to active users of Unidata's core services, such as those making heavy use of the IDD network or operating a community-accessible THREDDS Data Server. “The more data you responsibly consume or distribute, the more UniCoins you might find mysteriously appearing in your digital wallet,” hints UPC systems administrator Mike Schmidt. “It's our way of saying 'thank you' — and perhaps encouraging continued usage, although we haven't fully worked out the specifics yet.” Schmidt adds that the vintage 2016 Intel NUC in the Data Hallway should be more than capable of keeping track of the relevant data use and distribution volumes.
Launch of the UniCoin token is scheduled for April Fool's Day, 2025. Community data users who visit us in the Data Hallway between 8:00am and 8:15am MDT on Launch day will receive one extra-shiny UniCoin from the first UPC staff member they encounter.
Note: UniCoins are intended for Research and Education Purposes Only. Per the above-mentioned SEC statement, neither purchasers nor holders of $UNI$ are protected by the federal securities laws.
