Digital Social Currencies in the State of Rio De Janeiro and their Diversity:

From Communities to Cities, from Microcredit to Basic Income

Abstract

This article investigates the different translations of Brazilian social currencies in the state of Rio de Janeiro (RJ), with their diversity, potential and challenges. Starting with the pioneering practice of Banco Palmas, in the field of Solidarity Economy, the experiences bring together community and city government based social currencies. The latter, which have recently proliferated in the state, have been boosted by the digitalization of social currencies and have managed to constitute payment infrastructures for basic income and emergency aid. The article points to significant differences between the experiences, highlighting proximities and differences in relation to the principles of the Solidarity Economy.