Karsten Wenzlaff, Advisor
August 26th, 2025
Karsten Wenzlaff is a Crowdfunding and Fintech Expert from Germany. He is Secretary-General of Digit[...]
Manumint’s Hand-Mined Proof of Work Cryptocurrency
Crypto | April 22, 2025
Image from Manumint Release April 15, 2025
Manumint’s Manual Proof of Workmanship vs. Algorithms
On April 15 2025, Manumint announced the world's first 'hand-minded' cryptocurrency. The coin isn't produced with computers and energy-hungry servers but actual people working with pen and paper to solve cryptographic problems.
According to press release, Manumint employs people to solve complex math problems by hand to create digital coins, highlighting that the process is slow and labour intensive and designed to make the coins seem rare but the physical work appears real, raising concerns about the working conditions, although the full context isn't disclosed.
At NCFA Canada, we try our best to report on and present both sides of the innovation coin to inform and guide industry stakeholders, but on the surface the Manumint model raises questions about whether manual work is being used to create a sense of rarity and to support potential price speculation.
See: Canada’s AI Competition Report Faces Big Tech Challenges
A word of caution to consumers and investors alike, it's always good to know where, how and why a particular product/service is being produced to ensure it aligns with responsible innovation and ones ethical perspective.
How the Sector Should Be Building
Canada’s fintech sector must lead with a positive purpose bound by ethics, inclusion, integrity, and trust. It means building tools that help people access credit, manage risk, and grow wealth in ways that are fair and transparent. It means protecting personal data and designing systems where people stay in control of their financial information. It means using AI to support human judgment and making sure algorithms are transparent, can be explained and challenged. Real innovation focuses on solving problems. It invites trust by showing clearly how it works, who it helps, and who is accountable. Real innovation solves real problems and strengthens markets.
See: Data Shows Tariffs Are Threatening Early Stage Innovation
Responsible fintechs build tools and data-driven systems that are fair, transparent, and worth believing in and using. While the future of finance will be digital, it must also be accountable to the high standards that progressive, modern societies deserve.
The National Crowdfunding & Fintech Association (NCFA Canada) is a financial innovation ecosystem that provides education, market intelligence, industry stewardship, networking and funding opportunities and services to thousands of community members and works closely with industry, government, partners and affiliates to create a vibrant and innovative fintech and funding industry in Canada. Decentralized and distributed, NCFA is engaged with global stakeholders and helps incubate projects and investment in fintech, alternative finance, crowdfunding, peer-to-peer finance, payments, digital assets and tokens, artificial intelligence, blockchain, cryptocurrency, regtech, and insurtech sectors. Join Canada's Fintech & Funding Community today FREE! Or become a contributing member and get perks. For more information, please visit: www.ncfacanada.org
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I want one of these coins