Islamic Coin (ISLM) is a Sharia-compliant digital currency, set to be released on September 01, 2023. The creators of the coin have the goal of revolutionising Islamic finance. In this article, we will explain what that means and what the cryptocurrency will be used for, and the hurdles it could be facing. We will also look at the potential of its reach — if it appeals to the estimated 2 billion Muslims in the world, sheer numbers may tip this cryptocurrency into a leading proposition. But will it be accepted by those who it is built to appeal to?
As of July 2023, Islamic Coin has raised US$400m (AU$580.8m) in funding. While this mammoth investment does not guarantee success, it does put it into the category of a cryptocurrency worth watching.
Introduction to Islamic Coin (ISLM)
According to CoinMarketCap, there are around 22,932 cryptocurrencies in the world, however many of these are “dead’ or forgotten about. Just over 8000 cryptocurrencies are active. As a new crypto, Islamic Coin is late to the game and needs a unique selling point. And, it seems to have one.
Islamic coin was developed to cater specifically to the values of practising Muslims. This is potentially a huge market, estimated to be anything from 1.2b to 2b worldwide.
#IslamicCoin (ISLM) is a digital currency that adheres to the principles of Sharia law. This makes it the first Sharia-compliant cryptocurrency.
It is set to go on sale on the 1st of September, and the company issuing it, the Haqq Blockchain, will use the US$400m in funding to launch it across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.
Binance also have listed information on their website about the coin. https://www.binance.com/en/feed/post/472295
What does Sharia-compliant mean?
To be Sharia compliant means sticking to principles in Islamic law. But what does that mean in terms of finances?
-Islamic principles prohibit the charging or payment of interest. Rather, it promotes profit-sharing or risk-sharing arrangements.
-Engaging in uncertain transactions is not allowed. Contracts should have clear terms and conditions, and everyone involved should have a good understanding of the potential outcomes.
-Activities that resemble gambling or speculation are not allowed, if gains are based on chance rather than genuine trade.
-Funding of concepts that are forbidden in Islam are also not allowed (alcohol, gambling, pork, and unethical business practices).
-Businesses must be socially responsible and good for the well-being of society and the environment.
-Transactions should be backed by tangible assets.
-Excessive risk-taking is discouraged.
-A percentage of profits must go towards charitable endeavours.
Sharia-compliant finance is an alternative financial system that upholds Islamic values while providing a range of financial services. It is these principles that Islamic Coin hopes to ride upon when it sells its cryptocurrency.
This makes sense in theory. But what about in practice? Recent studies suggest people are loosening their ties to Islam in some parts of the Middle East, especially in countries such as Iran. And, especially if they are young. So is being Shariah-compliant going to be enough to make this coin popular?
Expert opinion
The Australian National University’s expert on Islamic Finance is Dr Anas Iqtait. “I posit that for it to gain traction, it needs to prove its significant utility. Like Bitcoin, the appeal of Islamic Coin won’t necessarily be boosted by their alignment with Islamic law. It’s an added advantage, but not a defining one.”
Dr Iqtait doesn’t question the potential benefits and practicality of the Islamic coin or the founders’ vision. “I acknowledge that the crypto sector, though still in its nascent stage, holds immense potential for growth and consolidation by 2030. It’s vital for the Middle East to take a leading role in harnessing the innovative and economic potential of this burgeoning sector.”
Eli Taranto is a finance industry executive based in the United Arab Emirates. His personal opinion (independent of his professional life) is that he is in support of Islamic Coin. “My personal view is the community is not your typical crypto audience — it has already grown to over 1 million. It went from minimum viable product (MVP) to fully fledged platform pretty quick. It has an interesting team and a much-needed ethics-driven approach. The coin may be a hedge against other cryptos as well.”
The Haqq Blockchain and proof-of-stake mining
ISLM operates on the Haqq blockchain, which they say is an “ethical Web3”, designed to be autonomous, immutable, and independent. The blockchain is built on the concept of proof-of-stake (PoS) mining, so that Islamic Coin is decentralised. PoS mining makes sure that energy consumption is low, compared to Bitcoin’s proof-of-work method.
According to the ISLM whitepaper, there will be a final total of 100 billion tokens. The initial release (which they call the genesis block of Islamic Coin), has 20 billion tokens. There will be a gradual reduction in new coins being created over time, and production will stop once the total hits 100 billion tokens. This, according to the white paper, will create scarcity, value, and prevent excessive inflation.
Every two years, known as an Era, the emission rate (new coins being created and released) will decrease by 5%, until it stops at 100 billion. It is estimated that this will happen 100 years from the first block of the first Era.
Islamic Coin: Conclusion
Islamic Coin could represent a groundbreaking development in the crypto space. A Sharia-compliant digital currency that matches the requirements of practising Muslims might just get the cut-through needed to be the next big crypto.
However, not all Muslims agree with its principles, and not all Muslim authorities agree with the fatwa. These sentiments could affect its uptake. Also, the coin will need to compete with well-established Islamic financial systems and institutions that already adhere to Sharia principles.
ISLM Co-Founder Mohammed Alkaff said in a statement, “We are proud to build and deliver a Sharia-compliant, immutable, independent financial system that serves the Muslim community and beyond. A pillar of stability, intertwined with values that are future-proof in a changing world.”
By Q4 2023, the project says it will have integrated 20 payment firms in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.
Will Islamic Coin usurp Bitcoin as the biggest crypto? Or will anonymity be the end result, just like a bucket tonne of other crypto hopefuls?
Find more: https://islamiccoin.net/