5. The BRICO Token System
The BRICO system is a biological-asset tokenization model: a stable, real underlying asset, cord blood, supports a two-layer token structure that measures cells and represents value on-chain.
Token Architecture
Each qualified CBU contains a measurable quantity of total nucleated cells (TNC). Bricopia defines a standard cell unit and maps it to tokens in two layers:
| Layer | Definition | Conversion |
|---|---|---|
| TNC | Total nucleated cells in a unit | 10⁶ TNC = 1 BRIC |
| BRIC | Bio-Registry Issued Cells, the "cell ounce" | 1 BRIC = 100 BRICO |
| BRICO | Bio-Registry Issued Coins, the on-chain token | 1 BRICO ≈ US$1 in the primary market |
| BLA CBU | FDA prescription-grade cord blood | 1 CBU = 500 BRIC = 50,000 BRICO, approximately $50,000 |
| Non-BLA CBU | Standard-grade cord blood, for example HK Blood Bank | 1 CBU = 100 BRIC = 10,000 BRICO, approximately $10,000 |
Worked Example
A single FDA prescription-grade (BLA) cord blood unit is verified, stored, and recorded on the registry. It is measured at 500 cell ounces, or 500 BRIC, and tokenized into 50,000 BRICO.
At a primary-market reference of 1 BRICO ≈ US$1, the unit's tokenized value is approximately US$50,000: divisible, transferable, and auditable, while the physical sample remains safely in custody.
Token Utility & Flows
Within the Bricopia ecosystem, BRICO is designed to function as the unit of account and medium of exchange for biological-asset value:
- Issuance: minted only against a verified, physically stored CBU recorded on the registry, preserving the one-to-one backing.
- Convertibility: freely convertible with mainstream digital assets including USDT, USDC, Bitcoin, and Ethereum for settlement.
- Liquidity: lets donors and bank operators realize value from previously illiquid inventory without surrendering the physical asset.
- Mission alignment: a portion of ecosystem value can support the Foundation's subsidized-insurance and research programs.
A Cell-Gold Standard
The design echoes the Bretton Woods gold standard, in which currency was anchored to a scarce physical reserve. Here, BRICO is anchored to FDA-grade cord blood held in audited vaults, replacing speculative "air coins" that have no underlying asset with tokens backed by stable, real biological value.
| Gold standard | Cell-gold standard |
|---|---|
| Currency pegged to gold. | BRICO pegged 1:1 to USD in the primary market. |
| Value anchored to a scarce physical reserve held in vaults. | Value anchored to FDA-grade cord blood held in audited vaults. |
| USD backed by gold reserve from 1944 to 1971. | BRICO backed by a biological asset reserve through BABS. |
Blockchain & Decentralized Infrastructure
Each sample's data, including Proof of Process and Proof of Quality, is signed with an irreversible HMAC-SHA256 cryptographic key to guarantee integrity and prevent spoofing. Personal identity is anonymized, so the public record remains readable and shareable without exposing personally identifiable information, consistent with HIPAA requirements.