2019
Mi10 Crypto Stamps (Cryptocurrency Bonus Model)
The Mi10 Crypto Stamps are an early crypto stamp edition featuring cryptocurrency bonuses instead of NFT twins. Issued on 10 May 2019 by the Marshall Islands with partner Inter-Governmental Philatelic Corp (IGPC). The edition consists of 6-stamp blocks (approx. 100,000 blocks = 600,000 stamps) depicting Marshall Islands beaches with silver holographic foil. Each block contains a QR code for redeeming 100 Mi10 tokens (ERC-20 on Ethereum, smart contract: 0xffaa5ffc455d9131f8a2713a741fd1960330508b). Total token mintage: 10,000,000 Mi10. Redemption began delayed on 1 November 2022 via mi10cryptostamps.com with MyEtherWallet integration.
Image rights pending
We have contacted the rights holder for permission to feature this image here.
The Family: Mi10 Crypto Stamps
The Mi10 Crypto Stamps are a special category in the crypto stamp space: the cryptocurrency bonus model instead of the NFT-twin model.
Structural Uniqueness
| Aspect | Mi10 (2019) | Others (AT/HR/UN) |
|---|---|---|
| Model | Cryptocurrency bonus | NFT-twin |
| Token type | ERC-20 (fungible) | ERC-721 (non-fungible) |
| Token function | Currency (utility) | Collectible |
| One NFT = | Multiple interchangeable Mi10s | 1 unique NFT ID |
| Collector value | Stamp + tokens (separate) | Stamp + linked NFT |
| Secondary market | DEX (currency trading) | OpenSea (NFT trading) |
Tech Stack
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Blockchain | Ethereum mainnet |
| Token standard | ERC-20 (fungible token) |
| Smart contract | 0xffaa5ffc455d9131f8a2713a741fd1960330508b |
| Wallet | MyEtherWallet (or ERC-20 compatible) |
| Activation | QR code scan + code entry |
| Platform | mi10cryptostamps.com |
| Printer | (presumably IGPC partner printer) |
| Distributor | IGPC (Inter-Governmental Philatelic Corp) |
Edition Details
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Issue date | 10.05.2019 |
| Stamps per block | 6 (with silver holographic foil) |
| Stamp theme | Marshall Islands beaches |
| Stamp mintage | ~100,000 blocks (= ~600,000 stamps) |
| Token mintage | 10,000,000 Mi10 |
| Tokens per block | 100 Mi10 |
| Redemption start | 01.11.2022 (3.5-year delay!) |
The 3.5-Year Delay
An extraordinary property of the Mi10:
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 10.05.2019 | Stamp issue (with QR codes) |
| 11.2022 | Token redemption start |
| Difference | ~3.5 years |
Background:
- 2019: stamps issued with QR codes
- 2019-2022: no token redemption possible (smart contract not yet deployed?)
- 11.2022: mi10cryptostamps.com goes live, redemption begins
Consequences:
- Early collectors had stamps without immediate token functionality
- Secondary market stamps may already be redeemed (buyers don't always check QR code status)
- Token redemption activity is low (3.5-year wait reduces collector engagement)
QR Code Mechanic
Unlike modern crypto stamps:
Standard QR code (AT/HR/UN):
- QR code → wallet app
- NFT transfer to user wallet
- NFT as digital collector item
Mi10 QR code mechanic:
- QR code → mi10cryptostamps.com
- Code entry + wallet address
- 100 Mi10 tokens (currency!) to user wallet
- Tokens can be traded on DEX (theoretically)
Important: The QR code scan redeems fungible tokens, not NFT collectibles. This is structurally a different concept.
IGPC as Distributor
Inter-Governmental Philatelic Corp (IGPC) is the actual initiator:
- US stamp distributor since 1970s
- Client states in Pacific, Caribbean, Africa
- Marshall Islands is long-time IGPC client
- Mi10 is an IGPC initiative under MIPS branding
Collector Implication
Collectors face a choice:
| Option | Advantage | Disadvantage |
|---|---|---|
| Don't redeem stamp | Remains undamaged collector object | Forgo 100 Mi10 tokens |
| Redeem stamp | Receive 100 Mi10 tokens | Redemption is final (code use) |
In NFT-twin models, this trade-off is not as pronounced (NFT activation is usually non-destructive for the stamp).
Comparison with Modern Crypto Stamps
| Property | Mi10 (2019) | AT 1.0 (2019) | UN Series I (2020) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Date | 10.05.2019 | 13.06.2019 | 24.11.2020 |
| Model | Cryptocurrency bonus | NFT-twin | NFT-twin |
| Blockchain | Ethereum | Ethereum (later Polygon) | Ethereum |
| Token standard | ERC-20 | ERC-721 | ERC-721 |
| Variations | 1 design | 5 color variants | 51 (3 × 17 SDGs) |
| Variations mechanic | none | manual choice | scratch-off random |
| Activation effect | Tokens to wallet | NFT ID to wallet | NFT ID to wallet |
Significance in the Wiki
This family documents:
- Cryptocurrency bonus model as alternative crypto stamp architecture
- Pre-NFT-twin release date (10.05.2019, before Austrian Post CS 1.0 Unicorn of 11 June 2019; the wiki's pioneer status stays with AT)
- ERC-20 instead of ERC-721 as token standard (rare in crypto stamp space)
- IGPC distributor model for small countries
- 3.5-year delay between stamp issue and redemption — historically extraordinary
- Marshall Islands cryptocurrency history as broader context
The family opens a structural sub-category in the wiki: "crypto stamps before the NFT-twin model" — historically important, but not model-pioneer-critical.
Editions in this family
| Issued | Edition | ISO | Chain | Program |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019-05-10 | Six stamps per block with Marshall Islands beaches in silver holographic foil | MH | ethereum | mainstream |