The Exchange operates on a credit-based system to ensure all data sharing is fair, compliant, and valuable for our members. Think of credits as the internal currency of the Exchange.
What are credits?
Credits are the means by which we value data to ensure all transactions are of equal value. Instead of money, members use credits to acquire data from the ecosystem. This system is designed to comply with the Federal Election Commission’s rules on data swaps.
Key Points:
- Credits do not have any monetary value and cannot be purchased.
- The only way to get credits is to submit your organization’s data to the Exchange.
Clients can spend credits on any data within the exchange.
How do I earn credits?
You earn credits by licensing your organization’s voter contact data to be available to other Exchange members. When you contribute data — such as survey responses, contact attempts, or target universes — your organization receives a number of credits based on our assessment of that data’s fair market value. You can then use the credits you’ve earned to “pay” for data that other organizations have contributed.
How many credits is my data worth?
All data that enters the Exchange goes through a valuation process. The number of credits you receive is based on a few key factors:
- Data Type: Different types of data have different values.
- Data Age: Fresher data is more valuable.
- Demand: You may also receive real-time “Demand Adjusted Bonus” credits.
For a detailed breakdown of current rates, please see the most up-to-date valuation matrix, which is available under “Resources” in your account.
Do credits expire?
Yes, credits expire five (5) years after they are issued.