CURA is a new digital money that is given by the city of New York to all caregivers as a form of universal care allowance. With CURA tokens, the city connects the private and public domain around a narrative of care. It values care work as real work, and compensates all genders fairly for caring for their dependents. CURA tokens can be redeemed for a care allowance and for goods and services linked to the specific needs of each caregiver — paid self-care days, reproductive healthcare, daycare services, professional care support, and living aids or child care supplies. CURA sees caregivers as human beings with a heterogeneity of needs, entitlements, and ambitions.

CURA tokens rely on blockchain technology as a system of record keeping, making it easier for the city government to distribute funds, customize their value based on changing needs of caregivers, reduce risk of fraud, and track how tokens are being used and adapt services in real-time. A private blockchain is used to allow only selected entry of verified participants and to ensure CURA tokens cannot be sold. The management dashboard on the CURA platform gives government institutions a one-stop-shop to register, disburse, update, and monitor the CURA program. The platform also provides digital secure wallets for CURA recipients to receive their tokens, and provides a mobile point-of-sale for local providers to sell their services and products. The city annually determines which local service providers are represented on the CURA platform through an open procurement process with the aim of strengthening community care infrastructures and spending resources locally. 

CURA represents a new approach to investing in civic infrastructures by making every person a carer for the system. With every employed resident contributing to the care fund through social insurance taxes, the city is adequately resourced to invest in civic assets — the community resources, care institutions, data, relationships, and governance competencies that give it the ability to support the welfare of all New York City residents.