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# The $MEGA Token
## Purpose and Design
The growth of Ecolink's verified merchant base represents our north star metric. Every merchant that joins strengthens the network's value, attracts more consumers, and reinforces the standard. This, in turn, attracts even more merchants—creating a powerful network effect. ECO (ticker: $MEGA) is our native utility token designed specifically to accelerate this growth by empowering consumers to actively participate in merchant discovery and verification.
Through the token, community members can influence what matters to them—whether that's pushing for microplastic testing in beauty products, demanding supply chain transparency in fashion, establishing new verification standards for emerging industries, and even determining which product categories deserve greater shopping rewards (think Amex rotating rewards–but community determined).
1. **Rewards Currency**
* Shop with verified merchants and earn rewards
* Get 2x rewards with brands you help discover
* Build your stake through positive contributions
2. **Governance Power**
* Stake tokens to vote on protocol priorities
* Shape verification standards for your industry
* Direct environmental impact initiatives
* Choose which product attributes to verify
* Determine shopping rewards
3. **Value Capture**
* Merchant fees drive token burns
* Staking rewards align long-term interests
* Community treasury grows with network success
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