Brave1 details evolving “ePoints” systems for decentralised procurement

Screenshot of the public-facing Brave1 marketplace, where pre-approved equipment can be purchased using Ukrainian Hryvnia (UAH) or combat-earned “ePoints”. (Brave1)

Andriy Hrytseniuk, director at Ukraine's Brave1, has outlined developments in the technology cluster's online marketplace, designed to support decentralised procurement of equipment.

The Brave1 platform functions both as a procurement marketplace for individual units and as an incentive system that rewards verified combat performance. It uses a closed digital currency called “ePoints”, which can only be spent within the marketplace on equipment and consumables alongside the Ukrainian Hryvnia (UAH).

The director provided examples of how points are awarded: 12 points for inflicting a casualty on enemy forces, 20 for immobilising a main battle tank (MBT), and 40 for destroying one. Points can also be awarded for non-kinetic actions, such as replacing a logistics or resupply mission with an unmanned mission. However, no examples were given as to how much equipment or consumables ‘cost' in ePoints.

Another key outcome of the system is the ability to rank units based on verified combat performance. Data shared by Brave1 showed that 914,101 ePoints were awarded in May. The Security Service of Ukraine's Special Operations Centre “A” ranked first with 101,074 points, followed by the 414th “Madyar's Birds” Unmanned Strike Aviation Brigade with 66,718 points. Rather than a purely arbitrary ranking, this system supports an internal data analytics framework for the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence used to identify trends. According to Hrytseniuk, high-performing units are analysed for innovation and best practice, while under-performing units can be targeted for improvement.