Toucan
Toucan builds blockchain-based market infrastructure for the voluntary carbon market, enabling project developers to tokenize and sell verified credits and buyers to purchase and retire them with instant on-chain settlement. Its flagship product, CHAR, is the first liquid market for biochar carbon credits.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2020
- HeadquartersZug, Switzerland
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What Toucan does
Toucan is a Switzerland-based (Zug) private company building blockchain-based market infrastructure for the voluntary carbon market, founded in 2020 and operating as a remote team of 11-50 employees. Its core platform tokenizes verified carbon credits as on-chain assets, providing instant settlement, transparent pricing, and a public data layer (Open Carbon Explorer) for credit provenance. Toucan addresses two explicit bottlenecks in carbon markets: credit liquidity for project developers seeking to monetize credits without counter-party risk, and risk assessment for buyers evaluating credit integrity. The company reports supporting $4 billion in cumulative carbon credit trading volume and holding 85% market share of all digital carbon credits.
The company's product portfolio centers on the Toucan Platform (self-serve at app.toucan.earth) and CHAR (Carbon Health and Retention), launched in March 2024 as the first liquid market for biochar credits. CHAR aggregates CO2 Removal Certificates (CORCs) verified by Puro.earth through the Puro Bridge integration, applies dynamic transparent pricing, and allocates royalties back to original project developers on resale. CHAR is distributed across three channels: Toucan's native app, Uniswap on the Celo blockchain, and Neutral's environmental asset exchange. The company's revenue model relies on transaction and settlement fees on credit trades plus marketplace commission on the CHAR pool, with no publicly disclosed revenue figure. Notable partners include Gold Standard, Puro.earth, World Economic Forum, World Bank, IETA, and ICVCM, with venture backing from USV, Shine Capital, Obvious Ventures, IDEO Ventures, Hypersphere, and MCJ Collective.
Toucan firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Toucan
- Legal name
- Toucan
- Website
- https://toucan.earth
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2020
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Toucan builds blockchain-based market infrastructure for the voluntary carbon market, enabling project developers to tokenize and sell verified credits and buyers to purchase and retire them with instant on-chain settlement. Its flagship product, CHAR, is the first liquid market for biochar carbon credits.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Toucan industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Carbon Credit Trading Platform
- NAICS
- Financial Transactions Processing, Reserve, and Clearinghouse Activities (522320)
- SIC
- Security & Commodity Brokers, Dealers, Exchanges & Services (6200), Security Brokers, Dealers & Flotation Companies (6211)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Tokenization, Digital MRV-Linked Credits & On-Chain Carbon Infrastructure (Digital assets, provenance) (EUABAAAE)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Carbon Exchanges & Trading Venues (Spot, forward, auction platforms) (EUABAAAB)
Keywords
Where Toucan is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Zug
- HQ country
- Switzerland
- HQ region
- Europe
Markets served
Toucan business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Transaction/Settlement Fees: Toucan generates revenue through transaction fees on carbon credit trades executed on its platform, including both buying/selling and retirement transactions.
- Platform Commission on CHAR Pool: CHAR pool transactions generate platform revenue through trading activity, with royalties also flowing to project developers from resales.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Dynamic market-based pricing for CHAR biochar credits |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Standard platform access for credit trading and retirement |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels8 records
Toucan product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Toucan operates blockchain-based market infrastructure for the voluntary carbon market, enabling tokenization, trading, and retirement of verified carbon credits. The platform includes the Toucan Platform for general carbon credit trading, CHAR as the first liquid market specifically for biochar credits (aggregating Puro.earth-verified CORCs), and the Open Carbon Explorer for transparent credit data. It serves project developers needing liquidity and credit buyers requiring verified, transparent carbon removal assets with instant settlement.
Product overview
Toucan offers a unified carbon market infrastructure platform with two main product lines: the core Toucan Platform providing digital rails for climate finance, credit liquidity, and risk assessment tools for carbon credit trading; and CHAR (Carbon Health and Retention), a specialized sub-brand providing the first liquid market for biochar credits. The platform also includes the Open Carbon Explorer for transparent credit data visibility. Together, these products serve project developers seeking liquidity, credit buyers seeking verified retirements, and market participants requiring transparent pricing and transaction data.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- CHAR: The first liquid market for biochar credits - infrastructure for the automated, on-demand buying and selling of biochar carbon credits.
- Open Carbon Explorer
Products and services
- Toucan Platform Blockchain-based digital rails infrastructure for the voluntary carbon market, enabling project developers to tokenize, sell, and mobilize capital from verified carbon credits and enabling credit buyers to purchase and retire credits with instant settlement, transparent pricing, and full data visibility. Accessible globally 24/7 at app.toucan.earth without requiring Web3 knowledge.
- CHAR (Carbon Health and Retention) The first liquid market specifically for biochar carbon credits. CHAR aggregates screened Puro.earth-verified CORCs from multiple biochar producers on a single automated platform, enabling on-demand buying and selling with dynamic pricing, instant settlement, developer royalties on resales, and no counter-party risk. Initial credit suppliers include Exomad Green, American BioCarbon, BC Biocarbon, GECA Environnement, and Oregon Biochar Solutions.
- BCT (Base Carbon Tonne) Token Tokenized carbon credit asset created by Toucan Protocol representing verified carbon emissions reductions. Each BCT represents one tokenized carbon credit that can be traded or retired on-chain via the Toucan Platform.
Quantifiable outcome
- $4 billion in carbon credit trading volume supported post-launch
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Toucan
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Toucan technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration3 records
Feature6 records
Toucan partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
13 partnerships are on record, tiered core, key and major.
- Puro.earthcoreStrategic integration for CORC verification and registry connection. Toucan's Puro Bridge connects to Puro.earth carbon standard via Puro Connect API for instant settlement of engineered carbon removal credits. CHAR aggregates CORCs verified by Puro.earth.
- NeutralcoreExchange for environmental assets collaborated on CHAR design. CHAR will be accessible through Neutral's trading platform, providing additional access channel for carbon credits.
- CelocoreMobile-first blockchain network designed for fast, low-cost payments. CHAR is available on Celo blockchain for efficient global transactions.
- Exomad GreenkeyBiochar credit supplier from Bolivia. Recycles biomass residues into biochar while championing environmental justice. Initial credits supplied to CHAR pool.
- American BioCarbonkeyUS-based biochar supplier specializing in high-quality, carbon-neutral bagasse products from sugar cane waste. Initial credits supplied to CHAR pool.
- BC BiocarbonkeyCanadian biochar producer and manufacturer of biogenic carbon products for remediation and sequestration. Initial credits supplied to CHAR pool.
- GECA EnvironnementkeyBiochar supplier sourcing from Oregon Biochar Solutions. Facilitated launch of Toucan infrastructure bringing transparency and trust to VCM while accelerating CDR project development.
- Oregon Biochar SolutionskeyUS biochar project sourcing forest wood in Pacific Northwest to manufacture ultra-pure biochar. Credits supplied via GECA to CHAR pool.
- Gold StandardmajorCollaboration on standards and working groups for voluntary carbon market development. Engagement in education on benefits of new technology for climate finance.
- World Economic ForummajorWorking group participation to improve shared understanding of dynamic carbon credits and blockchain's role in scaling climate action.
- World BankmajorWorking group participation to advance understanding of blockchain applications in carbon markets and climate finance.
- IETA (International Emissions Trading Association)majorWorking group participation to contribute to voluntary carbon market development and standards.
- ICVCM (Integrity Council for the Voluntary Carbon Market)majorWorking group participation to establish standards and integrity in the voluntary carbon market.
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Toucan competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Puro.earth: Registry for engineered carbon removal (CORCs) and Toucan's strategic partner via Puro Bridge; comparable as the supply-side counterparty whose credits Toucan tokenizes into CHAR.
- Flowcarbon: Tokenizes verified carbon credits via the Goddess Nature Token (GNT) and provides on-chain liquidity for developers and buyers, directly overlapping Toucan's tokenization and marketplace offering.
- Patch: Carbon credit API and marketplace enabling businesses to embed high-quality credits into products; competes with Toucan for the same digital-first credit buyer demand, with API-first distribution.
- Nori: Blockchain-based marketplace for removals-focused carbon credits with on-chain retirement, comparable in that it targets CDR supply liquidity with a web3-native buyer experience.
- Pachama: Marketplace for forest and CDR credits using satellite/AI verification, competing for the same high-integrity credit buyer segment Toucan targets, with stronger nature-based focus.
- KlimaDAO: DAO that aggregates tokenized carbon credits on-chain, the closest direct competitor to Toucan in digital carbon liquidity, sharing similar token pool and retirement mechanics on Ethereum/Polygon.
- Moss.Earth: Issues and distributes tokenized nature-based carbon credits (MCO2) on blockchain, directly competing in the same tokenized voluntary carbon credit category as Toucan's BCT.
Broad incumbents
- Sylvera: Independent carbon credit ratings and analytics provider serving the same buyer segment Toucan targets with Open Carbon Explorer, but as a broader data/analytics incumbent rather than a marketplace.
- Verra: Largest voluntary carbon registry (VCS); not a direct marketplace but the source of most credits Toucan has tokenized, and increasingly a competitor as registries develop their own digital infrastructure.
- Gold Standard: Major carbon standards body and Toucan partner; comparable because it shapes the integrity ruleset governing which credits can be tokenized and could move further into digital distribution itself.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Toucan social profiles
Digital presenceToucan financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Toucan leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Toucan funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors10 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Toucan M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Toucan
What does Toucan do?
Toucan operates blockchain-based market infrastructure for the voluntary carbon market, enabling tokenization, trading, and retirement of verified carbon credits. The platform includes the Toucan Platform for general carbon credit trading, CHAR as the first liquid market specifically for biochar credits (aggregating Puro.earth-verified CORCs), and the Open Carbon Explorer for transparent credit data. It serves project developers needing liquidity and credit buyers requiring verified, transparent carbon removal assets with instant settlement.
Is Toucan a public or private company?
Toucan is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Toucan founded?
Toucan was founded in 2020. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Toucan based?
Toucan is headquartered in Zug, Switzerland, in the Europe region.
How does Toucan make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Transaction/Settlement Fees are the primary driver. The others are platform Commission on CHAR Pool.
Who are Toucan's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Puro.earth, Flowcarbon, Patch, Nori, Pachama, KlimaDAO and Moss.Earth. Broad incumbents are Sylvera, Verra and Gold Standard.
Does Toucan have an API?
Yes. Toucan offers API integration via Puro Connect API, which enables instant settlement of engineered carbon removal credits on-chain. The platform integrates with the Puro.earth registry via Puro's API for seamless credit processing. Developer documentation is at docs.toucan.earth.
What industry is Toucan in?
Toucan's product category is Carbon Credit Trading Platform. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUABAAAE, Tokenization, Digital MRV-Linked Credits & On-Chain Carbon Infrastructure (Digital assets, provenance), with a secondary code of EUABAAAB, Carbon Exchanges & Trading Venues (Spot, forward, auction platforms). Its NAICS code is 522320 and its SIC code is 6200.