Should Pokémon fiat money get its gold standard?

Virtual currencies in Japan may be about to enter the real world, says Chris Carter.

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Should PokeCoins be backed with yen?

PokeCoins, the fun virtual currency in the Nintendo smartphone game Pokmon Go, which became this summer's craze, can be used in the pursuit of breeding and catching monsters. But the virtual coins, which feature a smiling Pikachu in place of a head of state, also have a serious side, says Japan's Financial Services Agency. The FSA is considering whether PokeCoins should be backed with real-world yen.

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Chris Carter
Wealth Editor, MoneyWeek

Chris Carter spent three glorious years reading English literature on the beautiful Welsh coast at Aberystwyth University. Graduating in 2005, he left for the University of York to specialise in Renaissance literature for his MA, before returning to his native Twickenham, in southwest London. He joined a Richmond-based recruitment company, where he worked with several clients, including the Queen’s bank, Coutts, as well as the super luxury, Dorchester-owned Coworth Park country house hotel, near Ascot in Berkshire.

Then, in 2011, Chris joined MoneyWeek. Initially working as part of the website production team, Chris soon rose to the lofty heights of wealth editor, overseeing MoneyWeek’s Spending It lifestyle section. Chris travels the globe in pursuit of his work, soaking up the local culture and sampling the very finest in cuisine, hotels and resorts for the magazine’s discerning readership. He also enjoys writing his fortnightly page on collectables, delving into the fascinating world of auctions and art, classic cars, coins, watches, wine and whisky investing.

You can follow Chris on Instagram.