MazaCoin was developed by Payu Harris in 2014.[2] MazaCoin was specifically designed for the Oglala Lakota tribe in South Dakota.[3] Some Native Americans adopted the use of MazaCoin to battle the US Government.[4][5][6][clarification needed]
In October 2017, a Mashable article on the Oglala Lakota included a video about Harris's efforts to get MazaCoin accepted.[7]
Recognition and use
The currency was adopted by the Lakota Nation in 2014, with half of its supply reserved by the tribe to minimize the price volatility common in cryptocurrencies.[8]
In 2017, The Lakota leadership formally recognized MazaCoin as their national currency, yet this decision encountered skepticism within the community.[8] The concept of digital currencies, heavily reliant on technology such as apps and smartphones, was less accessible to older generations and those without consistent internet access.[8] To counteract this, a system of paper wallets was developed, allowing MazaCoin to be stored and used in a more traditional, physical format.[8] This system allowed tribal members to use MazaCoin in physical form for transactions within the community, converting it back to digital format at the centralized facility.[8]
