Nettoloon

Nettoloon is a term used in fictional digital economies to denote a unit of value that appears in various online narratives and role-playing environments. In these contexts, nettoloons function as a programmable, transferable asset used to facilitate trade of virtual goods and services. The term has multiple spellings and has also appeared in fan-fiction and indie games.

Etymology and description: The name combines "net" (network) and "loon" (an old coin word in some languages) or a playful coin suffix. There is no single canonical definition; nettoloons serve as a flexible placeholder for value in different worlds or simulations. Some sources claim nettoloons are backed by in-world resources or achievements; others treat them as purely abstract numbers.

Origins and usage: Nettoloons first appeared in early online communities as a lighthearted reference to virtual currencies, later being adopted by tabletop and computer game creators. In many settings, players earn nettoloons through quests, trades, or labor, then spend them on equipment, access, or privileges. Several community-run wikis document variations of nettoloons across games and stories.

Mechanics and criticism: Descriptions vary; some portray nettoloons as tokens based on a decentralized ledger within a fictional ecosystem, while others present them as centralized credits. In real-world discussions, nettoloons are often used to illustrate economic concepts such as liquidity and inflation without real financial risk, though inconsistent rules across works can cause confusion.

See also digital currency in fiction, in-world economies, virtual economies.