Vow (VOW) is a cryptocurrency that aims to introduce a new aspect to the realm of digital currencies. It is designed with the intention of decentralizing the creation of discount vouchers, thereby enabling retailers to incentivize sales by minting and distributing Voucher Currency. The core utility of VOW lies in its potential to be locked in a smart contract, providing retailers the ability to distribute unique discount vouchers, denominated in units of v$ (v£ or v€ etc), for up to 5x the $ value locked. This process is facilitated on a Layer 2 (Aventus), aiming to enable instant, gas-free transactions for end users and retailers who wish to redeem the discount vouchers. VOW aims to address the volatility, speed, and demand issues that may have impeded the acceptance of crypto in the retail sector.

Vow operates on a token-economic model that encourages retailers to become part of a global distribution and acceptance layer. Retailers mint and distribute Voucher Currency under the understanding that they must "Vow" to accept the same value of vCurrency they distribute, back again, as discounts on their products and services. This aims to create a natural liquidity and acceptance for crypto, with zero fiat conversion required. The Vow smart contract allows retailers to distribute unique discount vouchers, denominated in units of v$ (v£ or v€ etc), for up to 5x the $ value locked. These v$ (or v£ or v€ etc) are built on a Layer 2 (Aventus), aiming to result in instant, gas-free transactions for end users and retailers.

Vow has potential use cases, especially in the retail sector. It allows retailers to incentivize new and repeat sales by minting and distributing Voucher Currency. This can be used to provide discounts on products and services, aiming to drive customer engagement and loyalty. Additionally, Vow can be used in games and reward programs, providing a new form of value transfer. It also has potential applications in the travel industry, with vTravel allowing vCurrency to be redeemed against hotels and airlines. Furthermore, Vow can be integrated into existing applications and platforms, aiming to spread its utility.

Vow was created with the intention of addressing reasons that retailers may not accept crypto: volatility, speed, and lack of public demand. It introduced a token-economic model that encourages every retailer to become part of a massive distribution and acceptance layer around the world. The project has been developing, with the introduction of various community-developed platforms and applications. Vow has been mentioned in news articles for its approach to integrating cryptocurrency into the retail sector. The project is governed by its community and is provided for the benefit of the community by The Vow Ecosystem Foundation.