MonaCoin is the first alternative cryptocurrency developed in Japan. It is based on the popular Japanese character, Mona. MonaCoin has a Proof-of-Work (PoW) consensus mechanism and uses a version of the Lyra2RE mining algorithm that was first used by Vertcoin.
MonaCoin has an enthusiastic user base that has developed a variety of Mona-based web applications and services. MonaCoin holders also use the coin as a tipping system.

Vertcoin is a cryptocurrency with a strong emphasis on keeping the ecosystem as decentralized as possible. Vertcoin was designed with the goal of being easily mined by all users and to resist the centralizing tendency of specialized mining operations. Vertcoin has a Proof-of-Work (PoW) consensus mechanism that is ASIC resistant, and uses the Lyra2RE mining algorithm.