Amazon launches Coins virtual currency

Web giant introduces new way to pay for apps and games with giveaway to Kindle Fire users.
Amazon.com's customers can now use Amazon "Coins" to buy apps and games from the online retailer, after it launched its own digital currency.
All Kindle Fire owners in America were given 500 free Amazon Coins – worth $5 (£3) – to mark the launch on Monday. The virtual money, emblazoned with a woman drawing a bow, is presently only available for US customers, who can use it to buy apps, games and in-app items from the Amazon Appstore, and for the Kindle Fire. Each coin is worth $0.01, with bulk purchases getting a discount of up to 10%. However taxes are still payable on items bought with the "coins" – making their usefulness questionable.
Amazon said that the new currency was "an easy way to purchase apps and in-app items" for customers, and "another opportunity to drive traffic, downloads and increased monetisation" for developers.

Source: https://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2013/may/14/amazon-coins-virtual-currency