Parallel-Identical

What Is Parallel-Identical?

Parallel-Identical is the central format mechanic of joint editions in the crypto stamp world: multiple postal services emit crypto stamps simultaneously with the same basic design, but with national differentiation in face value, color, and secondary design elements.

Format Definition

A parallel-identical edition is characterized by five properties:

1. Identical main motif: Bull, Lion, Dragon — regardless of country, the same basic design
2. Synchronous sales start: all variants come to market on the same day
3. National variation: face value (€ amount, "R", "3 World"), color accents, country highlight
4. Shared tech platform: Variuscard for most joint editions
5. Identical blockchain: Polygon Mainnet

Example: CS 5.2 Dragon (21.10.2024)

Four national variants of the same dragon motif:

All four show the same dragon with holography foil effect — only the national layer varies.

Strategic Logic

Parallel-identical has clear strategic advantages:

• Design cost efficiency: one designer (e.g. Sandra Smulders) creates all variants
• Tech cost efficiency: Variuscard platform shared
• Marketing multiplier: synchronized campaigns
• Collector cross-pool: collectors from multiple countries buy multiple variants

Differentiation from Other Formats

Parallel-Identical differs from:

• Tiered-by-Color: there the same motif varies in multiple color tiers with different rarities (e.g. CHLI 2.0)
• Inverse-Fame-Tiered: there different motifs (e.g. player figures) have inverse mintage logic (Croatian Football)
• Split-Halves: there a motif is divided into two halves (CHLI 2.0)
• Mint Coin Set: not a parallel format but cross-industry with a coin

Structural Significance

Parallel-Identical is the defining format of the "Crypto Stamp Family" since 2022. All joint editions (Bull, Lion, Dragon, Mythology) follow this mechanic. The only deviation in Mythology 2025: AT has two stamps (Zeus + Hera) instead of one — an asymmetric variation of the basic format.

Parallel-Identical demonstrates how national postal services can offer experimental formats cost-efficiently through shared design and tech resources — without giving up their national identity.