Currency

Coins and banknotes in The Ghost of Maiden's Peak

A currency (Japanese: 通貨(つうか) currency) is a particular kind of money that can be used to pay for goods and services. Money is typically either held physically in the form of coins or banknotes, or digitally in the form of a balance. The primary currency featured in the Pokémon world is the Pokémon Dollar ($) and the yen (円), which has been featured in some form in the core series games, Pokémon the Series, and the Pokémon Adventures manga. The spin-off games feature a variety of different currencies, with some having a premium currency that can be purchased with real money.

In the core series games

The Pokémon Dollar symbol

Pokémon Dollars

Main article: Pokémon Dollar

Pokémon Dollars ($) are the primary currency used in the Pokémon world of the core series games. In the original Japanese versions, it is instead known as the yen (円), except in the Orre region, where Pokémon Dollars are also used in the Japanese versions. It is primarily obtained as prize money from winning Pokémon battles against another Pokémon Trainer and used to buy items from Poké Marts.

Exchangeable items and valuable items

Main articles: Exchangeable item and valuable item

Exchangeable items are items that serve no practical purpose aside from being traded for another item or some sort of service. Valuable items are items that serve no practical purpose aside from being sold; most exchangeable items are also valuable items.

Other currencies

The following currencies have also appeared in the core series games. For the most part, they cannot be exchanged for Pokémon Dollars directly, but can be used to obtain items that in turn could be sold for Pokémon Dollars in a one-way exchange.

Coins are utilized to play the various games of the Game Corners throughout the Pokémon world as well as to obtain and collect the various Game Corner prizes available. Coins can be bought at the price of $20 per Coin.
Volcanic ash can be exchanged for flutes and furniture in Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire, Emerald, Omega Ruby, and Alpha Sapphire.
Poké Coupons (pt/pts.) are used as currency in Mt. Battle and Pokétopia in Pokémon Colosseum, XD, and Battle Revolution. Due to both of these locations being battle facilities, they are analogous to Battle Points.
Berry Powder can be made from Berries in Berry Crush and exchanged for vitamins and herbal medicine in Pokémon FireRed, LeafGreen, and Emerald.
Battle Points (BP) (introduced in Pokémon Emerald) are used as currency in numerous battle facilities, such as the Battle Frontiers of Hoenn and Sinnoh/Johto, as well as the Battle Subway and Pokémon World Tournament in Unova, the Battle Maison in Kalos/Hoenn, the Battle Tree and the Mantine Surf in Alola, and the Battle Tower in Galar.
Spheres are used to trade with vendors in the Underground and Grand Underground in Pokémon Diamond, Pearl, Platinum, Brilliant Diamond, and Shining Pearl.
Castle Points (CP) are used to get power-ups and items at the Battle Castle in the Sinnoh and Johto Battle Frontiers.
Watts (W) are used as a currency in the Pokéwalker and in Pokémon Sword and Shield. In the Pokéwalker, they are needed to use the Poké Radar and Dowsing Machine, as well as to unlock new Pokéwalker Routes. In Pokémon Sword and Shield, they are used to pay for certain things in the Wild Area and the Isle of Armor.
Athlete Points (P) can be used to get various items at the Pokéathlon Dome in Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver Versions.
Dream Points were used as a form of currency in the Dream World. They could be earned by performing certain actions and could be used to unlock additional areas and rows in the Garden.
Berries were used as a form of currency in the Dream World. They could be used to buy Décor.
Poké Miles (PM) can be exchanged for various items in Pokémon X, Y, Omega Ruby, and Alpha Sapphire from a specific NPC at Lumiose City and Mauville City. They can also be used at the PokéMileage Club on the Pokémon Global Link to buy various items or to play attractions.
Festival Coins (FC) can be used at the Festival Plaza in Pokémon Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun, and Ultra Moon. They can be used at the facilities to access various services, or to buy fashion items or facilities from visitors in Festival Plaza.
Poké Beans are a currency in Poké Pelago in Pokémon Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun, and Ultra Moon. They can be used to feed Pokémon and develop Poké Pelago.
Pokémon HOME Points (P) are a currency in Pokémon HOME. They can be exchanged for other currencies in the core series games for the Nintendo Switch.
Merit Points (MP) are a currency in Pokémon Legends: Arceus that can be obtained by finding Lost Satchels and exchanged for items.
League Points (LP) are a secondary currency required to craft TMs using the TM Machine in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. At most vendors, they can also be used in place of Pokémon Dollars at a 1:1 exchange rate.
Blueberry Points (BP) are a special currency used at the Blueberry Academy in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet.

In the spin-off games

Pokémon Pikachu and Pokémon Pikachu 2 GS

In the pedometers Pokémon Pikachu and Pokémon Pikachu 2 GS, watts (W) are used in order to collect and unlock gifts for Pikachu. In Pokémon Pikachu 2 GS, they can also be sent to Pokémon Gold, Silver, and Crystal to receive an item.

Hey You, Pikachu!

In Hey You, Pikachu!, Pika Points are used as currency. Its symbol is an outline of Pikachu's head with a letter "P" in the middle. They are obtained at the end of each day, and can be used at Abra's shop to buy items.

Pokémon Channel

In Pokémon Channel, Poké is used as currency. Its symbol is Pikachu's head with a letter "P" in the middle. It is obtained by answering questions correctly on Quiz Wobbuffet and Eggzamination: Hatch Up!, and used to purchase items and bus passes from Shop 'N Squirtle.

Pokémon Mystery Dungeon series

The Pokémon Mystery Dungeon world uses Poké as its main form of currency, to purchase items or services in town or dungeons.

In Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Gates to Infinity, Gold Bars were introduced as a form of currency solely used at Glorious Gold in exchange for Poké or valuable items.

PokéPark series

In PokéPark Wii: Pikachu's Adventure and PokéPark 2: Wonders Beyond, Berries are used to purchase various items and services.

Pokémon Trading Card Game Online

Main article: Pokémon Trading Card Game Online → Currency

In the Pokémon Trading Card Game Online, the three currencies were Trainer Tokens, Event Tickets, and Tournament Keys. Event Tickets were a premium currency that could be purchased with real money.

Pokémon Conquest

In Pokémon Conquest, gold is used as the currency to pay for items, ponigiri, and various other services at kingdom locations, or during certain kingdom events.

Pokémon Shuffle

Main article: Currency (Shuffle)

In Pokémon Shuffle, the three currencies are:

Hearts, used to play stages. Hearts regenerate automatically over time.
Coins, used to purchase items just before starting a stage, and sometimes used in place of Hearts to play a stage.
Jewels, used to purchase various items, as well as exchange for Hearts or Coins. Jewels are a premium currency that can be purchased with real money.

Pokémon Rumble series

In Pokémon Rumble World and Pokémon Rumble Rush, the two currencies are Ⓟ in Rumble World and (Coins) in Rumble Rush, and Poké Diamonds. Poké Diamonds are a premium currency that can be purchased with real money.

Pokémon Picross

In Pokémon Picross, the two currencies are:

Energy, consumed when filling squares during a puzzle. Energy regenerates automatically over time.
Picrites, which can be spent to unlock additional areas, or to immediately restore tired Pokémon. Picrites are a premium currency that could be purchased with real money.

Pokémon Duel

In Pokémon Duel, the three currencies are:

Energy, consumed to play single-player quests or player-versus-player League Matches. Energy regenerates automatically over time.
Coins, used alongside materials to level up figures through fusion.
Gems, which can be spent at the Shop in exchange for new Plates or Figures. Gems are a premium currency that could be purchased with real money.

Pokémon GO

In Pokémon GO, the five currencies are:

PokéCoins, redeemed for several different kinds of items and upgrades in the Shop, or for clothing in the style menu. PokéCoins are a premium currency that can be purchased with real money.
Stardust, used alongside Candy to power up Pokémon. It can also be used to trade Pokémon, purify Shadow Pokémon, and add a second Charged Attack to Pokémon.
Candy, used alongside Stardust to power up Pokémon.
Mega Energy/Primal Energy, used to induce Mega Evolution or Primal Reversion.
Max Particles, used to participate in Max Battles and unlock or level up Max Moves.

Pokémon: Magikarp Jump

Main article: Pokémon: Magikarp Jump → Currencies

In Pokémon: Magikarp Jump, the three currencies are Coins, Diamonds, and Exchange Tickets. Diamonds and Exchange Tickets are premium currencies that can be purchased with real money.

Pokkén Tournament DX

In Pokkén Tournament DX, Poké Gold (PG) is used as the currency to acquire customization items for the player or Nia in My Town.

Pokémon UNITE

Main article: Currency (UNITE)

In Pokémon UNITE, the three currencies are:

Aeos coins, which can buy Pokémon licenses, battle items, and held items.
Aeos tickets, which can buy fashion items, battle and held items, and other items such as boost cards and item enhancers.
Aeos gems, which can buy licenses, fashion items, boost and rename cards, energy tanks, and Holowear. Aeos gems are a premium currency that can be purchased with real money.

Pokémon Quest

In Pokémon Quest, the two currencies are:

Battery charges, which are used to go on expeditions. Battery charges regenerate automatically over time.
PM Tickets, which are used to purchase decorations, box expansions, and downloadable content.

Pokémon Masters EX

In Pokémon Masters EX, the four currencies are:

Stamina, which is consumed to play certain battles. Stamina regenerates automatically over time.
Coins, which are used to upgrade Gear and buy items in the Shop.
Gems, a premium currency divided into two sub-categories: non-paid gems, obtained by playing the game, which are used to scout for additional sync pairs or refill Stamina, and paid gems, purchased with real money, which are used similarly to non-paid gems, as well as for using exclusive scouts and purchasing items to support hatching Eggs.
Battle Points, which periodically grant various item rewards at certain milestones.

Pokémon Café ReMix

In Pokémon Café ReMix, the two currencies are:

Stamina, used to attempt orders. Stamina regenerates automatically over time.
Golden acorns, which can be redeemed for various things. Golden acorns are a premium currency that can be purchased with real money.

Pokémon Trading Card Game Live

Main article: Pokémon Trading Card Game Live → Shopping

In the Pokémon Trading Card Game Live, the three currencies are Coins, Crystals, and Credits.

Pokémon Sleep

In Pokémon Sleep, the four currencies are:

Candy, used to level up and evolve Pokémon.
Sleep points, which can be exchanged in the Shop for items.
Diamonds, which can be exchanged in the Shop for items. Diamonds are a premium currency that can be purchased with real money.
Dream Shards, used to expand the size of the cooking pot.

In animation

Pokémon the Series

Main article: Pokémon Dollar → Pokémon the Series

The Japanese yen was featured in early episodes of Pokémon the Series. It was generally localized as the United States dollar in the English dub.

In the manga

Main article: Pokémon Dollar → In the manga

The Japanese yen has appeared in The Electric Tale of Pikachu and Pokémon Adventures. In Pokémon Adventures, it was generally localized as either the Pokémon Dollar or the United States dollar.