The currency used in RF Online is quite different then in any other MMO. Firstly, each race has its own "local" currency, the Accretia use a CP point system, Bellato trades with Talent and Cora trades with Desena. Consider these to be the currency that each race uses to trade each other for weapons, armor, repairs, materials, etc.

Aside from each race's unique currency, there is a "Gold Standard" in which the value of each race's currency is based upon. At any given time, the value of the CP, Talent and Desena may flucuate relative to this Gold Standard. At any given time, users can exchange their local currencies for this "Gold Standard". This simulates real life economic situations, where gold is a commodity that remains relatively unphased during times of economic recession or prosperity.

Every race HQ has a NPC called "COIN EXCHANGE" that provides users with all the economics about the current state of the market. A line chart illustrates the strength of each of the race's currency relative to each other. The Tax rate indicates what the current exchange rate charges are for converting gold <-> local currency. The Exchange Rate (includes the tax rate), shows the Gold:Local Currency Ratio. The Money Holdings shows how much Gold and Local Currency you have currently. The Exchange Adjustment allows you to exchange how much of each currency you wish to have.

What are things that affect your race's currency? For one, a race that has control over the central mining area of the Crag will benefit from a lower tax rate, in return, increasing the payback of gold to local currency exchange. If your race does not have control of the central mining area of the Crag, your race will experience an increased tax rate on the exchange rate, which means buying gold will be more expensive and you will get less local currency for your gold.

Though this feature in the game is wonderful, it will probably not be taken advantage of till much later in the game when the economic status of each race has stabilized and shows a fairly consistent pattern from constant warring. Players from each race will find that there are key patterns in their war behaviors. Certain races will win certain days of the week, certain times of the day, etc. During these times, players of each race can stock up on either forms of their currency to take advantage of various economic situations.

SOURCE: http://rfo.askterix.com/