What does UEC stand for in Star Citizen?

UEC stands for United Earth Credits. It is the persistent in-game currency of the Star Citizen universe, used at launch and maintained across game updates.

What is the difference between UEC and aUEC?

UEC is the persistent currency that is purchased with real money or earned via referral bonuses and never gets reset. aUEC (alpha UEC) is earned in-game through gameplay and is wiped with each major patch during the Alpha development phase.

There are three ways to get UEC: buy it directly from the Roberts Space Industries pledge store, receive it as a signup bonus when using a referral code (5,000 UEC), or earn it through occasional CIG promotional events.

Will my aUEC become real UEC at launch?

No. CIG has stated that aUEC is a development-phase currency used for testing the in-game economy. It will not convert to UEC at full release. Your UEC balance, however, will carry over to launch.

Currency Guide

What is UEC?

New players constantly mix up UEC and aUEC. They are two different currencies with different rules. Here is the short version.

Quick Answer

UEC (United Earth Credits) is the permanent currency. You get it with real money or referral bonuses. aUEC (alpha UEC) is the in-game-earned currency that resets with every major patch during Alpha development.

UEC: the permanent currency

UEC stands for United Earth Credits. It is the official lore currency of the Star Citizen universe and the one that will exist at full launch.

UEC has three defining traits:

Persistent. Your UEC balance never resets. It carries through patches, Alpha versions, and eventually into full launch.
Premium only. You cannot farm UEC through gameplay. It is obtained with real money, through referral bonuses, or occasional CIG giveaways.
Stored on your RSI account. Visit robertsspaceindustries.com, log in, and your UEC balance sits under "UEC Wallet".

What can you buy with UEC?

UEC is spent at in-game kiosks to purchase gear, weapons, ammo, ship components, clothing, and short-term ship rentals. Think of it as "spending money" for your character rather than a way to buy new ships (ships are bought with real money via the pledge store).

How do you get UEC?

Buy it directly. The RSI pledge store sells UEC packs (typically 1,000 UEC for around USD $1).
Referral bonus. Enter a referral code at account signup to get 5,000 UEC automatically when you buy your first game package.
Promotional events. CIG occasionally awards UEC during anniversary sales, Invictus Launch Week, or CitizenCon events.

aUEC: the in-game currency

aUEC stands for alpha UEC. It exists because Star Citizen is still in Alpha development and CIG uses it to test the in-game economy without players losing progress permanently.

aUEC has different traits:

Earned through gameplay. Trading, mining, bounty hunting, cargo hauling, salvage, and mission rewards all pay out in aUEC.
Resets with major patches. When CIG ships a significant patch (roughly every 3-4 months), aUEC balances reset to zero. This lets them rebalance the economy without breaking progression.
Cannot be converted to UEC. aUEC is development-phase only. It will not become real UEC at launch.

What can you buy with aUEC?

Almost anything in-game. Ships, weapons, armour, components, consumables, and cargo are all priced in aUEC at in-game shops. Because aUEC is earned rather than bought, it is how most active players fund their gameplay.

Side-by-side comparison

Attribute	UEC	aUEC
Full name	United Earth Credits	Alpha UEC
Earned how	Real money, referral, events	In-game activities
Persistent?	Yes, never resets	No, resets each major patch
Spend on	Gear, rentals, consumables	Ships, gear, almost everything
Survives to launch?	Yes	No

Which one matters more?

Both. UEC is handy for a day-one loadout when you start fresh after a patch wipe. aUEC is what funds your actual gameplay and ship progression once you are in the game.

If you have a fresh account and 5,000 UEC from a referral bonus, spend it on day one for a decent armour set and a sidearm. After that, focus on earning aUEC through delivery missions, bounty hunting, or cargo trading.

Referral Code - 5,000 UEC Bonus

STAR-RCJM-R2X5 Enlist →

Frequently asked questions

Can I trade UEC or aUEC with other players?

Not directly through a built-in trade feature yet. You can hand items or cargo to another player in-game, which is a common way to transfer value informally.

What is the exchange rate of UEC to USD?

Roughly 1,000 UEC for USD $1 on the RSI pledge store, though bundle pricing can make it cheaper per credit at higher tiers.

Do aUEC earnings wipe if I log out?

No. aUEC persists between sessions and between patches within the same version. It only resets on major patch versions (e.g. 3.22 to 3.23).

Does the 5,000 UEC referral bonus work for existing accounts?

No. Referral codes are applied during initial account creation only. If you missed it at signup, CIG does not apply the bonus retroactively. See our referral guide for the full process.