Confidence in the supposedly 500 million tons worth of carbon represented by global VCMs is quickly waning. Mounting controversies continue to intensify skepticism among corporates, investors, regulators, regulatory standard setters and other stakeholders over the quality and efficacy of VCCs. As a result, market demand for cheap, questionably reliable credits is on the decline as the supply of credits tied to more dependably effective offset projects, such as direct air capture, remains scarce and expensive. A middle market of readily available, affordable but nevertheless high-quality VCCs is clearly necessary.