Quality Counts in the US Carbon Market

Buyers are paying more for verified carbon credits as the market grows up

19 Feb 2026

The US carbon market is starting to look less like a frontier and more like a disciplined exchange. Corporate buyers are no longer chasing the cheapest offsets. They are asking harder questions about integrity, verification, and risk.

That shift is especially visible in regenerative agriculture. Across North America, buyers are seeking carbon credits backed by solid data and transparent methods. Ratings firms such as Sylvera and other voluntary market analysts report that credits with stronger verification and lower perceived risk often command higher prices than loosely validated alternatives. Pricing still varies by project and registry, but the gap is widening.

Microsoft’s long term deal with Indigo Ag for nearly three million soil carbon removal credits captures the mood. Instead of relying on spot purchases, some major companies are locking in multi year agreements. These contracts help secure supply that meets internal climate targets and risk standards. Analysts say this reflects a broader move toward portfolio strategies built around durability and audit readiness.

Integrity initiatives, including the Integrity Council for the Voluntary Carbon Market, are also raising the bar. Expectations around additionality, permanence, and transparency are tightening. In response, many firms are expanding due diligence to ensure their climate claims can withstand regulatory and investor scrutiny. The change is uneven, but it is increasingly visible among multinationals with formal net zero pledges.

For regenerative agriculture developers, the opportunity comes with pressure. Soil carbon projects can deliver measurable environmental gains, yet they demand ongoing soil sampling, data collection, and third party verification. Those requirements raise costs and often favor platforms with deep capital and advanced measurement systems.

Longer term purchase agreements are becoming more common, offering farmers steadier revenue while giving buyers supply security. Surveys show that many sustainability leaders now treat carbon procurement as part of risk management and transition planning, not a discretionary add on.

Challenges remain, particularly around scalability and the sensitivity of soil carbon to weather and land use shifts. Even so, the direction is clear. In the most scrutinized corners of the voluntary market, scientific rigor is turning into commercial advantage, marking a more mature phase for US carbon credits.