diff --git a/common/envs/atlas.ts b/common/envs/atlas.ts
index 3dd4c1d0..94c71a5f 100644
--- a/common/envs/atlas.ts
+++ b/common/envs/atlas.ts
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ export const ATLAS_CONFIG: EnvConfig = {
   adminEmails: [...PROD_CONFIG.adminEmails],
   whitelistEmail: '',
   moneyMoniker: 'A$',
+  startingBalance: 5000,
   visibility: 'PRIVATE',
   faviconPath: '/atlas/atlas-favicon.png',
   navbarLogoPath: '',
diff --git a/common/envs/prod.ts b/common/envs/prod.ts
index 4352af64..a209c2f2 100644
--- a/common/envs/prod.ts
+++ b/common/envs/prod.ts
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ export type EnvConfig = {
   faviconPath?: string // Should be a file in /public
   navbarLogoPath?: string
   newQuestionPlaceholders: string[]
+  startingBalance?: number
 }
 
 type FirebaseConfig = {
diff --git a/common/user.ts b/common/user.ts
index 3b74ac1a..67fc22ee 100644
--- a/common/user.ts
+++ b/common/user.ts
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+import { ENV, ENV_CONFIG } from './envs/constants'
+
 export type User = {
   id: string
   createdTime: number
@@ -21,8 +23,9 @@ export type User = {
   followedCategories?: string[]
 }
 
-export const STARTING_BALANCE = 1000
-export const SUS_STARTING_BALANCE = 10 // for sus users, i.e. multiple sign ups for same person
+export const STARTING_BALANCE = ENV_CONFIG.startingBalance ?? 1000
+// for sus users, i.e. multiple sign ups for same person
+export const SUS_STARTING_BALANCE = ENV_CONFIG.startingBalance ?? 10
 
 export type PrivateUser = {
   id: string // same as User.id