What I’m imagining is a decentralized platform that allows users across the Fediverse to directly tip or support creators, all without relying on plugins or third-party integrations.

For instance, I know that creators on platforms like PeerTube can add plugins for cryptocurrency or payment solutions, but these require additional configuration or technical know-how.

What I’m suggesting is a straightforward tipping platform built directly into the Fediverse ecosystem, one that doesn’t depend on plugins—just a seamless way to support creators on ALL Fediverse platforms.

To clarify upfront:

I am NOT a “crypto bro.” I’m not here to promote any cryptocurrency or blockchain agenda—I’m just thinking about user-friendly, decentralized solutions.
While I AM open-minded about crypto-based approaches, I feel there’s potential for a non-crypto, user-first Fediverse tipping system.

What do you all think?

Has this idea been explored?
Are there any projects in the works that aim to address this?
Do you think it’s feasible or even a good fit for the Fediverse ethos?

I’d love to attempt something like this myself, but sadly I personally lack the time, technical knowledge, and energy to make it happen.

Still, I’d be really curious to hear the community’s thoughts.

Thanks in advance for sharing your insights.

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[–] solrize 0 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (20 children)

@Teknevra, you've posted a number of ideas like this which seem based on the premise that all it would take to make them happen is writing the software and keeping the servers running. In fact those are really the easy parts.

Any above-ground platform involving user to user payments (Patreon, Paypal etc.) has to devote a ton of energy into anti-fraud, anti-money-laundering, trade in illegal goods, etc. AO3 isn't just file hosting for fanfiction, it's explicitly political in that it aims to give a safe space for works that would be banned on other platforms due to subject matter that draws disapproval. That takes a lot of ideological commitment and some level of moderation, legal backing, etc. Pulling non-fediverse sites into the fediverse when they desire to run their own walled gardens for whatever reasons is another set of battles to fight. So in each case, the obstacles to your idea involve conflicts between humans, not just lack of the right software.

Why do you find the fediverse so great anyway? Lemmy is basically a failure IMHO. Instead of having one giant jerk censoring things like on Reddit, there are instead dozens of little petty ones wanting to defederate from other instances. Reddit is mostly a superior experience for users, with just a few of us fringe types staying on Lemmy because of priorities that almost nobody else cares about. Mastodon gained some popularity when Twitter became an intolerable hellhole, but Bluesky ended up recapturing a lot of those departing users.

I appreciate your good intentions and willingness to help out with various annoying situations, but I think it's important to stay clear-headed about exactly what you are trying to do.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Lemmy is basically a failure IMHO.

Reddit is mostly a superior experience for users

If you really think this and don't think Lemmy will get better then you should be using Reddit instead of Lemmy.

~Anti~ ~Commercial-AI~ ~licens~ ~(CC~ ~BY-NC-SA~ ~4.0)~

[–] solrize 3 points 1 month ago

If you really think this and don’t think Lemmy will get better then you should be using Reddit instead of Lemmy.

I explained that Reddit is better for most people, though there is a fringe minority that chooses Lemmy for various idiosyncratic reasons. I'm part of that minority and so are you, ok? That doesn't make the rest of the world likely to migrate here.

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