Hey everyone,
I was curious on whether anyone has ever thought about potentially introducing a Fediverse equivalent to platforms like:
- Ko-fi
- Patreon
- Gumroad
- LiberaPay
- Buy Me a Coffee
- Web Monetization (e.g., Coil)
etc.
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.
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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.
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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?
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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.
It could be done with GNU Taler. There are even some NLnet funded grants for open-source projects to integrate it.
The fediverse app would need to implement a relatively basic frontend and someone would need to host a so called merchant backend that multiple people could share to collect funds.
The main show stopper is the final bank integration, but it looks like there will be some options in the EU starting mid of 2025. Basically you will be able to make a SEPA bank transfer to charge your GNU Taler wallet (you can use an open-source mobile app or a browser plugin for that) and then you can use these funds to make micro-payments and donations.