Bluesky plans to introduce payments in the coming months as a first step toward making money without relying on advertising. CEO Toni Schneider and COO Rose Wang outlined the plans Thursday at TechCrunch Disrupt. The company hopes to build on commerce and fundraising already happening on its decentralized social network.
Schneider said people already sell things, raise funds successfully and support each other on the network. Schneider said Bluesky wants to make monetary support easier when users see something they like and want to support. Schneider said the payment functionality should work across the entire network, including Bluesky and other apps.
Schneider, the former CEO of Automattic, took over in March after longtime CEO Jay Graber stepped down. Schneider said the reaction to the appointment surprised Schneider, with some users joking that the change marked the beginning of the platform's decline. Those comments reflected fears that new leadership would bring unwanted changes to Bluesky. Schneider said users can leave Bluesky for another platform if users dislike new features or changes. Schneider said that freedom keeps the leadership team accountable as Bluesky prepares to introduce monetization in the coming months.
The executives argued that advertising is not the only viable business model for a social network. Wang challenged the idea that advertising is inevitable and will ruin the network. Wang said Schneider had built a $10 billion business at Automattic, with $1 billion going to the parent company and the rest going to the ecosystem.
Wang said Bluesky's status as a Public Benefit Corporation places the company's mission at the center of its business strategy. Wang said Bluesky needs to make money but cannot use its infrastructure to prevent users from leaving. Wang said Bluesky prioritizes directing incoming value and money to the people creating value on networks. Wang criticized a model in which a few owners control the terms and collect payments from people working within the system.
Bluesky aims to give users ownership of their digital identities and control over their networks. Bluesky also aims to create a more open internet where value and revenue can flow directly to the people generating them. Wang said Bluesky would start with payments, but the broader goal is to change the underlying infrastructure rather than simply build another app.
Bluesky to Introduce Payments to Enable Monetization Without Advertising
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Summary
Bluesky announced a network upgrade to introduce payments, aiming to monetize its decentralized social network without ads. CEO Toni Schneider and COO Rose Wang revealed the plan at TechCrunch Disrupt, stating users will soon buy, sell, and fundraise directly on the platform. The feature will work across the network, including Bluesky and third-party apps. Wang emphasized the company’s Public Benefit Corporation status, ensuring value flows to users. The move brings on-chain news to the platform’s growing ecosystem.
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