There’s a topic I’ve been meaning to talk about in a post, but for some reason, I kept postponing it until today. Maybe it’s because it’s a bit of a sensitive subject, and I’ve had difficulty framing it in a way that doesn’t offend others. Or maybe it’s just my personality. I tend to be diplomatic and always consider how others might feel about what I say, which often leads me to avoid discussing topics that might spark disagreement.
This topic is rewards.
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In many ways, Hive is unique in the crypto space because it took a different path in terms of token distribution compared to major cryptos like BTC, ETH, and others. Most crypto projects that came after the early ones distribute their tokens through mining, staking, or faucets. These methods typically require either technical knowledge, an upfront financial investment, or insider information to access.
But here on Hive, anyone can participate. You can be a regular person and still earn Hive tokens simply by doing what you already do on a daily basis by engaging on social media.
That is why, back in the days of Steemit, Hive (then Steem) was referred to as the “Facebook killer.” The idea was that people would rather spend time on a platform like Steemit because it gave them the opportunity to earn money for creating content and interacting with others. And even today, that model has not changed. Users can still earn Hive by posting and commenting.
However, it is becoming increasingly difficult to earn on the platform, especially for new users. In fact, even long-time users are finding it more challenging over time. I have heard sentiments like these from members of the community:
“I wrote a 3,000-word post and earned just a few dollars. It’s not worth the effort.”
“I’ve been on the platform for months and still haven’t received consistent support from whales.”
“I’m very active here, but I’m not getting the attention I feel I deserve.”
“It’s unfair. I put so much effort into my blog, yet I earn far less than someone who just posts a podcast announcement.”
“The rewards are shrinking because the value of the coin is dropping.”
There is a growing sense of disappointment as Hive becomes less profitable in dollar terms, and content creators earn less than they used to. Understandably, this discourages some people from participating, posting content, or engaging with others on the platform.
This frustration is spreading, and I cannot blame those who feel this way. The visible decrease in post rewards is real. I remember when trending posts would earn hundreds, sometimes even thousands of dollars. That kind of visibility and reward drew a lot of people to the platform.
I even recall one post earning around $15,000 just for talking about a makeup or beauty routine. I cannot remember the exact content, but the rewards were massive. Of course, that did not last long. It happened during the hyper-inflation phase of the blockchain. Since then, inflation has slowed down, and the tokens distributed to users have decreased. Combine that with the declining dollar value of Hive, and naturally, post rewards have dropped in real value as well.
That said, regardless of what is happening with post rewards, there is one aspect of Hive that still offers a steady way to earn from inflation, and that is curation.
Having a decent stake in Hive Power allows you to earn curation rewards. Currently, it is possible to earn about 8% APR simply by upvoting content, in addition to around 2.9% APR in staking rewards.
In short, your Hive Power gives you a reliable way to earn rewards just by curating and holding. But of course, this comes with responsibility. Stakeholders are the ones who support the Hive platform’s value, and they are responsible for distributing rewards from the reward pool. That is why many of them are selective with their upvotes, supporting only those authors they trust or believe are adding real value. Similarly, they also downvote content they feel is being over-rewarded.
It is a sensitive topic, but that is how Hive works.
If you want to earn here, you either need to work hard to create high-quality content that attracts curators, or invest in your account by staking Hive and curating posts yourself to earn a share of the curation rewards.
In the end, understanding how Hive rewards work is essential to navigating and thriving on the platform. Whether through content creation or curation, there are opportunities available for those willing to learn and engage. While challenges exist, staying consistent and informed can make all the difference in your Hive journey.
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