Aeternity Launches Crypto Tipping Platform for Social Creators

Blockchain firm Aeternity launched its social monetization tool "Superhero" on May 20, describing the platform as “the first decentralized peer-to-peer instant payment tool for digital goods or social content.” 

The extension is supported by the crypto-friendly internet browsers Brave and Opera, in addition to Firefox and Chrome. The decentralized app — or DApp — is also available on mobile for iOS and Android.

Superhero solely supports tipping in the form of Aeternity’s native coin, AE. Superhero features a widget for integration onto blogs and websites. 

Aeternity launches social monetization dapp

Users can purchase vouchers loaded with 5, 10, or 15 euros worth of AE via Paypal or BitPay after passing Know Your Customer procedures. Users can also use atomic swaps to purchase vouchers with Bitcoin (BTC), Ether (ETH), Dai (DAI), Wrapped Bitcoin (WBTC), or USD Coin (USDC) with reduced KYC requirements.

The DApp comprises a free browser wallet extension and widget to facilitate tips between content consumers and creators.

Distributed ledger technology offers censorship resistance for P2P tipping

Speaking to Cointelegraph, Aeternity founder Yanislav Mahalov, emphasized that Superhero pays content creators instantly, and does not take any commissions on tips.

“Content monetization has historically been a tug-of-war between third party advertisers, data thieves, host platforms, and lastly the creators themselves,” stated Mahalov. “Superhero is putting the control back in the hands of the people, making it easier than ever to support creators from every industry.”

Aeternity’s founder highlighted the platform’s censorship-resistance, stating that “there are no third parties controlling the approval or release of tips, and users can maintain their IP ownership.”

During May, Aeternity was named alongside several distributed ledger technology-based startups to receive support from the Indian government-led blockchain accelerator program T-Block.

Tax reforms needed to simplify crypto tipping

Speaking during a Cointelegraph Talk last month, Ian Kane, the co-founder and CEO of crypto debit card manufacturer Ternio, emphasized the need for capital gains tax to be lifted from small crypto payments to foster innovation in blockchain-based microtransactions.

“For something like a currency, where it's meant for small micropayments/tipping, you shouldn’t be paying 40% short term capital gains, it makes no sense,” Keane said.

“When the internet came out, if every time you clicked on a new web page, you had to pay a tax or some kind of toll to gain information, it wouldn’t make any sense. It kind of hinders the progress being made [in crypto],” he added.