Continuing the conversation from my recent posts about Warpcast, I want to write about a key issue: the tipping meta and how it impacts artists, especially when tips come in tokens of little value.
Let me be clear—I’m not against tipping culture. In fact, I appreciate tips and encourage them. But if you value my content, tip me in something that holds real value: USD, BTC, ETH—not a memecoin you received for free because that just feels cheap.
The main problem with tipping these types of tokens is that it shifts the focus away from genuine appreciation for the art and turns it into a memecoin moneyball game. Instead of supporting creators based on their work, users are more concerned with earning and spending these coins, treating tipping as a vapid economic exchange rather than a reflection of true engagement. This dynamic erodes the connection between artist and collector, diluting the value of the artists work itself.
It’s similar to the "free mint" issue that collectors often mention. When something costs nothing, they perceive it as having little value. The same applies to tipping with free tokens: If there's no cost to the tip, what does that say about how much the tipper truly values the content? Even though these tips are appreciated, they don’t carry the weight of true support or interest in the artist’s work. Instead, they risk devaluing the effort and creativity that went into the content.
While tipping speculative tokens might offer short-term excitement, it’s not a sustainable way to build a thriving creator economy. The argument for tipping is often that it introduces new audiences to the creator's work and provides a sense of community. But it doesn’t foster long-lasting relationships between artists and their supporters in the long run. It’s more of a quick thrill, but over time, it weakens the integrity of the artist/collector relationship and the true value of the work.
At its core, tipping should reflect a genuine interest in the artist's work. Using free, speculative tokens turns art into a transactional act, reducing it to an exchange rather than an appreciation of creativity. Creators want their work to be valued for what it represents, not reduced to part of a token-flipping game. This is why I suggest tipping in more stable currencies like ETH, BTC, or USD—because it shows that the person tipping genuinely values the artist and isn’t just speculating. For instance, if an artist receives a significant tip in Bitcion, it can not only provided financial support but also a sense of validation for their work.
This memecoin tipping culture also contributes to a broader issue: the reduction of meaningful engagement. Instead of fostering "multi-user discussions" and deeper conversations, we’re seeing more broadcast-style posts, where users are focused on rewards rather than building connections. This shift toward transactional interactions further reduces the depth of engagement between artists and their audiences.
Ultimately, we should to rethink how we support creators. Real support means treating their work as valuable and offering tips in currencies that reflect true interest, rather than relying on free tokens. A more meaningful way to engage—similar to tipping—is by collecting content. For example, you can collect these articles on Paragraph (see the footer below) or my podcast episodes on Pods, both of which cost about the same as most tips but reward creators with ETH, thanks to the efficiency of Layer 2 networks and low transaction fees.
