First Draft Club

🧵 THREAD: Why open source devs are still struggling to get paid in 2025 - and how I am fixing it.

The open source ecosystem powers 90% of the web, yet most maintainers work for free. Let's explore the problem and a simple solution:

1/ The open source paradox: Projects like elizaOS  (powering AI agents, MC reached $2B+) are built by devs working nights and weekends

"This is @shawmakesmagic - $100k in debt 70 days ago. Coding till 3am every night to pay rent. Turns a crazy idea into $2B+ AI project."

2/ "Having an incentive mechanism while being open source is quite challenging - it's a balance between 'community' and 'value capture'"

This is the core problem: How do we fund public goods without paywalls that limit adoption?

3/ Contribution-based systems show promise but have limitations:

"On-Chain Contribution Tracking: Use verifiable logs (GitHub commits, forum posts) to measure actual work done."

The problem? Complex to implement and maintain for smaller projects.

README to tips, in minutes. The easiest way to receive cryptocurrency tips through a simple markdown button. Create yours at https://www.tip.md
| By @xr0am-