These days, I’ve been seeing plenty of chatter in the secondary market about whether to charge royalties—arguments that sound like “justice.” Put simply, everyone says they support creators with their mouths, but what they click is always the cheaper option; the on-chain records are pretty honest. If the creator economy can only rely on “voluntary tips,” then don’t be surprised if creators increasingly end up looking like customer service reps and streamers—at the end of the day, they still have to make a living.

I’ll admit I’m a little envious of those who can live off a single image for years; at least they don’t have to stare at the charts every day, getting twisted around by emotions. Even more ironic is this: the moment someone shares in the group about stablecoin regulation, reserve audits, or “depegging” rumors, everyone immediately switches from “support the creators” to “move the money first,” and they act fast. The market’s reflection is always more real than slogans.