Patreon, a subscription platform that allows fans to pay content creators, is considering adding non-fiat payments – including crypto payments – to grow revenue.

Why should we care?
Tools that allow payments to creators and influencers is a burgeoning area of financial services. Patreon may be taking some inspiration from Twitter, which in September announced that it’s allowing fans to tip their favorite content creators with bitcoin. In Patreon’s case, the company has been toying with the idea of letting creators issue their own coins since September. In a panel at The Information’s 2021 Creator Economy Summit last week, Patreon Chief Product Officer Julian Gutman gave the impression the company was considering adding some crypto elements, but it’s unclear if they’ve made a firm decision on which ones. “We’re certainly interested in evaluating and understanding how NFTs [non-fungible tokens] or some of the underlying technologies help us create that sustainable long-term earnings for creators,” he said at the event. “I think for us, really thinking through how we’re continuing to ensure we’re creating a sustainable recurring future for creators is why we’re evaluating the crypto space more broadly.” When asked if the company had full-time employees dedicated to crypto, he declined to comment.