We all have to follow our path towards what we believe *works* for us. For many people, there is a certain dream and mystique about the whole idea of *"earning money online."* And so, we pour our efforts into the pursuit of various approaches that might bring us what we're looking for.

![CC-L-0016-InvestorCat.JPG](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/curatorcat.leo/23zGmAw8HFLXAMQK3qVYk6xfC2C1b8RNb1SnjTq4gsznPfS1GLDzeL8zGQShzP1bX3dSC.JPG)

Hive and its growing group of communities have really brought life to this, with all sorts of options now available to us to earn various *"layer two"* tokens, typically *(but not always)* an extension of the Hive-Engine Dex.

Of course, *"micropayments"* aren't anything new. More than 50 *(I've lost count)* venues have come and gone since 1998, all promising the same thing: *"Earn tiny amounts of income each time someone looks at the content you create under our umbrella."*

Whereas the whole idea may sound like it's full of promise, it's also a statement that is full of *ambiguity.* If we have to be perfectly honest about it, if you engage in some activity online — pretty much during all your waking hours — and you're rewarded with *one cent* you're technically speaking *"earning money online."*

But if you're objective truly is *earning money,* aren't you really better served by going and getting a job flipping burgers at McDonald's? 

![CC-L-0015-Grasses.JPG](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/curatorcat.leo/2423sRSk5TL1HzedBsKofwxJb6jsJxLfJ6cVx4QrReKK561foUheWk4VEpsWVe5FK4ayA.JPG)

## *Semantics?*

Maybe this is all just a matter of semantics. The *"Absolute Technical Truth"* isn't necessarily an endorsement that something *works.* And, to my mind, there is a difference between *earning money* online, and having a *hobby* that pays a few cents. I suppose it's all in the *naming* of things, as well as in our stated *intention!*

But let's get back to these micropayments.

I'm sure most of us get these little bits of rewards in our Hive-Engine wallets. It's not always easy to figure out *why* they are suddenly there, but I suppose you tagged a keyword that is included into the *"pay to"* tokenomics and rewards of a particular token. And so, we look at them and and then we discover that our two-and-a-half tokens from some Community we've never heard of has a market value of exactly zero, because it takes *173* of those tokens to make up *one cent...*

![CC-L-0010-WinterBranch.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/curatorcat.leo/Ep5nBDqP7kyncmbVSoxwXeTS9jV9ZihgDHamUy5JuorfgJMLWX5pBBfLABdRidmNExZ.jpg)

## *Crickets Chirp*

Now, I do realize that it is *"early days"* for the whole web 3.0 and blockchain micropayments and all that and *"we need to be patient"* and what have you, but is there really a point here? Is this actually worthwhile? Moreover, if we *save* these tokens will they ever have any value at all? My *"parent account"* actually holds one token to the tune of about *37,000* of them, and they are not even worth *one cent* because the going rate is $0.00000003 per token!

And yet, a few more show up, every now and then... triggered by some tag I used. 

A long time ago — long before there was cryptocurrency or there were blockchains — I was part of a major blogging site that actually had its own *"currency."* You could actually give an author so-called *"eprops"* if you liked their work. 

![CC-L-0026-Pebbles.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/curatorcat.leo/Eo25A9rSTkqR1U7UAyDpgnEUseanpEQMZue47vC6XDMsNSumeMy97WQKUYWwTb9DeEU.jpg)

Of course, the eprops had absolutely *no commercial value* except if you had *enough* of them — which was almost impossible to get — you could earn a discount when buying a premium subscription to the site to get some extra features. Ultimately, though, he eprops were basically *bragging rights* and little boosts for your ego... far more than they had any actual *worth.*

Now, I realize there may be those who are going to speak up and say *"yeah, but look at InLeo and LEO tokens, they have value!"* And I'm absolutely not going to argue with that. 

However I *will* point out that InLeo is one of *hundreds* and that's not exactly an impressive success track record, particularly if we take into account that this isn't exactly *new* around here; some of these tokens existed before we even moved to the new Hive chain!

![CC-L-0028-Cairn.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/curatorcat.leo/241EzUyc1De3JJtkPXWjzqBBAVBe5ruPNpyrtcb7fXJznd5cY1FKTaJ5NZ77eoQPcKyv4.jpg)

## *How Can This Actually WORK?*

I'm not writing these words because it's my intention to rain on anyone's parade! I'm writing them because we *talk* about all this with great enthusiasm, but I wonder what is happening to make this *concept* something more substantial and tangible than just *wishful thinking?*

It seems like most attempts at sustainable tokenomics have not fared too well. Occasionally, we see a new community with a new Layer 2 token get off to a rip-roaring start, but 12 months later its value has dropped by 99%. 

Seems to me there's an *issue* there that is not being seriously addressed. The *value proposition.* The *compelling reason* to actually *hang on* to some of those tokens, rather than just relentlessly sell them to... *presumably*... sell them in order to acquire something else that has more *perceived value* to us.

*Utility* and *perceived value* are slippery beasts. 

![CC0126-Window.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/curatorcat.leo/23xyQd514wc2jVj6bcPM7xxWgy6QqiCVFvcQdp4Bhsifjn4jFxDWLLxzyMrni5SqEP7g7.jpg)

## *For Example...*

Let's say I am rewarded *"Token X."* 

If I had the *knowledge* that if I saved up enough of those tokens, I could buy a bag of cat food from a fellow community member *paying with those tokens,* I'd likely be inspired to *save* them, rather than sell them. Suddenly those micropayments would make *more sense.*

Some might say *"Oh, PRODUCTS are so Web 2.0!"* 

Yeah, well. *Eating* is probably *"So Web 2.0" as well, as is *wearing clothes.*

However, we haven't *"transitioned"* physical existence and become pure A.I. yet, so let's continue with examples of what we actually *need* in life, as we currently know it. 

Of course, *"value propositions"* can mean lots of things.

It's just a matter of *finding* and them *implementing* those that can make this *"amazing and prosperous future"* we're talking about *tangibly possible.*

And yes, I *do* like to play Devil's Advocate, but only because sometimes humanity needs a dose of *reality* injected into its fantasy life!

# =^..^=
***Curator Cat 05 November, 2023***