I don’t know if it is true that people are selling merit for $20/each
I remember that number from
this post.
If there is truth to that, I would say it is evidence of a market that is not vibrant and inefficient. I would see that as a good thing because it shows that it is difficult to trade merit.
I'm pretty sure Merit sales happen, but only for small amounts. Not many people have enough sMerit to rank someone up to a higher rank, and nobody is going to pay any significant amount per sMerit if they need 1000 of them.
I think most merit sales generally stick out like a sore thumb. For example, whenever I see someone with one merit and 1000+ posts, I assume they bought their single merit. Or when I see an OP of some project, I assume they bought their merit. I also see some people with zero merit, 1000+ posts, and a copper membership.
I am not terribly concerned with someone buying a single merit. Someone ranking up to a junior member isn’t going to hurt anyone. My guess is that they want to avoid having to wait 6 minutes between their bounty posts.
Maybe Theymos could offer a lower version of a paid membership that is less expensive than a copper membership, maybe it could be called “bounty spammer”, cost $20 (in BTC) and give those who are wearing it the same abilities that a junior member has.
