Hi Guys, I am trying to do some fundamental research on Steem but there is one thing I don't understand and that i'm not finding the answer on. Who does actually pay for this whole project.
Answer is here.
In short, everyone who owns the STEEM token pays for the rewards which are created by minting new STEEM tokens out-of-thin-air, but this burden is disproportionate because whales are able to redirect most of the money supply dilution to themselves via their numerous sockpuppet bloggers.
It is analogous to a masternode or proof-of-stake coin, where the whales siphon off most of the transaction fees and any minting of coins disproportionately.
Incorrect. Steem Power (how many STEEM tokens you have locked up for 13 week holding period) determines your power in the voting and curation rewards.
The reputation thing is just a number which has no real impact other than readers see the number on all your comments. I have a high reputation at Steemit because I joined in July 2016, but my Steem Power is low because I sold most of my STEEM.
And because afaik the whales can route the voting rewards (via their sockpuppet bloggers) and curation rewards disproportionately to themselves, the distribution only gets more unfair over time.
And the disproportionality is afaik even worse than proportional to the whales’ disporportionate share of the Steem Power, because a square power had to be employed else the system could be gamed and destroyed. I had explained that in more detail in my blog from 2016.
The entire concept of voting on dilution of the money supply is insolubly flawed. Again read the linked blog from 2016 which explained it.