{
  "id": 14771231,
  "title": "Bluesky wants to make it easier to buy, sell, and fundraise on the network",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/15/bluesky-wants-to-make-it-easier-to-buy-sell-and-fundraise-on-the",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-10-15T19:29:05.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "TechCrunch",
    "slug": "techcrunch",
    "url": "https://techcrunch.com/2026/10/15/bluesky-wants-to-make-it-easier-to-buy-sell-and-fundraise-on-the-network/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Bluesky is set to launch payment features in the near future, marking the company's first attempt to generate revenue without depending on advertisements. At TechCrunch Disrupt, CEO Toni Schneider and COO Rose Wang unveiled their plans, highlighting the existing commerce and fundraising activities on the decentralized social network. \"People are already selling things, raising funds effectively, and supporting one another on the platform,\" remarked Schneider. \"Our goal is to make that process simpler, and we intend to achieve this by enabling monetary support for content and services you appreciate on the network, ensuring compatibility across all applications within the network.\" Prior to joining Bluesky in March, Schneider served as CEO of Automattic. He expressed surprise at the reaction to his appointment, with some users speculating that it signaled the end for the platform. However, Schneider emphasized that user departures due to feature changes or personal preferences would keep the leadership team accountable as they prepare to introduce monetization. While acknowledging that advertising is not the sole viable business model for a social network, Wang argued that it shouldn't be the only option. \"The idea that advertising is the inevitable thing we have to adopt that will tarnish the network was not appealing to us at all,\" Wang stated. \"Tony's background at Automattic, a $10 billion business with a significant portion returned to the parent company and others to the ecosystem, was a testament to this perspective.\" As a Public Benefit Corporation (PBC), Bluesky is committed to its mission through its business strategy. \"We need to make money, but due to our infrastructure, we cannot confine users,\" Wang explained. \"Our focus is on the individuals creating value on the network who ultimately benefit from the revenue generated.\" Bluesky aims to empower users by granting them ownership of their digital identities and network control, fostering an open internet where value and revenue flow directly to those who generate them. \"Our initial focus will be on payments,\" Wang concluded. \"However, we are fundamentally altering the infrastructure layer, not simply launching another application.\"",
  "summary": "The executives argued that advertising isn’t the only path to monetization, and that there are alternative models that are feasible when it comes to monetization.",
  "key_points": [
    "Bluesky plans to launch payment features soon, aiming to generate revenue without ads.",
    "CEO Toni Schneider and COO Rose Wang unveiled plans at TechCrunch Disrupt.",
    "Focus on simplifying monetization, enabling users to support content and services on the network."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}