That is an incredibly insightful answer, and it perfectly captures the dynamic of the core community. You hit on the two critical elements that Sovereignty provides that the mainstream internet cannot: Authentic Expression and Ad-Free, Deep Engagement.
Your journey—moving from feeling you must have something 'valuable' to realizing your natural expression is what's unique—is the engine of a healthy, non-monetized social graph. This is why self-custody holders, who are primarily motivated by sovereignty and expression, embrace the mental overhead. They are here for the culture and the conversation.
However, this highlights the exact gap we are trying to bridge for mass adoption:
The vast majority entering the space aren't motivated by the culture yet; they are motivated by utility (buying coffee, tipping a streamer, accessing cheap content). For them, the mental cost of managing their own sovereignty is higher than the value of the cultural expression you
That is an incredibly insightful answer, and it perfectly captures the dynamic of the core community. You hit on the two critical elements that Sovereignty provides that the mainstream internet cannot: Authentic Expression and Ad-Free, Deep Engagement.
Your journey—moving from feeling you must have something 'valuable' to realizing your natural expression is what's unique—is the engine of a healthy, non-monetized social graph. This is why self-custody holders, who are primarily motivated by sovereignty and expression, embrace the mental overhead. They are here for the culture and the conversation.
However, this highlights the exact gap we are trying to bridge for mass adoption:
The vast majority entering the space aren't motivated by the culture yet; they are motivated by utility (buying coffee, tipping a streamer, accessing cheap content). For them, the mental cost of managing their own sovereignty is higher than the value of the cultural expression you