Since the genesis of the internet, people have considered putting payments at its heart. The idea that every online action should incur a fee has its benefits, such as covering running costs (which avoids dodgy business models in the process), deterring excess web traffic that wastes energy, and remunerating those who add value to the information sphere. This vision however, has not become reality.
Throughout its history there have been many efforts to let payments flow natively on the web. Today numerous projects offer new payment forms, like micropayment platforms that allow users to support sites whilst they visit them. Micropayments usually involve very small sums (e.g. $0.10) and it’s extremely easy, sometimes automatic, to make them.
The potential of all this is exciting for anyone interested in how money makes the world wide web go round. We can imagine endless new ways to pay creators and participants in the digital realm, spurring a wealth of possibilities.
