[CommitSyn]

> what about paying a small fee OR having someone run a cryptocurrency proof of work check?

Musk: That is much harder than paying a small fee.

Cock.li, a hobbyist-run email/VPS provider, has implemented that exact thing for the ability to send emails (receiving is free). Took about 7 minutes on my laptop. My laptop sat there, did all the work, I paid nothing and became verified. I could even pause it and come back later.

It's clear this is about squeezing money out of every last user even if if means killing the platform.

[wkat4242]

I would so never do that. Cryptominers are basically malware in my book.

Anyway it's not the only way to stop the onslaught of bots. Not firing all your moderators goes a long way as well.

[CommitSyn]

It was all browser based and not a miner for a usable coin, just a proof of work mechanism.