Hey there, crypto enthusiasts and meme coin lovers! If you’ve been keeping an eye on the latest buzz in the Web3 world, you’ve probably heard about the Base App, Coinbase’s shiny new “everything app” that’s shaking up how creators earn money. Recently, a thread on X sparked some serious conversation, led by creator Brooke Lacey and chimed in by @0xAneri and @jessepollak. Let’s break it down and see what this means for creators diving into this blockchain-powered social media experiment.

The Spark: Brooke Lacey’s Journey with Base App

Brooke Lacey, a content creator, jumped into the early access phase of Base App, a platform that lets users mint coins tied to their posts. Her first post earned her a surprising $0.52 tip just for saying “hello.” Fast forward, and after posting a “Women in Web3” video with only four followers, her wallet ballooned to a peak of $185. But here’s the twist—she only managed to cash out $65 before the value crashed as others sold off. This rollercoaster ride left her questioning the model’s sustainability.

In her update, Brooke shared her concerns: “If each post mints a coin, and my ‘earning’ depends on people continuing to trade it, that feels less like creator income and more like managing a mini-market.” She wondered if she’s accidentally launching micro meme coins every time she posts and whether this turns creators into reluctant token traders rather than rewarded artists.

How Base App’s Creator Earnings Work

@0xAneri stepped in with a clear explanation. When you post on Base App, two earning streams kick in:

• Creator Earnings from Trading: Every time your coin is bought or sold, you earn a small fee (paid in wETH or soon USDC) that goes straight to your wallet. Think of it like a tip jar that fills up with each trade.
• Your Coin Supply: You get 1% of the coin’s supply when it’s minted. If the coin gains traction and its value rises, that 1% could grow significantly. You can hold, sell, or send it as you see fit.

The catch? Brooke sold her coins to cash out, which @0xAneri advises against. Holding onto your share might pay off more if your posts go viral and trading volume spikes. It’s a bit like investing in your own meme coin, betting on your audience’s enthusiasm.

The Debate: Sustainable or Stressful?

Brooke’s experience highlights a key tension. The model relies on speculation—people buying and selling her coin—rather than direct support for her creativity. She noted, “They weren’t tipping me. They were flipping a coin with my name on it.” This has led to mixed reactions. Some, like @iamheci, hope it evolves into a system that rewards creativity directly, not just trading activity. Others, like @JonnaCampbel327, worry it turns creators into mini-market managers, a stressful gig for anyone just wanting to share content.

@jessepollak, a key figure behind Base App, acknowledged the feedback. He emphasized that the system is early and evolving, with improvements on the way. The goal is to create a sustainable model where holding coins long-term could outpace quick sell-offs, especially as the platform matures.

What This Means for Meme Coin Lovers

For those of us at Meme Insider, this thread is a goldmine. It shows how meme coin mechanics are creeping into social media, blending fun with finance. Each post becoming a potential token is a wild twist on the meme coin craze, where communities drive value (think Dogecoin or Shiba Inu). But it also raises questions: Are creators ready to be accidental token issuers? Can Base App balance speculation with genuine support?

The Road Ahead

The Base App team is listening, and that’s a good sign. With its roots in Coinbase’s ecosystem and support for USDC payments, it’s poised to grow. But for creators like Brooke, the key will be tweaking the model to reduce the pressure of managing mini-markets. Maybe future updates will introduce direct tipping or lock-in periods for coins to stabilize value.

What do you think? Is this the future of creator monetization, or just another speculative treadmill? Drop your thoughts in the comments, and stay tuned to Meme Insider for more updates on this evolving Web3 frontier!