nostr:npub1upmh82f2vy9z3k3qwj8amx9lkkhkjjcv45y9yfyqzfj4jj5czz9qhsg8fq and I have been running a paid relay at nostr.com.au since nostr:npub1qqqqqqyz0la2jjl752yv8h7wgs3v098mh9nztd4nr6gynaef6uqqt0n47m first released payment gated relays at the start of 2023.

We focussed on a paid relay for #AUStriches to access #nostr and tried to make it a hub so new Aussie users could connect here.

We’re ~18 months in and just under breakeven. I set the fee at 6969 Sats from day dot and it hasn’t changed. ☯️ was my 69 Sat zap from when I joined so I just extrapolated that to the relay fee of ☯️☯️.

We fortunately targeted Aussies who are in the global scheme of things wealthy. They can pay a few dollarydoos to be on the main Aussie relay, get a @nostr.com.au NIP05 if they want, have a “local” relay and still connect to the world.

I operated relay.exchange for a while and gave up when the churn of relay operators became a burden. Most just spun up with no plan other than to chuck a fee on to their service and weeks later they saw costs blowout and shutdown and I couldn’t keep up with the changes.

Https://relay.nostr.com.au is a hobby. A community service for #AUStriches. We’re not making money. I pay the gap out of pocket when needed to keep the lights on even for those who want to earn an income here.

Completely understand content creators want to be paid but Corn can’t explain why he’s shitting on people who zap “low” amounts as if guilting them to fund creators will solve anything. Guilt hasnt funded the Aussie relay! My wallet has.

This network is tiny but has massive potential. We’ll keep going and subsidising til it doesn’t make sense.

69 Sats might not be much today but I hand it out multiple times daily to do my part keeping this thing going.

Sure would be nice if creatooors stopped bitching about their income so we could just enjoy their content whilst the people providing infrastructure are in the red.