Access Protocol (ACS Coin): A New Monetization Layer for Content Creators?

By now, we’re all familiar with Web 2.0, which not only feeds users with information from all sources but gives them the opportunity to create content as well. The only setback is that a centralized entity controls everything. But what if there were a decentralized protocol that offered digital media publications and content creators the ability to produce content and get paid based on their contributions? Introducing Access Protocol — a new model monetization layer for all digital content creators built on Solana and Starknet.

What Is Access Protocol?

In the Access Protocol ecosystem, the model monetization layer is radically different. Users can support their favorite content creators directly and receive benefits for their patronage. By integrating Access Protocol, creators can paywall and customize premium content on the Access content hub, where subscribers (ACS token stakers) can pay directly to the creators to access this content without an intermediary.

What Problems Is Access Protocol Trying to Solve?

Access Protocol solves many problems, but at the top of the list is content creators' reliance on ad revenue. Since Google, Facebook and Twitter control most of the online ad market, many content creators struggle to monetize their content, particularly for those who don’t meet the threshold requirements set by the intermediary.

This protocol is intended to foster closer relationships between digital content creators and their supporters, who can support their favorite artists directly instead of having a majority of their money routed through a go-between platform such as Facebook, Twitch, YouTube or TikTok.

Access Protocol also aims to eliminate wait times for content creators to start monetizing their creations. Take YouTube, for example. A creator who posts their content on YouTube needs at least 1,000 subscribers, and their videos need to have been watched by public members for at least 4,000 hours, in order to qualify for monetization. For many up-and-coming YouTubers, this can be a daunting challenge.

However, content creators integrating the Access Protocol can begin monetizing their work immediately. They’re also listed on a leaderboard that allows users to find them more easily without relying on algorithms, social media advertising or word of mouth to add new subscribers.

The system also benefits the fans, who can directly support their favorite artists and ensure those content creators are rewarded for their hard work. Most Twitch streamers only receive about 50% of the subscription fees that users pay for their channel. 

How Are ACS Tokens Used in the Protocol’s Ecosystem?

Users stake their ACS tokens into a content creator's "pool," giving the user access to new content. Adding more tokens into the pool can enable premium content determined by the creator. A creator has the freedom to enable premium content to customize exclusive content that can range from NFTs to event passes, similar to the subscription tiers offered by platforms such as Patreon.

Once tokens are placed into the locked pool, both the users and creators receive a daily allotment of ACS tokens proportional to their input, which users can either reinvest for the same creator, put into a different creator's pool, or hold (HODL) for a store of value. 

The process is quite simple. First, users can go to Bybit to trade for ACS into a Solana wallet. Then, they can connect the wallet that contains the coins directly to the app and introduce them into the ecosystem. 

Finally, in the official AP app, users can scroll down to see the names of content creators. Next to the icon, users will see two numbers: the quantity of ACS coins already pledged to the creator, and the minimum number of coins that users must pledge to receive content.

What Are the Benefits of Staking ACS Coins?

There are many benefits to staking ACS Coins, including those that have already been discussed, such as the ability to support creators directly and creators receiving a greater percentage of the money their work generates.

After coins are introduced into a creator's pool, both the staker and the creator receive a daily bonus of ACS tokens. Creators take these as profits and can use them to support their fellow content producers, hold onto them, or trade them. As mentioned, ACS token holders can also reinvest their daily incentives to the same content producer or another creator in the ecosystem or retain them as investments.

Another benefit for stakers is that supporting creators on a single ecosystem allows them to see what day their accounts will be charged for the month, instead of having to check their individual accounts on Patreon, Twitch, Substack, etc. They can simply open their app and see all their subscriptions on a single list.

ACS Tokenomics

ACS coins have been distributed as follows: Fifty-eight percent to creator and staker incentives, 15% to the Community Treasury (which has the power to issue grants as a further incentive for creators to begin integrating AP), 10% to the Access Labs Treasury, 7.5% each to employees and investors, and 2% to early airdrops, which have already begun.

Unlike other similar cryptos, there is no upper limit to the number of ACS tokens that will be minted. Doing so would create an unnecessary cap on the amount of money that content creators could receive. It’s projected that in five years, the number of available tokens will exceed 142 billion.

To avoid diluting the coin's value, the 2% transaction fee charged by the AP system is burned, which means it’s removed from circulation and then placed into its own pool (which is destroyed). This, in turn, both reduces and helps regulate the number of ACS tokens in circulation.

What Is ACS’s All-Time High?

On Feb 15, 2022, a few hours after its launch, ACS reached an all-time high of just over $0.025.

What Is ACS’s All-Time Low?

ACS' all-time low came a few hours after its debut, when many early adopters traded in their tokens. It reached a low of $0.0069. However, it immediately rebounded and reached its all-time high about five hours later.

Where to Buy ACS Coin

Investors can buy ACS coins on a DEX or CEX. The process is relatively straightforward, although it may differ from one exchange to another, but the basics are similar. 

For example: 

Uniswap (V3): You can go to the Uniswap protocol supported DEX to Swap/Trade ACS by connecting your wallet (MetaMask, Coinbase wallet, Trustwallet, WalletConnect). Once connected, you can choose the currency your want to trade and Uniswap will show you the respective dollar value in exchange that you'll receive. 

*Note: Make sure your wallet is connected to Uniswap and it displays your preferred network address (Ethereum or Solana). 

Bybit: Buying ACS on a CEX like Bybit is the easiest. All you need to do is sign up or log in to your Bybit account, deposit USDT, then navigate to the ACS/USDT trading pair on the Bybit Spot Trading page to get started. 

Is ACS Token a Good Investment?

It should be noted that investment in all cryptocurrencies, just as with the stock market or real estate, involves taking certain risks — and that no investment is ever guaranteed to turn a profit. However, as cryptocurrencies go, Access Protocol is considered an excellent investment opportunity because of its recent market debut and potential to skyrocket in price in the future.

The experts at Telegaon.com conservatively estimate the highest price that the ACS coin will reach $1 by 2029. However, they also state that that timeline could move up considerably after markets readjust, due to recent factors such as the FTX collapse, as well as issues that have plagued the crypto sector in recent months.

However, even if the price takes a long time to take off, it’s still a good investment because users will receive the content plus additional ACS coins. On other platforms, users receive the content — and nothing else.

The Bottom Line

Suppose the AP ecosystem is successful in accomplishing its mission. In that case, both content creators and their fans will receive many benefits, strengthening their relationship more than ever. Access Protocol users no longer need to worry about most of their money going to support billion-dollar platforms, and can enjoy the knowledge that they're directly helping out their favorite creators. Content creators will be able to monetize their craft more easily and develop a deeper connection with their fans. And that’s a win-win.