402x Communities

Economics Over Moderation

Charge small fees to join your community - reducing spam and rewarding engagement.

Turns chats into sustainable, high-signal spaces.

The Problem with Free Communities

Every community manager knows the struggle:

Spam and Low-Effort Content: Free entry means no cost to spam
Unsustainable Moderation: Volunteer moderators burn out
No Revenue Model: Communities can't sustain themselves
Signal vs. Noise: Valuable discussions get buried

The Community Paradox

The more successful your community becomes, the harder it is to maintain quality. Growth brings spam, trolls, and noise - until the original members leave.

How 402x Communities Work

Add economic incentives to your community.

Entry Fees

Charge a small fee to join - instantly filters spam:

javascript

community.setEntryFee(5.00); // $5 to join

Message Fees (Optional)

Charge per message to prevent spam:

javascript

channel.setMessageFee(0.01); // $0.01 per message

Reward Active Contributors

Share revenue with valuable members:

javascript

community.distributeRevenue({
  moderators: 0.30, // 30% to moderators
  topContributors: 0.50, // 50% to top contributors
  treasury: 0.20 // 20% to community fund
});

Key Features

💎 Quality Through Economics

Spam Becomes Expensive A spammer posting 100 messages at $0.01 each = $1.00. Not worth it.

Serious Members Only $5 entry fee filters out trolls and time-wasters.

Skin in the Game When members pay to participate, they're invested in community success.

💰 Sustainable Revenue

Predictable Income

Entry fees provide upfront revenue
Message fees create ongoing income
Community stays financially healthy

No Ads, No Sponsorships Keep your community independent and focused.

🎯 Tiered Access

Free Preview Public channels anyone can read (but not post in).

Paid Membership $5/month for full access and posting rights.

Premium Tier $20/month for exclusive channels and direct access to experts.

Communities

Charge small fees to join your community - reducing spam and rewarding engagement.

What You'll Build

Free: Read documentation, browse archives
Member ($10): Ask questions, participate in discussions
Pro ($50): Office hours with core team, early feature access

🏆 Engagement Rewards

Earn Through Contribution Top contributors earn a share of community revenue:

javascript

const rewards = community.calculateRewards({
  basedOn: ['upvotes', 'helpfulReplies', 'timeSpent'],
  period: 'monthly'
});

// Example rewards:
// Alice: 150 helpful replies → $45
// Bob: 200 upvotes → $30
// Carol: 50 hours moderation → $75

Reputation = Income The most valuable members earn money from their expertise.

🔐 Privacy & Control

Self-Custodial Members control their own wallets and funds.

No Platform Lock-In Export your community to any 402x-compatible platform.

Transparent Economics All fees and revenue distribution are public and verifiable.

Use Cases

Developer Communities

Premium Support Forums

Free: Read documentation
$10/month: Ask questions, get support
$50/month: Priority support, office hours

Example: Open Source Project

javascript

{
  entryFee: 10.00,
  messageChannels: {
    '#general': 0.00, // Free discussion
    '#help': 0.10,    // Pay for help (goes to helpers)
    '#priority': 0.50 // Guaranteed response in 1 hour
  }
}

Revenue goes to core maintainers, funding development.

Professional Networks

Industry Groups $25 entry fee ensures serious professionals only.

Mastermind Groups $100/month for exclusive access to high-level discussions.

Expert Q&A Pay $5 per question to get answers from verified experts.

Real Example: Marketing Professionals

A marketing community charges $20/month:

500 members × $20 = $10,000/month
Moderators earn $2,000
Top contributors earn $3,000
Platform costs $500
Remaining $4,500 funds events, tools, and growth

Creator Fan Clubs

Discord Alternative Instead of Patreon + Discord, combine them:

javascript

{
  tiers: {
    supporter: { fee: 5, channels: ['#supporters', '#general'] },
    superfan: { fee: 20, channels: ['#all', '#exclusive'] },
    vip: { fee: 100, channels: ['#all', '#vip-only', '#direct-access'] }
  }
}

Fans pay to join, creators earn directly.

Exclusive Learning Communities

Cohort-Based Courses Charge for access to learning community:

Entry fee: $200
Duration: 8 weeks
Includes: Live sessions, Q&A, peer feedback

Study Groups Students pay $10 to join focused study sessions.

Trading & Investment Groups

Signal Groups $50/month for trading signals and market analysis.

Alpha Groups Pay for access to research and investment ideas.

Risk Mitigation Entry fees reduce pump-and-dump schemes and bad actors.

Local & Special Interest Groups

Neighborhood Groups Small fee ensures only actual residents join.

Hobby Communities Photography, woodworking, gardening enthusiasts pay to join focused groups.

Event Coordination Charge for RSVPs to events, automatically collect payment.

Economic Models

1. Entry Fee Only

Simple & Effective

javascript

{
  entryFee: 10.00,
  messageFees: 0.00
}

Best for:

Professional networks
Long-form discussion communities
Educational groups

2. Message Fees

Pay Per Post

javascript

{
  entryFee: 0.00,
  messageFee: 0.01 // $0.01 per message
}

Best for:

High-traffic communities
Support forums
Q&A platforms

3. Hybrid Model

Entry + Message Fees

javascript

{
  entryFee: 5.00,
  messageFee: 0.005
}

Best for:

Large communities
Communities with mixed purposes

4. Tiered Membership

Multiple Access Levels

javascript

{
  tiers: {
    basic: { entryFee: 5, channels: ['general'] },
    premium: { entryFee: 20, channels: ['general', 'premium'] },
    vip: { entryFee: 100, channels: ['all'], perks: ['direct-access'] }
  }
}

Best for:

Creator communities
Professional organizations
Learning platforms

Community-Owned

javascript

{
  entryFee: 10.00,
  revenueDistribution: {
    moderators: 0.20,
    contributors: 0.50,
    treasury: 0.20,
    platform: 0.10
  }
}

Best for:

Co-ops and DAOs
Member-owned communities
Open source projects

Implementation

Discord Integration

javascript

// Add 402x bot to your Discord server
!402x setup

// Set entry fee
!402x entry-fee 5.00

// Set channel fees
!402x channel #premium --fee 0.10

// Configure rewards
!402x rewards --top-contributors 10 --amount 100

Telegram Integration

javascript

// Add @402x_bot to your Telegram group
/402x_setup

// Set group entry fee
/set_entry_fee 10.00

// Enable message fees
/set_message_fee 0.01

Slack Integration

javascript

// Install 402x Slack app
/402x configure

// Workspace settings
/402x entry-fee 20.00
/402x channel #premium --fee 0.50

Custom Platform

javascript

import { x402Community } from '402x-communities';

const community = new x402Community({
  name: 'My Community',
  entryFee: 10.00,
  channels: [
    { name: 'general', fee: 0.00 },
    { name: 'premium', fee: 0.10 }
  ]
});

// Verify user payment
app.post('/join', async (req, res) => {
  const verified = await community.verifyPayment(req.body.payment);
  
  if (verified) {
    await addUserToCommunity(req.body.userId);
    res.json({ success: true });
  }
});

Case Studies

Case Study 1: Developer Support Forum

Before 402x:

Free forum
10,000 members
50% spam
3 volunteer moderators (burned out)
No revenue

After 402x:

$10 entry fee
2,000 paying members ($20,000 revenue)
<1% spam
3 paid moderators ($5,000/month total)
High-quality discussions
Sustainable and growing

Result: Smaller community, but 10× better quality and financially sustainable.

Case Study 2: Crypto Alpha Group

Setup:

Entry fee: $100/month
500 members
Revenue: $50,000/month

Distribution:

Analysts & researchers: $30,000 (60%)
Community treasury: $10,000 (20%)
Operations: $10,000 (20%)

Result: Top analysts earn $3,000-$5,000/month sharing research. Community is self-sustaining.

Case Study 3: Local Parent Group

Setup:

$5 one-time entry fee
200 local parents
Revenue: $1,000 total

Use of Funds:

Yearly picnic: $400
Community babysitter fund: $400
Emergency fund: $200

Result: Small fee filters out random people. Only serious parents join. High trust, high engagement.

Moderation Tools

Automated Quality Control

Reputation Gating Only members with reputation >50 can post in #premium:

javascript

{
  channel: 'premium',
  requirements: {
    reputation: 50,
    memberDays: 30
  }
}

Slow Mode with Economics Limit message frequency to prevent spam:

javascript

{
  channel: 'general',
  slowMode: {
    interval: 60, // 1 message per minute
    bypassFee: 0.10 // or pay $0.10 to skip cooldown
  }
}

Refund & Ban Policies

Refund Policy

javascript

{
  refundWindow: 7 * 24 * 60 * 60, // 7 days
  refundAmount: 0.80 // 80% refund if leaving early
}

Ban with Forfeiture Banned users forfeit their entry fee:

javascript

community.ban(userId, {
  reason: 'Spam',
  forfeitFee: true // Fee goes to community treasury
});

Economics vs. Traditional Moderation

Approach	Traditional Moderation	402x Economic Moderation
Spam Prevention	Manual review & bans	Economic disincentive
Quality Control	Volunteer effort	Self-selecting membership
Moderator Burnout	High (unpaid work)	Low (paid position)
Revenue Model	Ads or donations	Sustainable fees
Scalability	Difficult	Easy
Member Investment	Zero	Financial stake

Economics ≠ Replacement

Economic incentives complement traditional moderation, not replace it. The best communities use both.

Best Practices

Set the Right Price

Too Low → Doesn't filter spam
Too High → Limits growth
Just Right → Attracts serious members, filters noise

Test and Adjust:

javascript

// A/B test entry fees
community.testPricing({
  variants: [5.00, 10.00, 20.00],
  duration: 30 // days
});

Transparent Revenue

Show members where money goes:

javascript

community.publishFinancials({
  monthly: true,
  breakdown: true
});

Example Report:

Revenue: $10,000
Moderators: $3,000
Top contributors: $4,000
Community events: $2,000
Platform fees: $200
Treasury: $800

Reward Value, Not Volume

Don't just reward posting frequency - reward quality:

javascript

{
  rewardMetrics: {
    upvotes: 10, // 10 points per upvote
    replies: 2,  // 2 points per reply
    posts: 1,    // 1 point per post
    reported: -50 // -50 points if reported
  }
}

Offer Free Trial

Let people experience the community before paying:

javascript

{
  trialPeriod: 7, // days
  trialChannels: ['general', 'introductions'],
  fullAccessAfterPayment: true
}

FAQ

Won't fees prevent good people from joining?

Small fees ($5-10) filter spam without excluding genuine members. Offer scholarships for those who can't afford it.

How do I handle refunds?

Set a clear refund policy (e.g., 7-day money-back). 402x handles this automatically.

Can members pay with credit cards?

Yes, 402x supports crypto and fiat on-ramps for easier access.

What if my community is currently free?

Grandfather in existing members, charge new members only. Or give existing members credit equal to the entry fee.

Is this just a paywall?

Q: Isn't charging to join just a paywall?

No - it's economic design. The goal is quality and sustainability, not maximizing revenue.

Q: What if someone can't afford to join?

Getting Started

1. Add 402x to Your Platform

Discord:

!402x setup

Telegram:

/402x_setup

Slack:

/402x configure

2. Set Your Entry Fee

Start low ($5-10) and adjust based on results.

3. Configure Channels

Decide which channels are free vs. paid.

4. Announce to Members

Be transparent about why you're adding fees and how revenue will be used.

5. Monitor & Adjust

Track spam rates, member satisfaction, and engagement.

Next Steps

Add 402x to your community → Get Started
See live examples → Community Directory
Join our community → Discord

Explore More Use Cases

402x Paywalls: Monetize content
402x Tasks: Task marketplace
402x Research: Fair access to papers

402x Communities ​

Economics Over Moderation ​

The Problem with Free Communities ​

How 402x Communities Work ​

Entry Fees ​

Message Fees (Optional) ​

Reward Active Contributors ​

Key Features ​

💎 Quality Through Economics ​

💰 Sustainable Revenue ​

🎯 Tiered Access ​

Communities ​

🏆 Engagement Rewards ​

🔐 Privacy & Control ​

Use Cases ​

Developer Communities ​

Professional Networks ​

Creator Fan Clubs ​

Exclusive Learning Communities ​

Trading & Investment Groups ​

Local & Special Interest Groups ​

Economic Models ​

1. Entry Fee Only ​

2. Message Fees ​

3. Hybrid Model ​

4. Tiered Membership ​

5. Revenue Sharing ​

Implementation ​

Discord Integration ​

Telegram Integration ​

Slack Integration ​

Custom Platform ​

Case Studies ​

Case Study 1: Developer Support Forum ​

Case Study 2: Crypto Alpha Group ​

Case Study 3: Local Parent Group ​

Moderation Tools ​

Automated Quality Control ​

Refund & Ban Policies ​

Economics vs. Traditional Moderation ​

Best Practices ​

Set the Right Price ​

Transparent Revenue ​

Reward Value, Not Volume ​

Offer Free Trial ​

FAQ ​

Getting Started ​

1. Add 402x to Your Platform ​

2. Set Your Entry Fee ​

3. Configure Channels ​

4. Announce to Members ​

5. Monitor & Adjust ​

Next Steps ​

402x Communities

Economics Over Moderation

The Problem with Free Communities

How 402x Communities Work

Entry Fees

Message Fees (Optional)

Reward Active Contributors

Key Features

💎 Quality Through Economics

💰 Sustainable Revenue

🎯 Tiered Access

Communities

🏆 Engagement Rewards

🔐 Privacy & Control

Use Cases

Developer Communities

Professional Networks

Creator Fan Clubs

Exclusive Learning Communities

Trading & Investment Groups

Local & Special Interest Groups

Economic Models

1. Entry Fee Only

2. Message Fees

3. Hybrid Model

4. Tiered Membership

5. Revenue Sharing

Implementation

Discord Integration

Telegram Integration

Slack Integration

Custom Platform

Case Studies

Case Study 1: Developer Support Forum

Case Study 2: Crypto Alpha Group

Case Study 3: Local Parent Group

Moderation Tools

Automated Quality Control

Refund & Ban Policies

Economics vs. Traditional Moderation

Best Practices

Set the Right Price

Transparent Revenue

Reward Value, Not Volume

Offer Free Trial

FAQ

Getting Started

1. Add 402x to Your Platform

2. Set Your Entry Fee

3. Configure Channels

4. Announce to Members

5. Monitor & Adjust

Next Steps