Portrait is now free for everyone

Today, we are removing the ten-dollar registration fee. Portrait is now open to everyone, at no cost.

When we introduced the fee, it served a clear purpose: protecting the network from bots and sybil attacks during the early, chaotic years of crypto. The space has matured, our defenses have improved, and we’re ready to open the doors.

Disclaimer: A Portrait has never been, and will never be, something you register for financial gain. It is not a ticket, a claim, or an investment. It is simply your place on the internet.

For those who were early supporters

Those who joined early and paid the fee keep everything they already have: their name, their identity, their place in Portrait’s history. We want to acknowledge the people who helped carry Portrait through its earliest stages.

Changes ahead

This change comes with a few updates. Portrait Plus will expand with new benefits. And because free registration removes an important filter, only Plus members will be able to participate in Discord chat going forward. New free accounts can read, but not post. Anyone who created their Portrait before today keeps full access.

Making Portrait sustainable

Decentralized social is difficult by nature. The economics work against you, and yet the entire value of a network comes from the people who use it. Traditional social platforms are free for a reason. Charging at the door creates friction that holds decentralized networks back. It was time to remove it.

To sustain Portrait in the long term, we need a business model that aligns with users. The most realistic and healthy path is mindful, privacy-focused ads. Portrait Plus members will never see ads. For everyone else, ads should be ethical, minimal, and never invasive. Running Portrait is expensive, but it should not come at the cost of user trust.

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Stay informed and engaged by visiting portrait.so, following updates on X, or joining our vibrant Discord community.

Thank you for your continued support.