Hydro Utilizes Sui Blockchain to Reward Publishers for Engagement Over Clicks

Hydro is revolutionizing the digital publishing landscape by leveraging Sui blockchain technology to reward publishers based on user engagement rather than ad clicks, according to The Sui Blog. This innovative approach aims to create a more sustainable and user-friendly revenue model for Web2 publishers.

Hydro's New Monetization Model

Hydro, initially known as the Gather Network, transitioned to the Sui blockchain in March 2024. This move enabled the company to streamline its vision and offer a new way for publishers to monetize their digital content. Unlike traditional ad-based models, Hydro generates income based on the amount of time users spend on content, rather than the number of clicks.

“We’re committed to transforming the internet by aligning the interests of content creators, consumers, and publishers,” said Raghav Reggie Jerath, founder and CEO of Hydro. “We’re creating a new economic engine for the Internet.”

Technological Backbone

Hydro employs various Sui technologies, including Move contracts, zkLogin, and multisig, to facilitate a seamless experience for publishers and consumers. Initially, Hydro paid publishers in the USDT stablecoin but plans to mint its own token soon.

Move contracts and smart contracts manage Hydro tokens, ensuring the ecosystem's stability. The platform uses zkLogin to simplify onboarding for non-technical Web2 users, allowing them to create accounts easily without the complexities of traditional Web3 setups. Additionally, multi-signature (multi-sig) technology governs Hydro-owned smart contracts.

Publisher Benefits

Hydro offers publishers an alternative revenue stream by monetizing the time users spend on their content. This model eliminates the need for intrusive ads or subscription-based paywalls. “Publishers earn more as their audience enjoys a richer, uncluttered online experience,” noted Jerath.

Hydro provides three tiers for publishers: Hydro Online, Hydro Plus, and Hydro Pro. The Hydro Online tier is free and easy to sign up for, while the Plus and Pro tiers require more active participation, including purchasing nodes and increasing ownership stakes.

Upon signing up, publishers receive a unique code to integrate within their platform, enabling proof-of-time tracking similar to standard remarketing pixel implementations but without personal data collection.

Consumer Experience

For consumers, Hydro promises more compelling content and an improved user experience. Publishers can also participate in Hydro’s community loyalty programs, sharing part of their rewards with their audience to build customer loyalty.

Jerath mentioned a significant surge in publishers signing up through Hydro's dashboard, spanning various web properties from educational platforms to video streaming services and blogs. These publishers come from diverse regions, including Southeast Asia, the United States, and Europe.

Future Prospects

Hydro’s model could shift the focus of online publishing from quantity to quality, opening valuable revenue streams for publishers who have struggled with traditional ad-based models. This includes publishers serving audiences with low purchasing power, those facing high ad-blocker usage rates, or those providing NSFW content that mainstream advertisers avoid.

Hydro aims to create a circular token economy to drive value. As more publishers join at higher tier levels, they purchase nodes that validate transactions on Sui. Over time, this dynamic will increase token demand and scarcity, boosting the value of Hydro tokens and potential revenue for publishers.

“We chose to work with Sui because its technical capabilities and features make it possible for us to translate our vision for the Hydro platform into a viable product,” said Jerath.

Hydro’s innovative use of Sui technology is set to grow its network of publishers, offering a better ad-free experience for consumers and providing a lifeline to content creators.