• Private. Peer 2 Peer. No Intermediaries.
• Support Creators. Raise Money. Build Community.
• Free to Speak. Free to Earn. Free2Z.
• ???

tl; dr - This is a post about the history, evolution and future of Free2Z. We are excited about a new focus that is in the proving stage - Free2Z B2B. We don't need to compete with YouTube, Tiktok, Twitter, Twitch, Medium, Substack, or Zoom to make an economic impact and change the course of history. We can focus on getting our creators paid with real business opportunities. Fast forward to the end of the post to get an idea about what we have in mind for the near future. We're still looking for the perfect tagline for this next phase! Send us the perfect tagline and we'll send you some Zcash!

Introduction

March 2022 marked the beginning of Free2Z's mission to redefine online empowerment by embracing the challenges and opportunities of using Zcash. The journey has taught us resilience. We adapted and learned. Our focus has evolved as new information has emerged. We've seen how Zcash can be more than a tool; it can be a lifeline for those in need and can play an important role in real commerce.

Now, we're at a turning point. Our experiences have led us to an obvious opportunity. We're harnessing what we've learned to make a real difference, getting Zcash circulating in a way that matters.

This is the story of Free2Z. It's about adaptability, persistence, and the pursuit of a vision rooted in principle.

March 2022 - The Privacy-Focused Challenger

"Private. Peer-to-peer. No intermediaries."

Free2Z started in March 2022, with a mission to innovate in online fundraising by embracing privacy and decentralization. Our strategy was anchored in the use of Zcash as a key tool in offering a privacy-focused alternative to conventional platforms. The venture began with momentum, bolstered by the Zcash Foundation's grant approval in May 2022.

Facing a Critical Challenge: The "Sandblasting" Attack

Our commitment to Zcash was met with a significant and unforeseen hurdle. The "sandblasting" attack, starting in June 2022 (and not ending until November 2023), severely disrupted Zcash's functionality. This wasn't a mere setback; it was a crisis that brought into question the wisdom of our reliance on Zcash. ZEC Wallet Light, our favorite wallet, the featured, recommended wallet on z.cash, quit working and was abandoned. Thanks to Hanh's efforts with Ywallet and ECC's improvements to zcashd, Zcash remained usable by experts. But, online support venues were clogged with users who had funds stranded. Rescans could take days. Many people were livid. We were in a difficult position. We were tasked with marketing Zcash and we could not in good faith tell people to try Zcash, much less make a full-throated pitch for them to buy Zcash and rely on it in their daily lives. We decided to keep building with a "wait-and-see" approach to Zcash. We were confident that a solution would be found eventually.

Key Learning and Moving Forward

Our path with Zcash has been a test of resilience. The experience has taught us the importance of adaptability in the face of technological challenges. Our commitment to Zcash endures, bolstered by recent improvements. We now see a clear way forward, leveraging Zcash as a viable digital currency for its privacy, low fees, global liquidity, and improving UX.

ZCON3 talk:

Adapting to Challenges and Building Community

"Support Creators. Raise Money. Build Community."

Our initial strategy, focused solely on Zcash, hit a roadblock with the "sandblasting" attack. We were planning on more onchain features like our Polls and Goals using viewing keys. The sandblast challenge led us to a strategic shift, focusing on what we could control – our platform and its features.

Addressing User Base and Wallet Issues

The sandblasting crisis highlighted a crucial issue: a limited user base. GoFundMe doesn't work if there are only a thousand potential donors. We shifted our focus from a narrow Zcash-centric approach to a broader, more inclusive model, providing value to our users while waiting for Zcash to heal and renew its growth.

Building Community Features

We focused on enhancing the user experience on Free2Z. Initially we thought that anonymous users making standalone pages would be the preferred paradigm; but, people quickly wanted to add profiles and avatars and traditional social media features. We made user profiles. We added series to zpages. We rolled out threaded comments. We added subscriptions. We added an event stream so people would know what their friends were doing. We introduced livestreaming. We added media uploads with access management. Alongside social features, we integrated AI enhancements, adding some fun technology to make our platform not just a fundraising site, but a unique place for social interaction.

This phase of our journey was about flexibility, experimentation, and response to user feedback. It was about building and supporting our community. We learned to listen to our users and adapt, focusing on creating a space for creators, whether Zcashers or not.

ZCON4 Workshop:

ZCON4 Talk:

Focusing on Monetization

"Free to Speak. Free to Earn. Free2Z."

This current phase of Free2Z has been about tackling the ad-driven revenue model head-on. Our tagline, "Free to Speak. Free to Earn. Free2Z," is our stand against the censorship and demonetization rampant on platforms like YouTube and Twitter. We want to offer something they can't: a space free of ads, where creators can speak their minds and earn.

Monetization in Action

The 2Z tokens are a part of our ecosystem, but we're in the midst of making them more than just internal credits. The goal is to enable top creators to monetize. The concept is straightforward, but the execution is complex. We have recently worked through legal and compliance roadblocks, including AML and KYC policies, sanctions screening, and terms. We have a continuous compliance mindset and will be evolving our processes with the regulatory environment.

Facing Reality

We're learning a tough lesson in real-time: changing entrenched user habits is challenging to say the least. Drawing users away from established giants is a steep uphill battle. The good news is that we don't need to compete with big consumer-facing platforms. This realization is shaping our next move.

Evolving Focus

While we're still carving out the specifics of monetization, the focus is clear – finding practical, compliant ways to reward creators. This period highlights our commitment to free speech and to tackling the complex realities of monetization. These steps have set the stage for what comes next: real work, real clients, and real revenue.

The Present and Future: 2024 - Business to Business (B2B) Approach

"Free2Z B2B."

As we enter 2024, Free2Z is taking a pragmatic turn. We've realized that our strength doesn't lie in competing with tech giants with consumer-facing social media apps; instead, our greatest asset is our small but talented creator community. Our initial test - pairing one client with one creator - has been a success. This pattern has the potential to scale to many projects.

Finding Our Market Niche

The addition of a B2B model stems from a straightforward concept: businesses get quality work, creators get paid well. The legal foundations that Free2Z has laid will streamline what would otherwise be a complex international transaction. By handling the intricate legal and tax compliance for U.S. businesses, we make it painless for them to engage with global talent. For creators, receiving payment in Zcash is not only convenient but also practical, bypassing the traditional barriers of international finance. Free2Z stands at this unique intersection, simplifying transactions, ensuring compliance, and opening up a world of opportunities for both parties.

Real Business, Real Impact

The goal for 2024 is to send $1,000,000 in Zcash to our most valued creators. This isn't about charity; it's about creating real business value. Our focus is on finding the right clients, matching them with the right talent, and offering solid support to both parties. Our initial proof-of-concept has been extremely encouraging, demonstrating that this approach can work.

Grounded Optimism

While we're still in the early stages of this new direction, the signs are promising. This is Free2Z's next move – a step towards becoming a community that not only supports free speech and creativity but also fosters real economic opportunities.

Tell us your great client-facing taglines! One thought is "Your Scalable Digital Team," the idea being that we can get the client setup with a good architecture, process, and direction, and then they can engage with the team as much or as little as they need. Clients could spend $100 one month, $10,000 the next, and then scale back down. Tell us your thoughts in the comments!

Conclusion

The journey of Free2Z has been one of continuous learning and adaptation. From our early days focusing on anonymous fundraising with Zcash, through the challenges of the "sandblasting" attack, to our quixotic quest to beat the most entrenched social media platforms, to our current pivot towards a B2B model, we've remained steadfast in our mission. Each phase has taught us invaluable lessons about the needs of our users, the complexities of the digital world, and the potential for innovative solutions. Now, as we embrace our role in connecting businesses with digital creators, we see a future brimming with possibilities. Free2Z is not just a platform; it's a community of creators, innovators, thinkers and doers.

We invite you to join us on this journey. Whether you're a creator looking for new opportunities, a business seeking digital services, or someone passionate about the fusion of technology, creativity, and commerce, Free2Z has something for you.