Why We're Building Recurring Payments Differently

This article is Part 1 of our “Building Recurring Payments in Public” series.

Part 1: Why We’re Building Recurring Payments Differently

Part 2: The Rules of Recurring Payments. Every Constraint Has a Story

Part 3: Scenarios That Shape Our System

Part 4: Locked Open. Why Anyone Can Be a Broker

Most recurring payment platforms want control. They choose the subscription tiers, set the rules, and act as the only go-between for creators and their fans.

We believe fans and creators should have control. Our platform helps them build a direct relationship.

With ATProtoFans, we want creators and fans to shape their own partnerships. We built our recurring payments system to support this idea. In the next posts, we’ll explain the challenges, real-life examples, and design choices behind our approach.

The Problem with Platforms

One thing people don’t say enough is that platforms are walled gardens meant to keep you in.

Consider what happens when you use a traditional platform to connect with supporters. The creator can only set up the tiers the platform allows. Fans choose from options the platform defines. The details of the deal are hidden in a database, only visible to the platform.

The platform controls your username. Your supporters are stored in their database. Your supporter list is locked in their system, and you can only export it if they let you. Sometimes, you can’t export it at all.

Platforms want to keep creators and fans apart. Your data is valuable to them. The more you depend on the platform, the harder it is to leave.

If the platform changes its rules, increases fees, or shuts down, the creator-fan relationship suffers. It was never really theirs to control.

Our Approach — A Partnership, Not a Platform

We believe that creators and fans should be in charge and work together.

Creators set the terms. They choose what to offer, including the amount, currency, and billing schedule. They can create the offers that they want, like $5 per month for casual supporters, $20 per month for dedicated fans, or $50 per month billed yearly for those who want to pay up front.

Fans pick what works for them. When a fan supports a creator, they agree to the creator’s terms, not ours. They choose the offer that fits their budget, and they know the deal won’t change because the terms are locked in when they agree.

Both sides own their data. The fan and the creator each control their own records. The fan’s supporter record belongs to them. Each person holds part of the proof, so anyone can check the agreement, similar to how a notarized document works.

Here’s how this works in real life.

Flexible amounts: Creators can set support levels anywhere from $5 to $250 per month.

Anniversary billing: Fans are charged on the day they sign up, not on a random batch date.

Billing frequency options: Monthly, quarterly, semi-annual, or annual. Creators set the options, and fans choose what works for them.

Independent relationships: If a fan supports three creators, each relationship is separate. If one payment fails, the others keep going.

This approach puts creators and fans in charge of their deals. We provide the tools to make everything verifiable.

Transparency Through Ownership

Here is where ATProtoFans differs from everything else: We use ATProtocol, the same open network that powers Bluesky. This architectural choice makes the partnership actually work.

When a fan supports a creator, the data does not live in our database.

The fan’s supporter record lives in the fan’s ATProtocol account.

The creator’s proof record lives in the creator’s ATProtocol account.

The terms they agreed to are referenced by both, locked by content hash

The creator cannot quietly change the price after the fact. The hash would not match. The fan gets real proof, not just a receipt. Any app that speaks ATProtocol can read these records. We are not the source of truth. The records themselves are the source of truth.

How We Verify the Partnership

When a fan supports a creator, we create a verification chain involving three parties:

The Supporter Record lives in the fan’s repository. It’s their declaration: “I support this creator, under these terms.”

The Supporter Proof lives in the creator’s repository. It’s the creator’s attestation: “This fan supports me, and here’s the cryptographic proof.”

The Broker Proof lives in our repository. It’s ATProtoFans attesting: “We facilitated this transaction, and we can verify it’s legitimate.”

There are three parties, three repositories, and one verifiable truth that no one controls alone.

The key addition for recurring payments is Terms Records.

These are the contracts that creators define, and fans agree to by subscribing. This structure means disputes become straightforward. Look at the terms record, check the attestations, and verify the proofs. Everything is visible to both parties.

We’ll go deeper into terms records and the attestation system in Part 2.

Why This Matters

For creators, you set the terms and see who supports you. These are real people, not just transaction IDs. Your supporter list is yours, and no platform can change your deals.

For fans, you know exactly what you’re agreeing to, and the terms can’t change after you subscribe. Your proof of support remains tied to your identity.

For the relationship, both sides trust the arrangement directly. Any changes need a new agreement, and every update is clear to both parties.

For the ecosystem, we’re building payment tools that any ATProtocol app can check. The more services that can read these proofs, the more useful they are.

There’s another reason this approach is important. If we, as the broker, ever fail to deliver great service, someone else can step in and do it better. The system is locked open, and we hope to see a competitive landscape of brokers and facilitators that share our values. This means we’re always held accountable to creators and fans. If we don’t serve you well, someone else will, and that’s a good thing. It keeps everyone honest, drives better service, and ensures creators and fans always have real choice.

What’s Next

This post shares our vision. Over the next few weeks, we will share the details.

Part 2 covers the rules and constraints.

Part 3 will show real scenarios to explain how the system works in practice.

Part 4 will explain the “locked open” design and why anyone can become a broker.

We’re building this in public because we believe design choices are just as important as features. If you have questions or want to learn more, let us know.

Creator support means creators and fans make their own deals, using tools that keep both sides honest.