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Important, a little disclaimer about Boosty
4 years ago
General
*DISCLAIMER*
This is NOT a "don't use it" post! This is just an information post to help people be informed going forward.
So as many Russians already know, but those who don't, VK (the company that owns the social media site, not just the social media site to be specific) is officially owned by the Russian (Kremlin) Government. (Legally or not, I think it's been proven anything pro-Kremlin is more-or-less controlled by the Kremlin at this point). And at this point any money going to them is bloody money. (That can assumed as making the elite richer, making more weapons, continuing the war, so on... Instead of helping the people)
Late last year, the previous CEO stepped down and a pro-Kremlin CEO was installed in his place:
https://www.ewdn.com/2021/12/03/rus.....rnet-group-vk/
https://www.reuters.com/article/rus.....-idUKL8N2SO3IY
VK has several child companies, one of them is My.com
According to Boosty's terms of service, Boosty belongs to My.com
https://boosty.to/app/offer/user
https://boosty.to/app/offer/payment-terms
And My.com is a child company of VK, I know Wikipedia isn't the most trusted source, but the references at the bottom are enough to justify it as proof of being true.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VK_(company)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/My.com
In fact, Some may remember the very old My.Games which came to the US in 2013, which is now also a child of My.com, which has a office in Moscow
https://my.games/contacts
Furthermore, if you google this address, you will get ALOT of other results, including VK and Mail.ru
Moscow, MY.GAMES, LLC 125167, Leningradsky prospekt 39, bld. 79
So now that it's been proven that Boosty is a Russian sponsored site, and because it's Russian owned it can't be easily blocked by Sanctions, but what does that mean for commissioners?
Well for starters, there's a 10% fee (this was 7% at the beginning of February), which would be going into the Kremlin's pockets, but there's also a further small fee depending on the payment method.
Furthermore, much like Patreon, is a subscription service, so it will be taxed as well. And just like anywhere, tax evasion is a serious crime, so be aware of this.
(in my own opinion, not fact): It would seem likely this percent will continue to rise as Russia's economy worsens.
https://boosty.to/app/offer/payment-terms
It would seem that sanctions have been evaded, but at a cost.
So, what options do you have?
I'm going to be clear right off the bat: in no shape or form do I EVER discourage paying artists. Remember that they're people, like you, and almost every single one of them are against not just Putin's war, but his rule in general. They're only using this service because they're not being left a choice by the rest of the world. Remember that for many of them, It's their Job, and without it they can't pay for necessities like food, water, and even a home.
I would suggest that, artists AND clients, work together to find a way to give them money without using Boosty if possible. I know of one artist who is using a Kazakhstan middle man as SWIFT still works between that country and Russia (I'm not sure I'm allowed to disclose who these are); more options like this if possible.
Or, if it can be explained that if the artist is in a very critical situation, then perhaps you can send him some money through Boosty, but only so that they have money for basic food and water.
Boosty needs to be a last resort, almost no one even knew about it before the war broke out, and everyone is only using it because they aren't being left any other visible options.
As I have said in previous posts, I consider all the Russian artists I've met to be Family to me (more than my own), I love them as a people. They're a kind, passionate, people who deserve far more than their country has given them. And right now, they need all the help we can give them.
Once again, I want to be clear: I am NOT saying to stop supporting Russian artists because a percent goes to the Kremlin, I am posting this asking people to cooperate with Russian artists for looking for other ways to pay them before choosing Boosty, and only choose Boosty if there are absolutely no other options!
If there's anything that I'm wrong about that can be proven, or any information that can provided that can help artists, any comments are welcome.
Haven't had to use it yet, but not knowing how long this conflict and sanctions will continue and having had sights on commissioning artists from Russia I might have to look at options in the future, but at least now I know Boosty should be avoided if possible.
Read theirs here: https://www.furaffinity.net/journal/10162088
Every Option To Pay Like Paypal Or MasterCard Got Stuck In A Forever Loading Screen~
But Everyone Else Says It Works For Them, For Me It Doesn't...
The Only One That I Even Remotely Been Able To Send Money Through Is BMAC~
That's Buy Me A Coffee, But I'm Unsure If Others Can Withdraw The Money After I Send It~
Hadn't tried using Boosty, no idea if it'd work for me yet
I Might Also Try Bank To Bank With My Mate...
I'll Keep Trying Ways Until I Find A Way That Works!
I see that you are NOT calling for the end of cooperation with Russian artists, but this may have a different effect.
I see how people just began to refuse commissions, because the payment is made using Boosty.
And, to be honest, I'm afraid that the words about blood money will sooner or later leave me without a job, food and the ability to pay for housing.
I want to say that an middle man is usually a risk for both sides.
Few people have real friends from Kazakhstan.
I see how some middle man don’t want to use invoices to avoid refunds from the client. But this may result in the fact that the artist will not receive the money, and the customer will not be able to return it.
At the moment, I don’t know of any other services that still work with Russia and are available to me.
It's a very trying time for people, but I feel that making information known is better than to keep it a secret and lie.
It was better than doing nothing at all.
Atleast when people know, they can make an educated choice and as importantly: feel like they have a choice. This was posted ONLY to spread information and encourage other options, NOT discourage commissioning Russian artists.
It's important to remember they're as much a victim in this too. They might not be the ones being invaded, but they are the ones the world wants to blame for one person's madness, who took power without their consent and effectively stole their nation from them.
I'm sure if there are simpler and more effective ways to supplement the budget.
And by the way — ANY company pays taxes, ANY citizen of any country pays taxes that go to the state. Does this mean that now we need to ban everyone in general?
Boosty is the only simple and effective way for artists from Russia to make money.
Specifically this post looks like a post from a someone who just wants to hurt artists from Russia by using demagogic techniques typical of political trolls. That's just my opinion. But it's fact that this is a questionable source of information...
https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachme.....76/unknown.png
Sorry I didn't reply sooner.
Yeah you may be right, but what % of that %10 goes where is not something that's publicly known, still maintained costs are a thing and the Kremlin won't get all of it.
But do remember this site is technically a loophole used to bypass sanctions and turn USD/Euro into Rubs, I was suggesting that looking for other options is ideal as it may be a matter of time before it is discovered and blocked in other countries.
And finally...
1: I buy and talk from Russian artists alot, I do really like them, not just working with them, and knowing my money goes to a REAL person VS a faceless corporation helps too. Why would I be trying to hurt them especially when I'm "in love" one?
2: I never got involved with political bs in my life, the only reason I'm getting involved now is because this threatens said people I do really care about and "isn't just" normal politics at this point; it's something far more important now.
3: Yeah, don't take what I'm saying as fact as here, only speculation with research done into it. Alot of this info wasn't dug up by me, but he wanted me to post it as it would put him at more risk if he posted it. I offered to do it for him.
But yeah otherwise you have good points, hence why I asked for comments like this, so, thank you.
In addition, Boosty announced that all funds spent on the internal commission in the period from March 14 to April 14 will be returned to the authors immediately after the end of the promotion. This can be read in their official blog.
I don't think there is at least one option for transferring funds that can bypass tax deductions and not lead to litigation. The money that the state receives from artists is a drop in the ocean.
I am well aware that since I 1st started working with Russians years ago, that for most of them it's "their job" and they pay all their bills with it due to the extreme currency difference.
But until you all get Paypal back, I think it's atleast something people should know to "look" for more options, I am still in NO WAY advocating for not using this service (because it's not a long-and-trusted service like PayPal). Just only if better options exist: use them 1st.
Just to prove I'm not being a hypocrite, Xenna Demonorph recently made the move from Patreon to Boosty (https://boosty(dot)to/demonorph), and (I being a patron of theirs) they felt I would "drop support" because of this; I didn't and made the move. This is also how I made sure that the service works for me as a means to pay them and Russians going forward and thankfully and it does! I will continue to support artists through this platform if need be,
So what the Kremlin gets a few pennies? As long as it puts food on your plates, as you say, it's still the lesser of two evils.
Also, this might be me being stupid (likely is), but one thing I assessed from this is that this only impacts people "living" in Russia, any Russians who are still using PayPal services are not residing in the country.
"sigh..."
Right now, I'm not very pleased with the how much of the west "hates" Russians so blindly, and wants to punish "all" of them for the actions of the few elite. I swear I didn't write any of this out of malice, I wrote it out a desire to not stay silent at this time.
Boosty or not, I'll still buy from you in the future all the same Lilo <3, same as all those I consider Family.
Just now, again, I feel like I did more harm than good with this... I'm sorry if this is the case.
PS: I need to look into that announcement, I wasn't aware there was one since I made this journal, again, I'm sorry :(
Obviously, it lost that original purpose once it started becoming mainstream (everyone started dealing in it) and in turn, government regulated.