Bluesky is working on a subscription, but it won’t give you a blue check

Bluesky is working on a premium subscription that will add features like higher-quality video uploads and some profile customization options. Unlike the premium subscription offered by X, however, Bluesky’s paid tier won’t boost the visibility of your posts, nor will it give your account a “verified” status. In a post on its blog, Bluesky also notes that the platform “will always be free to use.”

“Subscription revenue helps us improve the app, grow the developer ecosystem, and gives us time to explore business models beyond traditional ads,” Bluesky chief operating officer Rose Wang wrote in a post. “Paid subscribers won’t get special treatment elsewhere in the app, like upranking premium accounts or blue checks next to their names.”

Bluesky also raised $15 million in a funding round led by the crypto investor Blockchain Capital, but says it does not plan to use blockchains, crypotcurrency, or “hyperfinancialize the social experience” with tokens, crypto trading, or NFTs. Along with this news, Bluesky revealed that its platform has reached 13 million users.

Bluesky has seen steady growth over the past year, as it crossed just 2 million users last November. The network added many more users in the weeks following Brazil’s ban on X (which is now lifted) and in the wake of the changes X is making to its block feature. As Bluesky attempts to draw in more users looking for an X alternative, it has also been targeting frustrated Threads users.

Update, October 24th: Added information about Bluesky’s funding.