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Treechat

Understanding Upvalue

Upvalue is Treechat’s tipping system that lets you reward quality content with Bitcoin SV on public (on-chain) posts only. Think of it as “upvote with money” - a way to show appreciation that actually helps creators earn.

What is Upvalue?

Upvalue is a micropayment you send to another user to show appreciation for their public post or comment. Unlike traditional social media “likes” which have no value, upvalue sends real Bitcoin SV to content creators.

Important: Upvalue is only available on public posts that are stored on the Bitcoin SV blockchain. Private posts use upvotes instead (see below).

How Upvalue Works

Sending Upvalue (Tipping)

  1. Find public content you like - Browse Treechat and find public posts worth supporting
  2. Click the upvalue button - Usually shown as a coin or tip icon
  3. Choose an amount - Select how much BSV to send (can be just a few cents)
  4. Confirm - The transaction is processed and recorded on the blockchain

The BSV is sent directly from your Treechat wallet to the creator’s wallet via a blockchain transaction.

Receiving Upvalue (Earning)

When someone sends you upvalue on a public post:

  • 85% goes to you - The majority of the tip
  • 15% goes to Treechat - Platform fee for hosting and maintaining the service

For example:

  • Someone tips you 100 satoshis (sats)
  • You receive 85 sats
  • Treechat receives 15 sats

Why the 15% Fee?

The platform fee covers:

  • Server and infrastructure costs
  • Development and maintenance
  • Blockchain transaction fees
  • Customer support
  • New feature development

This model allows Treechat to operate without ads while compensating creators directly.

Upvalue vs. Upvotes

Treechat has two different engagement systems depending on whether content is public or private:

FeatureUpvote (Private Posts)Upvalue (Public Posts)
CostFreeCosts BSV
Value to creatorSocial signal onlyReal money (85% of tip)
TransactionNo blockchain transactionOn-chain BSV transaction
Impact on rankingAffects visibilityAffects visibility more strongly
Platform feeNone15% to Treechat
AvailabilityPrivate posts onlyPublic posts only

Key Differences

Upvotes (Private Posts):

  • Available only on private, off-chain posts
  • Free to give
  • Social signal with no monetary value
  • No BSV transaction involved
  • Simple engagement metric

Upvalue (Public Posts):

  • Available only on public, on-chain posts
  • Requires BSV in your wallet
  • Sends real money to content creators
  • Recorded as a blockchain transaction
  • Stronger signal of content quality

You cannot upvalue private posts, and you cannot upvote public posts. The feature available depends on whether the content is public (on blockchain) or private (off blockchain).

Upvalue carries more weight in Treechat’s ranking algorithm since it represents real value, not just engagement.

Best Practices

For Tipping (Public Posts)

  • Tip quality content - Support public posts that provide value
  • Start small - Even a few cents is meaningful
  • Be consistent - Regular small tips add up for creators
  • Tip early - Early upvalue helps good content get discovered

For Earning (Creating Public Content)

  • Create quality public posts - Valuable content on-chain earns upvalue
  • Post publicly when appropriate - Public posts can earn BSV rewards
  • Engage with community - Reply to comments and discussions
  • Post consistently - Regular quality content builds an audience
  • Be authentic - Genuine posts resonate more than promotional content

Upvalue and Search Ranking

Content with more upvalue ranks higher in Treechat’s algorithm:

  • Market-based ranking - Content users value (with money) ranks higher
  • No ad manipulation - Rankings reflect genuine user preference
  • Quality signal - Upvalue is a stronger signal than free upvotes

This creates a market-based algorithm where users, not advertisers, decide what’s valuable.

Minimum and Maximum Amounts

  • Minimum tip: Usually 1 satoshi (though the platform may set minimums)
  • Maximum tip: No technical limit - tip as much as you want
  • Typical amounts: Most tips range from a few cents to a dollar or two

Checking Your Balance

To see your upvalue earnings:

  1. Click on your profile or wallet icon
  2. View your BSV balance
  3. See transaction history for tips received and sent

Withdrawing Your Earnings

You can withdraw your BSV earnings:

  1. Go to your wallet settings
  2. Enter a BSV address from an external wallet (RockWallet, Exodus, etc.)
  3. Specify the amount to withdraw
  4. Confirm the transaction

Network fees (typically very small) will apply for withdrawals.

Upvalue Etiquette

  • Don’t beg for tips - Let your content speak for itself
  • Thank tippers - Acknowledge generous supporters (optional)
  • Tip back - Support others who create value
  • Don’t spam - Quality over quantity

Troubleshooting

Can’t send upvalue?

  • Check your wallet balance - you need sufficient BSV
  • Make sure your wallet is funded (see Funding Your Wallet)
  • Verify the post is public - upvalue only works on public posts

Didn’t receive upvalue?

  • Check your transaction history
  • Upvalue appears in your balance instantly
  • If there’s an issue, mention @metamitya or @arghzero in the app

How do I see who tipped me?

  • Check your notification feed
  • View your wallet transaction history

Why can’t I upvalue this post?

  • The post is likely private - upvalue only works on public (on-chain) posts
  • Private posts can only receive upvotes (free likes)

Next Steps