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Blog post from Stripe
The creator economy, initially thought to be peaking during the pandemic, has evolved and remains robust, as evidenced by Stripe data revealing significant growth in creator numbers and earnings. Although funding for creator platforms has decreased and the focus has shifted to technologies like crypto and AI, the creator economy continues to expand internationally, with countries such as Thailand, Brazil, and Romania seeing rapid increases in new creators. Platforms like Ko-fi and educational tools such as Kajabi and Thinkific have facilitated this growth, with creators now earning substantial incomes from tips, memberships, and online education courses. The trend towards monthly subscriptions is gaining traction, particularly in the Asia Pacific region, where creators enjoy some of the highest monthly recurring revenues. Despite the growth, the majority of creators still earn supplemental income rather than a living wage. As platforms introduce more monetization features and expand globally, the creator economy is becoming an integral part of the global economy, with emerging intersections with crypto and AI, indicating its continued strength and potential for further growth.