Statement on Quindrie Press & Kickstarter
Kickstarter’s use of blockchain
In December 2021, Kickstarter announced it would be developing a new platform based on blockchain technology, with plans to eventually move the Kickstarter website over to the new platform [1]. While Kickstarter have stated that they will not be forcing users to pay in or accept cryptocurrency [2], they are partnering with Celo, a blockchain platform that facilitates cryptocurrency transactions.
Many independent Kickstarter users - myself included - have expressed concerns with these plans, which seem to be pivoting Kickstarter towards integrating cryptocurrency in the future. While Celo claims to be carbon-neutral and using a technology (proof-of-stake) that will bring down energy usage, it is my understanding that the way most cryptocurrency Celo trades in is processed requires a huge amount of energy (Bitcoin uses more electricity than the whole of the Netherlands per year [3]). Celo also makes this carbon-netural claim based on their use of “carbon offsets”, flawed programs that too often also fail to deliver on their promises [4]. Beyond this, NFTs and cryptocurrency are built on an inherently faulty system that relies on drawing in more users to bring new money into the system to the benefit of early users, similar to and in most cases identical to pyramid schemes and other scams [5].
Quindrie Press’ future crowdfunding plans
As the founder of Quindrie Press and an artist myself, I do not in any way support cryptocurrency or NFTs. Accepting these technologies with their many issues and significant environmental impact goes against what I believe in. Unfortunately, it is now becoming more and more difficult to find digital platforms that are not working with cryptocurrency - Paypal already does, and Facebook/Instagram, Twitter, Patreon, and Discord are all exploring or pushing towards cryptocurrency integrations.
Quindrie’s ongoing projects and artist contracts are currently based on a Kickstarter crowdfunding model, though I will be continuing to research options as the situation develops. Whatever system we use for funding, Quindrie is committed to supporting our creators and paying them fairly.
For the moment, I’ve decided to trial a mixed preorder system. Quindrie Press books will be crowdfunded on Kickstarter alongside an option to preorder books here on our main website. I want to be transparent about the reasons for this decision:
Quindrie Press is still just starting out - we do not have the financial means or audience to immediately drop a platform with so many users without impacting our creators. A large percentage of our backers discover our campaigns through Kickstarter itself, and other platforms do not yet have as large a userbase to draw from.
Particularly while Kickstarter’s plans are still in development with the extent of their involvement unclear, many backers and readers may be reluctant to move platforms right away - others will not be aware of crypto technology and its implications at all.
I have successfully funded and fulfilled books on Kickstarter, but currently have limited experience running crowdfunders or preorders elsewhere. Researching and experimenting with what works while continuing to fund projects and pay the Quindrie Press artists will take some time.
I plan to use this mixed preorder system in order to not only test the waters in regards to platform-less crowdfunding, but also to provide readers and users a slow transition into a different way of preordering our books, rather than a sharp change that may leave many potential readers behind. I hope to eventually be able to move Quindrie Press off large crowdfunding platforms entirely, and will be keeping track of smaller alternatives to Kickstarter as these new platforms develop. I have also seen some evidence that Indiegogo now wants to steer clear of cryptocurrency [6, 7] and so will be keeping track of Indiegogo as another option while remaining aware of the platform's other issues.
Thank you for your continued support of small press, independent comics, and Quindrie Press.
— Eve Greenwood
26th Dec 2021
(updated 20th Jan 2022)
(updated 7th Feb 2022)
[1] Kickstarter. “The Future of Crowdfunding Creative Projects.”
[2] The Comic Book Yeti. “Kickstarting the Conversation – An Interview with KATE BERNYK, Senior Director of Communications.”
[3] University of Cambridge, Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance. "Cambridge Bitcoin Electricity Consumption Index: Comparisons."
[4] Greenpeace. “The biggest problem with carbon offsetting is that it doesn’t really work.”
[5] Dan Olson/Folding Ideas. “Line Goes Up - The Problem With NFTs.”
[6] Dicebreaker. “Wanderhome studio’s next game dumps Kickstarter to crowdfund on Indiegogo.”
[7] Jay Dragon. “Twitter thread.”