He Made $41M…Then Stopped

October 16, 2025

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After Making $41M, MoistCr1TiKaL Says No More

After making $41.3M during 14 years as a creator, MoistCr1TiKaL announced he’s done making money from his audience.

He turned off YouTube memberships, set Twitch Bits (the platform’s virtual currency) so high they’re basically unusable, and is discouraging Twitch subscriptions.

His message? Keep your money or donate instead.

Enough Is Enough?

In his latest video, MoistCr1TiKaL broke down how much he’s made in his career:

Why It Matters

So why’d he pull the plug?

Part of it is exhaustion with viewers sending huge donations to get noticed, often with tragic consequences.

Earlier this month, a streamer was murdered by a fan who sent her $70,000.

“I just don’t think there’s any value in giving money during a stream to get my attention,” he said. “That’s not a good use of your money.”

Bigger Backlash Against Monetization

Moist’s decision comes as more creators push back against YouTube’s money machine.

Last week, Linus Tech Tips and Ludwig both ditched their members-only videos.

Their reason? YouTube began pushing the paywalled videos in both the recommended feed and homepage, which Linus called a “gross FOMO sales tactic.”

It’s part of a bigger trend: creators rejecting the idea that community should come with a paywall.

Our Take

For years, creators flexed how much they could earn. Now, the ultimate flex might be not needing to.

But it’s bigger than that. Moist, Ludwig, and Linus’ decisions are about earning something money can’t buy: trust.

Because in the long run, that’s what sustains a creator’s career.

30,000 Watch Live as Twitch Streamer Gives Birth

Last week, Twitch streamer Fandy made platform history — not for gaming or a record-breaking subathon — but for giving birth live on stream.

At its peak, nearly 30,000 people tuned in as she delivered her baby via waterbirth at home, chatting with viewers and cracking jokes between contractions.

“I’ve waited forever for her. Get the hell out already,” she joked — a clip that quickly went viral across Twitch and X.

When Real Life Becomes Content

Twitch’s Just Chatting category has blurred the line between personal and performative.

But a live birth takes that to a new level.

Some praised Fandy’s openness. Others questioned whether Twitch should allow something so intimate to air live.

Yet the stream didn’t violate any rules. Even Twitch CEO Dan Clancy dropped into chat: “Fandy, best of luck and congratulations.”

The Always On Era

As AI floods feeds with flawless fakes, real creators are doubling down on what machines can’t copy: live emotion.

From EmilyCC’s 24/7 livestreams to filming breakups and funerals, the question remains: is nothing sacred anymore?

What used to be oversharing now reads as authenticity — and authenticity sells.

But that connection comes at a cost: fewer boundaries and more burnout for the majority of creators who already feel overworked and underpaid.

🎯 Weekly Roundup: Thumbnails

Why we love these YT thumbnails:

1. “Then vs Now” split instantly shows change (The Cultural Tutor | Sheehan Quirke)
2. Reflection in smart glasses teases futuristic tech in a simple visual (Marques Brownlee)
3. Golden glow around the burger makes it look legendary and irresistible (Babish)
4. A water slide inside a room? You have to click to see more (Ryan Trahan)

🚀 Weekly Outlier

This video by Dr Chris G has 1.8M views, which is 28.4 times higher than the channel’s average. Here’s why it took off:

Subverts Clichés: Starts like a typical motivational video but then calls out empty motivation and offers real action.
Emotional Urgency: The “2 minutes to speak to the whole world” framing feels urgent and intimate.
Clear Takeaway: Ends with a clear, low-barrier challenge, making viewers feel empowered to act.

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Trust me, these books are packed with more tips than most paid courses.

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