> what about paying a small fee OR having someone run a cryptocurrency proof of work check?

Musk: That is much harder than paying a small fee.

Cock.li, a hobbyist-run email/VPS provider, has implemented that exact thing for the ability to send emails (receiving is free). Took about 7 minutes on my laptop. My laptop sat there, did all the work, I paid nothing and became verified. I could even pause it and come back later.

It's clear this is about squeezing money out of every last user even if if means killing the platform.