This seems like a compelling use case for cryptocurrencies or other tokenized/indirect value exchange schemes.
Gas fees on Ethereum L2s like Base cost $0.0016 to send USDC, and $0.00064 to send ETH.
Itch could update the prices pegged to BTC or ETH, yes, but they'd either want to keep them, or liquidate them to USD, in which case there is risk of fluctuation between when the token is sent, and when it's liquidated.
1. Regulate the payment processors. This would need widespread agreement and some kind of global initiative—possible, but sounds like a LOONG process.
2. Invent an open payment technology that isn't crypto. Probably the most desirable outcome, but another LOONG process.
3. Bow down to the payment processor mafia. Sadly, this is where we exist; I think it's the worst possible option. Imagine what else we may be prevented from buying in future. Cash is becoming harder and harder to spend in the real world. First, they came for our porn; why wouldn't they come for our food, eventually?
Really no reason at all to hold or handle USD compared to nearly anything else right now :)
I just looked up a few porn sites and they don't provide Mastercard/Visa payment but they just take the national payment processor of the few (EU) countries I checked.
What does this mean? "national payment processor"?
Those are all nationwide networks that allow online payments (online in this case, but they also handle most non-cash payments offline) inside these countries. I think most countries have such a network (under various legal forms, for example CB is a consortium but Bancontact is for-profit, while I think Interac in Canada is a non-profit, etc) but the US doesn't have an equivalent as far as I know.
[edit: perhaps this pushing for puritan values is actually a 9000 IQ move to promote crypto-backed stores]
They'll censor any content they disagree with.
Crypto can't be censored so easily.
Censorship is a social problem, and needs to be solved with social methods, such as enacting payment neutrality laws like net neutrality laws (hah, as if), or electricity neutrality laws etc.
Using crypto can temporarily bypass it, until it doesn't or you are stigmatized somehow under the law for it.
In some countries, content in favor of certain minority groups is banned. For sure those groups ability to take payment is impacted.
Sometimes those minorities are denied citizenship and can't open a bank account e.g. the Rohingya in Myanmar.