Major image hosting platform and meme site Imgur received $20 million from micropayments startup Coil, according to a press release published on June 26 Per the release, as part of the partnership between the two companies, the founder and CEO of Coil and former CTO of Ripple Stefan Thomas will join Imgur’s board of directors. Imgur CEO Alan Schaaf commented: “Coil's technology will open up new opportunities for users to give to one another and support the community in new ways.” The press release explains that Coil’s platform lets users subscribe to other users’ content and use the company’s application …

A blockchain-driven, curated stock photography marketplace is helping artists increase their earnings — by giving them the chance to connect with their buyers directly. Wemark believes the current, centrally controlled nature of the industry disadvantages photographers. The company claims major agencies can take up to 85 percent of the revenue that’s generated when one of their images is sold -- and, as a result, it can be hard for even professionals to make a living. Shutterstock now has over 200 million images in their collection, and it became extremely difficult for photographers to stand out and earn a substantial income …