This paper concerns itself with the question, “how can we apply blockchain technology to develop an alternative subscription model for independent online creators?” The proposed solution, Submerged, is a hybrid application that is a combination of traditional web technologies and smart contracts, in the form of what is referred to in the blockchain space as a decentralized application (dapp). Following EOSIO dapp general practices, Submerged integrates with ScatterJS: a wallet software designed to specifically interact with dapps. Following the paradigm described by Hevner as the “three-cycle view” of design research, this paper outlines the problems and opportunities in the crowdfunding space, proposes an alternative form of interaction between audiences and creators, provides an overview of an implemented minimally-viable-product, and performs an evaluation to determine how Submerged improves on what already exists in the crowdfunding domain. Having implemented and tested Submerged in a staging environment, this paper concludes with a section detailing how the current iteration can be improved.
