3 major changes happened with HF21, and they're all impacting the blockchain economy.
Posts and comments earning under 20 STEEM (currently about $10 USD in pending payouts) lose up to half their value, which is distributed to the posts and comments earning above 20 STEEM. This is known as the "Rich Get Richer" rule. Most posts and comments receive very little. The average comment on the blockchain doesn't pay out at all (below 0.02 USD). That means most posts and comments, under this new rule, will get robbed almost the full 50%.
Instead of creators getting 3/4 and curators getting 1/4 of payouts, now curators get a full half. Since curation is paid out to those who have invested money in the blockchain, this change harms plankton and fish, which make up the majority of users.
2.5 free downvotes per user, per day. This is already doing some good and shaking things up. Vote sellers are taking a beating, and some have decided to give out free upvotes instead of charging people for them. This change certainly affects our economy, but the first 2 are more vital for this discussion.
That's why you're only getting about 1/3 what you were getting before, unless you're a big investor here! My portion of a 4 cent payout used to be 3 cents, now it's 1!
I do see a glimmer of hope for STEEM, but it's still necessary for creators to be supported and not abused, or the long-term health of this blockchain is still uncertain.
DRutter
