In a hyper-digitalized world oversaturated with advertising, it’s hard for content creators to compete and flourish. You end up spending more time promoting yourself on social media than you do actually creating . The public’s attention span is short and grows ever shorter.

This is where AC3 comes in. By bringing the so-called “earning economy” to the blockchain space, the viral marketing platform connects content creators and users in a mutually beneficial ecosystem that incentivizes users to promote the companies and creators they support. It also allows those without bank accounts or connections to financial institutions a chance to earn. “People can earn online as long as they have an internet connection,” says co-founder Steve McGarry. “They don’t need a bank account. They can just earn products and services by completing tasks.”

Things are starting to happen for the San Francisco-based startup. In December, the network joined ICON, completing a swap of its AC3 tokens on its own network for AC3 tokens on ICON’s network.

Connecting advertisers with users

Blockchain believer, content creator and social media personality Steve McGarry and finance veteran and long-time business partner John Fields co-founded AC3 – i.e., All Content Creator Currency – in 2015. It is their third project together. Also in 2015, their second project, the peer-to-peer lending service LendLayer, was acquired by lending startup Affirm, co-founded by PayPal co-founder Max Levchin.

AC3 helps companies and content producers acquire their first 1,000 brand advocates. This isn’t purchasing Twitter or Instagram followers. The platform incentivizes users to go forth into the world and evangelize your brand. Users complete marketing assignments and purchase products directly from the companies they like.

Demand for this sort of service was even more than what AC3’s founders expected. Prior to going live, McGarry spent several months using his own considerable social media clout promoting the platform. They ended up getting over 3,000 pre-registered earners as a result, a bit more than their homegrown network could handle. McGarry says, “That’s when we came to ICON and said, ‘Hey, with our current network, there’s no chance we’re going to be able support 3,000 people performing hundreds of tasks every hour.’”

AC3’s first advertisers include online education platforms, E-commerce businesses, SaaS companies and top content creators. As a content producer himself, McGarry knows many of the top content creators personally. “They are all very nice people and willing to give me feedback.”

Many of the advertisers are educators who give out monthly subscriptions to their platforms. McGarry believes educators are fundamental to the platform. “The mission is that anyone, anywhere in the world without a bank account – they don’t need to have access to credit or any sort of financial institution – can earn an education,” he says. “That, to us, is powerful. And all by completing tasks for an advertiser. That’s never been attempted.” He adds, “I think education is special to us and that’s where we really want to start, by helping people earn an education.”