Subscription site MintStars has announced a new co-ownership model designed to provide creators with a financial stake in the platform, alongside new governance measures to amplify creator voices. The initiative includes a donation of shares to establish a creator ownership pool and a transfer of shares and voting rights to SWOP Behind Bars.

Creator Co-Ownership Model

MintStars unveiled a co-ownership model on June 25, 2026, which aims to give creators a financial stake in the platform. Co-founder Jessica Van Meir is donating her shares to create a 20 percent creator ownership pool. An additional three percent of her shares will be donated to SWOP Behind Bars, a national grassroots social justice network focused on the human rights of sex workers, victims of trafficking, and their communities.

The new model will allocate ownership to creators based on their contributions to the platform. These contributions include revenue generated, referrals, and activity on the site. Creators will receive points that correspond to "phantom shares," which grant them the right to financial benefits if MintStars distributes dividends or is sold. This system is designed to operate without upfront costs or tax burdens for creators.

The system is scheduled to launch in the coming weeks, with points awarded retroactively to acknowledge past participation. The program is set to officially launch in July.

A MintStars representative stated that the new model will allocate ownership to creators based on their contributions to the platform, including revenue, referrals, and activity. The representative also explained that creators will receive points corresponding to "phantom shares," which will give them the right to benefit financially if MintStars generates dividends or is sold, without upfront costs or tax burdens.

Jessica Van Meir commented that MintStars will become the first adult content platform co-owned by the sex workers who use it. She expressed hope that this step would create a new and more ethical economic model for the adult industry and other industries, stating that all workers should have ownership in the companies they help build.

A SWOP representative stated that SWOP Behind Bars is proud to partner with MintStars, noting that MintStars' dedication to community ownership of labor aligns with SWOP’s decade-long work to establish and maintain a similar stake in advocacy and services.

Governance and Leadership Changes

In addition to the financial restructuring, MintStars will implement new governance measures to elevate creator voices. These measures include the establishment of a Creator Advisory Board. Furthermore, voting rights tied to Van Meir’s shares will be transferred to SWOP Behind Bars.

As part of this transition, Jessica Van Meir will step down from her role as director. She plans to focus on research and activism. Van Meir is described as a long-term activist for sex workers’ rights and is a PhD candidate at Harvard.

The MintStars team will now be led by Allie Eve Knox, an activist and performer.

MintStars Platform Features

MintStars operates as a low-censorship content platform where creators and fans can earn more through resales. The platform aims to allow creators to earn more from their content. MintStars states it is for content creators of all kinds, including models, performers, influencers, entertainers, sex workers, and artists, who are 18 years or older and wish to make money independently from content they create.

The platform charges no fees to creators. A 5% platform fee plus payment processing fees are charged to fans. These fees are used to pay the MintStars team and support the growth and improvement of the platform. Creators may incur a small payment processing fee when cashing out their funds.

MintStars offers features such as resale royalties, allowing creators to track every sale and set a royalty fee percentage. This enables creators to continue profiting from their content after its initial posting. Resales also facilitate discovery for new customers on the Marketplace, and subscribers are rewarded for promoting creators. Creators have the option to post standard content that is not resellable or to set their royalty fee to 100% so that all resales of their collectibles go to them.

The platform also offers a MintStars Creator Card, which runs on Payy’s zk L2 for private, instant, stablecoin-backed spending with global access. A virtual card is currently available, with a physical card planned for future release.

Key Facts

  • MintStars launched a new co-ownership model on June 25, 2026.
  • Co-founder Jessica Van Meir is donating 20 percent of her shares to a creator ownership pool and 3 percent to SWOP Behind Bars.
  • The creator ownership model will allocate "phantom shares" based on creator contributions, including revenue, referrals, and activity.
  • New governance measures include a Creator Advisory Board and the transfer of Van Meir's voting rights to SWOP Behind Bars.
  • Jessica Van Meir will step down as director to focus on research and activism.
  • Allie Eve Knox will lead the MintStars team.