Why use Paid Relays?

Traditionally content has been put behind paywalls that users must pay to enter. Access was gated by centralised servers whether that be the host of the content, the payment processors, or the discovery of content, as this has always been the layer controlling your identity.

Nostr flips this model on its head by decoupling identity from service. By paying a relay operator for access you are putting your identity behind a paywall such that for others to interact with you, they too must pay the entry fee if they want their content visible to you.