The Belt

The Journal

Notes on internet stunts, paid leaderboards, and why people hand over money for things that do nothing.

3 articles
What actually happened to the Million Dollar Homepage

A student sold a million pixels at $1 each and made $1,037,100 in five months. The full story, and what's left of it today.

Why people pay real money for nothing

Leaderboards, pixel grids, paid rankings. Why status with zero practical value still moves real money.

How pay-to-play leaderboards actually work

Seasons, resets, lifetime walls and dethroning. The mechanics that decide whether one of these lives a week or a year.

Think it's stupid?

So does everyone who's paid. The board is live right now.

Take The Belt