Now everyone can earn money on Twitch

Twitch will no longer gatekeep its monetization tools to influencers and every streamer will now have a chance to earn money – but there’s a catch.

Streamers in the US can now access some of the platform’s “best” monetization and community building tools, Twitch said in a blog post. These include Bits, subs, emotes, badges, and Channel Points.

“We’re starting to roll out in the US this week, and will expand to all streamers globally later this year,” the company said.

Until now, monetization tools were only available to Affiliates and Partners, but now everyone can take advantage of them from day one, Twitch said, acknowledging the time and effort required to build a following.

However, to receive a payout, streamers will still have to earn a status of a Partner or an Affiliate. In what is good news for new or part-time creators, Twitch said it is lowering a bar to become an Affiliate.

It said the old system “created a disadvantage for streamers who wanted to steam more, regardless of how many viewers they had” and was “a real challenge for those also working or studying full time.”

Additionally, Twitch announced a new Spendable Balance feature that allows streamers to use earning below the $50 payout threshold to buy Bits or gift subs.

Twitch, which is owned by Amazon, is one of the biggest live-streaming platforms in the world, particularly known for gaming and e-sports content. Its top streamers include Ibai, Ninja, and KaiCenat.