In general open source projects are funded by other channels, not directly from using the app.

Sometimes people just make useful software in their spare time and make it free and open source for the entire world to use.

This is the case with Bitcoin itself, but also Sparrow, I believe.

If the software is particularly useful, some people will simply donate to the effort, which can lead to the developer(s) being able to work on the project full time.

Exodus overcharges users on their exchanges for the sake of the convenience but at least they have money to stick around. Wallet is a wallet, use it with caution

Eat instant noodle or go to jail eventually.

I can only speak for Sparrow: there is no fee to use it. It's one guy (Craig Wright) and he accepts donations. I've donated several times and I would suggest anyone/everyone do the same for the FOSS products they use on the regular.

Well core was the first wallet and will always be there, it's up to people to find ways to monetise their efforts, some will do it open source and work with donations, others will couple their wallet with other premium services or as part of a tech stack

IE blockstream does a whole lot of things and offers a wallet almost like Microsoft offers an email client as part of its office stack

You'll get wallets with LSPs and running routing nodes that earn fees that way, although I doubt it offers much of a revenue driver right now

Before the crackdown Wasabi and Samaouri had a healthy revenue through coinjoin coordinating

Some companies might also fund or buy equity in these businesses and run it as loss leader because it helps onboard users

I've actually wondered this myself. The way I look at it, is people that create things are like monks to an extent. They don't do it to get rich, rather contribute towards hyperbitcoinization.

Open source projects are usually supported by donations, for example, or from other sources.

I don’t think they have one. Phoenix makes money when you open a channel through them, as well as 0.4% on the routing fees.

They should really sell merchandise to help pay themselves. I’d love an electrum or a Sparrow T-shirt if I knew the sats were going directly to the developers.

I don’t think they have one. Phoenix makes money when you open a channel through them, as well as 0.4% on the routing fees.

They should really sell merchandise to help pay themselves. I’d love an electrum or a Sparrow T-shirt if I knew the sats were going directly to the developers.