The dev contacted us about removing the paid votes from EBT, and truth is it's difficult to do, as it's an integrated system. A coin without a payment address has one auto-generated when the page loads. We'd need to recode the page to do that. Which takes time and resources away from working on the exchange.
So we WILL remove it - just when we have time.
That being said I wanted to address a few things.
We tossed the idea back and forth when we implemented the system and ultimately decided to go with it, even though to some it comes off in a negative light.
The reason being is that some coins have a huge community and user base.
And some have a small but dedicated community with financial backing.
Calling AllCrypt sleazy for taking paid votes is like calling a company sleazy for advertising. You're paying to get customers! You should use your community to get those customers!
Paid voting is by no means required, and 90% of the votes on AllCrypt.com have been unpaid. I'm honestly a little shocked that we are sleazy for giving a coin's community the OPTION to pay.
AllCrypt's voting system it completely and utterly transparent. You see what gets added because it's on the list. NO ONE had voting systems before we did, and now look how many copycats there are. Because we did it right.
If we did back room dealings and demanded money to list a coin (like some exchanges have been accused of) you can call us sleazy. We offer the OPTION - which you are free to NOT take. We believe in personal choice and freedom, and to say "No you can't" because some people don't like the idea, thats just as closed minded.
And I have a question - you say:
We believe there should be specific, publicized criteria in order to have a coin listed, it should not simply be a decision based on who can spend the most BTC or spam the forums asking for votes. Coins should be added to exchanges based on the same community demand and hard work the coins prior have shown in order to EARN a spot on a major market.
So what should that critera be? How do we, as exchange operators, judge YOUR devotion and hard work? We thought votes were a good way. Votes cause forum "Come vote!" spamming. As a side effect it also causes site signups, making the exchange more visible, thus making your coin more visible when it's added. We thought that would be a GOOD thing.
I really want to know what that criteria for judging hard work and community demand should be. Something that we can measure. Fairly. And transparently.
Because from MY experience, people seem pretty pissed when Cryptsy "randomly" adds coins that no one understands why. Maybe they were making judgments of hard work. Maybe Vern is personally vested in the coin. Maybe money changed hands. NO ONE KNOWS.
At least with our system, EVERYONE knows. Clearly. Openly. With transparency.
No one's making you pay to vote. So why do you care if someone does? Unless it's the "not fair" syndrome. And thats an area where we don't sympathize.
I know this post will make us no friends whatsoever. But you'll never get anything less than honesty from us.
Oh, and as a side note... our evil and slimy coin voting raised 3.59 BTC ($2267 as of right now) which was donated to Sean's Outpost to help the homeless.
Our coin voting provided about 700 meals for the hungry in Pensacola FL.
What a horrible thing we did.
