Someone cold called me on Discord trying to "feature" my content on his reskinned RSS aggregator. Typical nonsense with inflated traffic metrics, promises for the world. Like the rest of these types he couldn't work with affiliate links, had no clue about it and demanded upfront payment.
He got turned off fast when I told him, "I've never paid for backlinks in my entire life". Google guidelines etc.
Paid directory listings. Everything that is old is new again.
If he's selling it stands to reason that someone is buying. If you can keep it clean, and accept free submissions, there's something in the ad revenue. Eventually more crypto services will adapt to the affiliate commission system. The current way of doing things will die out.
Content is still king. Long may he reign.