Ah good timing. I just sent a message to mk about the funding experiment currently happening and gave some other suggestions. I'll copy the bulk of it here:

I think it's generally a good idea. At first I was worried about it, because I would share things for different reasons, and didn't like the thought of funding something I shared. Just because I booped it doesn't mean I like it, or that money should go to it. But I quickly forgot about it entirely and just let it do as it does.

However, I don't think it's how funding should work. For one thing, it is really easy to forget about. It just doesn't really affect anything.... until I remember it. And then I'm annoyed that I'm not really doing anything. The numbers are so small, but if they were big I'd get really war y of sharing things. Bitcoin is also so volatile, and I don't keep up with it, I wouldn't have a perceived notion of how much I'm giving. All it makes me think is "fuck I'd love to just donate money.

My other main concern is how easily this can be gamed. People will start doing things specifically for the bits, or money, or what have you. It's like having karma, but it's actually valuable. This would be an issue immediately, but on scaling, it's an even bigger thing to deal with.

It's a neat idea, but it's just not practical. It's prone to problems, and it doesn't make me feel like I'm contributing in the way I want. Of course a donate button is what most are going to ask for, because it's non-invasive and people will care enough to use it, but if I might propose an idea as well that might be just as abysmal, but might have value in consideration:

Similar to what kb suggested, to have an account, it costs two bucks. That's all. In fact, you can even have an account if you like for free, but to comment or post, you need to pay the two dollars. I feel like this would more than cover the costs of an account, plus discourage trolls, plus would encourage "lurk moar." I propose it that way because I don't like the idea of having a "free trial" of 30 days and then needing to pay. It seems better to have "you can have an account on the site for as long as you like, but to be a part of the community costs a small amount." It feels better and less business-like.

Additionally, something like NSFWCorp's Conflict Tower in addition to whatever you decide on might be good, where the prices to get in start low, and as it goes higher with more backers, a spot costs more. Doing say may give a benefit like a look into what hubski is considering doing in the future, or minutes of meetings. Maybe do like they did and have a dedicated "Hubski Event", like a dinner or an official meetup somewhere in the country.