Twitch is halving the minimum threshold streamers need to reach to get paid. 

Currently, streamers on Twitch will not be paid for their subscriptions and bits unless they reach a minimum of $100 of revenue. This is now being halved to $50, meaning smaller streamers will be able to get paid more frequently. 

Twitch will be rolling out this reduction on a country-by-country basis. Beginning on July 15, the lower minimum payment threshold will be available in Argentina, Italy, Spain, Japan, Mexico and Taiwan and more countries will be added over the coming months until November. 

In their blog post, Twitch elaborated on the purpose of this change. “We understand how important it is for you to quickly access the money you earn from streaming. This lower $50 threshold is one important step towards creating a faster, easier payout experience. One day, we’d love for you to wrap up your stream and already have the money you earned from that stream in your wallet. As we aim for lower payout thresholds, we’re focusing on building a trustworthy, accurate, and globally accessible experience for everybody.” 

This is a positive change for the lower-income streamers on the platform and it comes amidst an exodus of high-profile streamers from Twitch towards more profitable contracts with YouTube Gaming. It's likely streamers will continue to move to YouTube unless Twitch sweetens its revenue-sharing contracts. 

Benjamin “DrLupo” Lupo, Timothy “TimTheTatman” Betar and the infamous Herschel “DrDisrespect” Beahm IV were some of the first to move platforms. Last week OfflineTV member Lily “LilyPichu” Ki joined them and just days ago Ali “Myth” Kabbani also made the switch. 

Twitch and YouTube continue to compete over exclusive access to top creators and streamers.