Castbox has announced Livecast. It is a free audio streaming service on Castbox mobile and desktop that allows you to go live with the tap of a button. Set up a public or private chat room to connect with listeners in real time via voice and text.

Castbox says that it is possible to use Livecast and get paid to engage with your community.

Host special live shows, take audience questions, and get live feedback from listeners to create intimate experiences. Fans can show their support and appreciation with virtual gifts that convert into cash.

The FAQ section on Castbox has more details about that. There is a tab called “My Wallet” that Castbox users can find in the app on their personal tab. There are four kinds of “currency” – Coin, Star, BOX and ETH.

The Coin is the virtual currency in Castbox, which is used to purchase items. Currently, it could be used to purchase virtual gifts. It will be used in more scenes in the future. Listeners can reward podcasters on Livecast by sending coins to them. The “Live” feature is only available for India, South Korea, and China. Castbox says it will gradually open up to more countries.

As far as I can tell, Coins are purchased with real-world currency. But I’m not certain about that.

The Star is the virtual currency that you get by opening the live broadcasts. It appears that the Star is for Android users. You can exchange the Stars into Coins or into real money. If listeners send a Castbox podcaster virtual gifts during the live broadcasts – the podcaster can get stars of equal value.

A BOX is a digital token issued by ContentBox, a blockchain technology built for the digital content industry. Castbox says that, in the short term, BOX will be Castbox’s primary transaction currency.

ETH is the cryptocurrency used in the Ethereum Platform. It is unclear to me exactly how this connects with Castbox or Livecast. Personally, it sounds like the payment system is confusing and unnecessarily complex.

It is possible to host a show on Livecast and turn it into a podcast. Livecast supports unlimited listeners and up to eight simultaneous callers. Livecast users should turn on auto-record before starting their show and upload the session as its own podcast.