The platform, currently in a closed beta, aims to match sex workers with clients just as Uber does for drivers and passengers. Except instead of credit cards, clients would pay for services with bitcoin or monero. We are extra-jurisdictional and operate anonymously.
But while that setup may seem to be in line with the cypherpunk ethos that gave rise to cryptocurrency, PinkDate also requires the escorts using its platform to have active Twitter accounts and hand over copies of their government-issued ID. This arguably creates an asymmetric relationship — the sex workers, who risk arrest or social ostracism if they were to be outed, are being asked to trust operators whom they know nothing about.
Roger said all client information will be provided to the escort as well, although escorts felt this assurance was dubious based on a lack of responsiveness related to product launch delays and technical errors.
Another escort, who also requested anonymity, said the team has not been communicative with sex workers who signed up to use the app. All this might be acceptable to some in the profession if PinkDate still had a sex worker on staff, but Stevens was the only one and PinkDate publicly severed ties with her last month. One such concern is compliance with financial regulations. Within the PinkDate ecosystem, clients pay escorts in bitcoin or monero, and the platform takes a cut.
But while labeling your ICO a share offering is usually considered erring on the side of caution in a regulatory environment where few jurisdictions recognize utility tokens as a legitimate category, PinkDate is unabashedly pushing the envelope.
