Coins and Awards

Coins and Awards were a virtual-currency and recognition system on Reddit that let users reward posts and comments they appreciated. Redditors purchased Coins with real money (or received a monthly allotment through Reddit Premium) and spent them to give Awards such as Silver, Gold, Platinum, and a wide range of community-specific or seasonal awards. Awards appeared as badges on the recognized content, and some awards conferred perks like Reddit Premium time or Coins to the recipient, creating a small in-platform economy of appreciation and status.

Reddit announced in July 2023 that it was discontinuing the Coins-and-Awards system, with all existing Coins and awards remaining usable only until September 12, 2023. The company said the system had grown unwieldy, with more than 50 award types, and that users disliked the clutter and the multiple steps involved in giving an award. Reddit subsequently replaced it with a simpler, Gold-based reward system tied more directly to real-money purchases and linked to its Contributor Program, allowing eligible creators to earn money from awarded content. The change was part of Reddit's broader effort to streamline features and strengthen monetization in the lead-up to its 2024 public listing.