If there's a finite amount of money coming in that can be constantly calibrated to pay x number of writers it doesn't altogether make logic -- so, apart from the majority of it being scammed into a small number of accounts - the only other reason is that Medium has been conquered by AI -- Medium obviously makes money from information garnered by writers' personal info -- perhaps to Alphabet, or whoever -- so where is the fees Medium collects? -- to put fees, even higher fees (Friends of M) at risk is at best unbusinesslike -- we will have to wait see -- And, so true Charles, the moment payments change or cease from a company, it is usually time to bail!