Where do the coins come from?
The Steem network continuously creates digital chips to reward creators and content curators. Some of the newly created tokens are transferred to users who add value to Steemit by posting, commenting and voting on other people's posts. The rest is distributed to the owners of STEEM Power and to the witnesses who feed the blockchain.
Where does its value come from?
At its root, Steem is simply a point system. However, because this point system is block-based, points can be traded in the markets as chips. People buy and sell these chips, and many keep in anticipation of the increased purchasing power of various services related to Steem.
By analogy, Steem is a game system in which users compete for attention and rewards by contributing content and adding value to the platform. The rewards that people earn are chips that have market value and are easily negotiable. It is similar to how someone who plays a video game could get a limited item or coin playing the game. If currency or items are transferable among users, then they can sell or buy them in the gaming market.
