steem is paying its user just like Bitcoin. Bitcoin reward miners by creating new bitcoin and steem reward users creating new steem.
This is the answer.
In many ways, the Steem currency is much better than bitcoin. Steem has three second confirmation times, and zero transaction fees. There are many other advantages to Steem as well.
RE: ATTENTION: there is no income for steem, so the project value is going to zero. I invite all steem fans to tell me how steem earns money itself.