In "bid to earn" auctions, losing bidders are awarded a portion of the commission earned from the winning bid as a way to incentivize participation and encourage competition. This means that even if a bidder is not the highest bidder, they may still receive a reward for their participation in the auction. This can make "bid to earn" auctions more appealing to potential bidders, as they have the opportunity to earn a reward even if they do not win the auction.