Odysee

Odysee

Type of business	Video Hosting Website
Founded	2020
Headquarters	Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Founder(s)	Julian Chandra
URL	Official Website

Odysee (launched in 2020) is an American decentralized video hosting platform built on blockchain technology. It positions itself as an alternative to mainstream services like YouTube with a focus on free speech and decentralization.^[1]

The platform enables users to upload, share, and monetize videos through crypto currency, while maintaining content persistence through a peer-to-peer network.^[2]

Odysee was founded by Julian Chandra and officially launched in December 2020.^[2][3]

Odysee quickly gained attention as it allowed users to bypass some of the moderation practices found on mainstream platforms. Its blockchain-based architecture ensured that content persisted as long as there were active nodes supporting it, providing an alternative to platforms that could remove or censor content. ^[4]

Julian Chandra, CEO of Odysee, highlights the Decentralized Media Ecosystem (DME) as crucial for the platform's future. The DME promotes a censorship-resistant and transparent media distribution model using Arweave's blockchain for persistent content storage. The DME supports media applications, akin to Twitter or Reddit, on a decentralized network, improving privacy and reducing reliance on advertisers.^[5]

At the core of Odysee’s technology is blockchain, a decentralized protocol that allows digital content to be distributed and stored without a central authority. This blockchain network supports a peer-to-peer infrastructure, which allows users to upload and share videos. The metadata of uploaded content is stored on the blockchain, while the videos themselves are hosted across a distributed network of users, referred to as nodes.^[6][7][8]

Odysee was originally powered by the LBRY blockchain, utilizing a peer-to-peer network for content distribution and enabling users to earn LBRY Credits (LBC) for interactions like viewing and uploading videos. The platform’s decentralized nature gave creators more control over their earnings and the visibility of their content through a staking mechanism.^[9]

Following Forward Research's acquisition of Odysee, the platform transitioned to Arweave’s decentralized data storage infrastructure in 2023. This move was aimed at improving scalability and offering permanent, censorship-resistant storage for video content. Arweave’s blockweave technology allows for permanent storage of data, meaning once videos are uploaded, they cannot be deleted or altered.The transition to Arweave also marked the end of LBC support on Odysee. Instead, users and creators now shift to Arweave’s tools for decentralized data storage and management, while maintaining autonomy over their content.^[10]

Odysee utilizes LBRY Credits (LBC), a cryptocurrency native to the LBRY Protocol, as a medium for transactions. Creators can earn LBC for their content through views, tips from users, or donations. Users can also boost the visibility of specific videos by contributing LBC, increasing the chances of content being promoted to others on the platform. The decentralized nature of the system ensures that videos remain accessible as long as there are peers supporting the network, thereby reducing the risk of content being taken down by a single entity.^[11]

Unlike traditional video-sharing platforms that primarily rely on advertising for monetization, Odysee offers a cryptocurrency-based model. Content creators earn LBC through direct viewer engagement, such as views and tips, rather than through ad revenue.^[12]

Odysee is a blockchain-based platform that allows users to upload, share, and monetize videos. It operates on a decentralized network and promotes a less restrictive content moderation policy compared to mainstream platforms. Odysee is considered the largest Web 3 media platform globally, with its foundation rooted in blockchain technology, aiming to give users more control over their content. Users can earn cryptocurrency rewards for their interactions on the platform. However, Odysee's decentralized nature and minimal content moderation have raised concerns over the potential spread of misinformation and harmful content.

YouTube, owned by Google, is the largest video-sharing platform worldwide. It offers extensive monetization opportunities through ads and channel memberships and applies stricter content moderation policies, designed to comply with regulatory requirements and advertising guidelines. YouTube’s centralized structure allows for more consistent oversight but has faced criticism for removing content deemed inappropriate or harmful, which some argue limits free expression.

Rumble is a video-sharing platform that has gained popularity for its emphasis on free speech and more lenient content moderation compared to YouTube. It has attracted users who seek alternatives to mainstream platforms, particularly those who feel their content might be restricted under YouTube's policies. Like Odysee, Rumble offers monetization options, but does not operate on blockchain technology. Rumble has become popular among creators with political and social views that they believe may be censored on other platforms.

Since its launch in September 2020, Odysee has been at the center of several controversies, primarily due to its content moderation policies and decentralized structure, which critics argue have allowed harmful content to flourish. The platform's approach to moderation, which is significantly less restrictive compared to mainstream platforms like YouTube, has attracted a range of users, including far-right groups, conspiracy theorists, and individuals banned from other platforms.^[2][13][14]

In addition to allegations of facilitating hate speech, Odysee has also been criticized for hosting disinformation, particularly around topics such as the COVID-19 pandemic, vaccines, and political issues. The platform's decentralized nature makes it difficult for content to be effectively moderated or removed, allowing misinformation and disinformation to spread without significant resistance. This has raised concerns about the proliferation of conspiracy theories related to elections, public health, and other widely debunked claims.^[2]

Critics argue that Odysee's approach to content moderation contributes to the "echo chamber" effect, where false narratives are amplified within like-minded communities, reinforcing misinformation without the counterbalance of fact-checking or corrective information. These concerns have led to increased scrutiny of Odysee's role in the broader information ecosystem.

Odysee is available globally, although it has faced geo-blocking restrictions in regions such as the European Union, where governments have raised concerns about harmful content and disinformation. Despite these limitations, Odysee continues to attract users seeking decentralized alternatives to mainstream social media platforms.^[15][16]