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Type of site | Online video platform |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2020; 6 years ago (2020) |
| Headquarters | Las Vegas,Nevada, U.S. |
| Founder | Julian Chandra |
| URL | odysee |
| Current status | Active |
Odysee is an Americandecentralizedvideo hosting platform, built on theLBRYblockchain.[1][2][3] It positions itself as an alternative to mainstream services likeYouTube, but with a focus onfreedom of speech anddecentralization.[4]
The platform enables users to upload, share, andmonetize videos throughcryptocurrency, while maintaining content persistence through apeer-to-peer network.[5]
Odysee was founded in 2020 by Julian Chandra.[5]
In June 2024, Odysee was acquired by Forward Research. The acquisition took place after Odysee's former parent companyLBRY lost a lawsuit from theU.S. Securities and Exchange Commission in July 2023.[6][7]
Odysee is driven byblockchain, adecentralized protocol that allowsdigital content to be distributed and stored without a central authority. This blockchain network supports apeer-to-peer infrastructure, which allows users to upload and sharevideos. Themetadata of uploaded content is stored on the blockchain, while the videos themselves are hosted across adistributed network of users, referred to asnodes.[8]
Arweave is a decentralized data storage network that uses blockchain technology to enable digital storage. Its native AR token pays for storage and incentivizes participants.[9] The Arweave network has been used to archive content in censorship-sensitive regions likeHong Kong and during conflicts such as theRussian invasion of Ukraine.[10][11]
Odysee'scontent moderation is significantly less restrictive compared to mainstream platforms likeYouTube. Since its launch in September 2020, Odysee's specific moderation policies anddecentralized structure have allowed hate speech and misinformation to be spread on the platform.[12] This has includedfar-right groups,conspiracy theorists, and individualsdeplatformed or banned elsewhere.[5][13] Its moderation policy and philosophy has an explicitly broad interpretation offreedom of speech.[13]
In addition to facilitatinghate speech, Odysee has also hosteddisinformation, particularly around topics such asCOVID-19,vaccines, and political conspiracy theories. 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.[5]
Odysee has facedgeo-blocking restrictions in regions such as theEuropean Union, where governments have raised concerns about content deemed harmful or disinforming.[14]
