Video hosting and sharing platforms are websites that permit users to upload, watch, share, and stream videos on the internet.  YouTube is currently the largest video sharing platform with over 1.9 billion users. It has issues due to its centralized nature, like strict video monetization policies, unfair video promotion algorithms, vague terms and conditions, data collection controversies, and privacy concerns. These concerns have made people look for alternative platforms.

Thanks to blockchain technology, various video sharing platforms now offer better solutions. These platforms offer benefits such as decentralization, open-source development, transparent terms and conditions, improved search algorithms, privacy-focused approaches, alternative payment systems, and more.

LBRY

LBRY is a platform that offers a marketplace for all types of digital content, but mainly focuses on videos. The platform aims to create a protocol-based association between users and their digital content. This allowing them to share, purchase, and download it. LBRY is for privacy-conscious individuals, artists, content producers, and computer geeks, among others. LBRY is both a protocol and a service. The protocol provides the technical infrastructure necessary to run the decentralized, blockchain-based peer-to-peer network. The service allows users to browse, host, share, upload, purchase, and download digital content. Transactions settle using LBRY credits, exchangeable for other cryptocurrencies on supported exchanges. The copyright protection guarantees via the public ledger recording every upload and purchase.

LBRY has the potential to become an ecosystem that facilitates the purchase, storage, sale, and security of all kinds of digital content. This includes videos, music, apps, e-books, articles, code, and more. The user interface is designed to be easy to use. The users can find both free and paid videos on LBRY.TV. Watching free videos does not require creating an account, but paid videos do require registration and crypto-based payments.

D.Tube

D.Tube is a video platform that boasts being the world’s first decentralized crypto-based video service. It utilizes the STEEM blockchain and the IPFS P2P network to create a seamless experience for users. One of the key features of D.Tube is its advanced video streaming service. Th allows users to find and upload all types of content. Users can also earn cryptocurrency by watching, uploading, sharing, and commenting on videos via the STEEM blockchain. Furthermore, the platform is censorship-resistant, with users being responsible for deciding which videos to censor or promote through upvotes and downvotes.

D.Tube also provides a fair and transparent service that doesn’t rely on hidden algorithms to decide which videos make the front page or which ones can be monetized. The platform’s user interface is similar to YouTube, making it easy to browse and discover new videos. Additionally, D.Tube doesn’t display ads, but users can decide to advertise within their uploaded videos.

Dlive

Dlive came into being by a group of video content creators and consumers facing industry challenges such as unfair content promotion, rising platform fees, censorship, and high monetization bars. Therefore, Dlive aims to provide a live streaming service that empowers both viewers and creators through an innovative incentive system. We previously covered Dlive when Pewdiepie mentioned them on his channel, exposing the service to millions of his followers. Dlive is a blockchain-based and decentralized live streaming platform that relies on three features: Lemon, LINO, and LINO Stake. Lemon is a token for donating and subscribing to content creators within the platform. LINO is an actual cryptocurrency that creators and viewers can earn through content and voting rewards, while LINO holders can stake their tokens to receive a stake in the company.

The platform’s blockchain-based infrastructure is censorship-resistant, and its algorithm promotes all streamers fairly. This has contributed to its growing popularity over the past few months. From a live streaming perspective, Dlive provides users and content creators with access to a range of standard features, such as hundreds of on-going live streams, a user chat service, the ability to subscribe to streamers, notifications, replays, highlights, and more. The UX design incorporates a cool dark theme, and browsing for live streams is a seamless and fun experience. Additionally, Dlive offers knowledge pages where users can learn more about the platform’s technicalities and blockchain-based features, with a professional customer support team readily available to answer any questions.

THETA

The founders of THETA realized that traditional content delivery networks were unreliable and led to high operational costs absorbed by publishers, while centralized streaming services were inefficient, leading to censorship and unfair algorithms. Theta’s platform aims to deliver a decentralized next-gen video delivery service. As a peer-to-peer (P2P) platform, videos are on servers worldwide, ensuring high quality and smooth streaming on demand. Platform operators do not invest in hosting infrastructure; incentivized hosts are responsible, reducing costs and providing higher earning potential for content creators.

Viewers also earn THETA Fuel rewards for sharing their resources, and one can exchange the THETA token for other cryptocurrencies or used to reward creators. THETA employs an open-source approach for network and protocol, allowing content providers and platforms to build specialized decentralized applications (Dapps) for their audience. The user interface is for easy use, with seamless browsing through movies, TV shows, e-sports, music, live streams, and other content forms.

LivePeer

Services Offered by Genesis Convergence for the Development of Decentralized Video Streaming Platforms:

Genesis Convergence can assist in the development of decentralized video streaming platforms in several ways. Firstly, we can provide expertise in blockchain technology to design and implement the necessary infrastructure to support decentralized video streaming. Our team can develop and deploy smart contracts, consensus algorithms, and other necessary components of the platform. Additionally, our team can work with clients to identify and integrate appropriate content delivery network solutions to ensure high scalability and low network latency. We can also provide support in the development of communication and events sub-modules for the platform.

Furthermore, Genesis Convergence can assist clients in developing user-friendly interfaces for the platform and integrating necessary features such as micropayments and content licensing. We can also provide ongoing maintenance and support to ensure the platform runs smoothly. We e remains up-to-date with the latest developments in blockchain technology and video streaming.