When you think of video platforms, you probably think of YouTube, TikTok, or Instagram. But a decentralized video platform, a video service built on blockchain where users own and control the network instead of a corporation. Also known as Web3 video, it removes the gatekeepers—no more demonetization, no more shadow bans, no more ads you didn’t ask for. This isn’t theory. It’s happening right now, with real tools letting creators earn directly from viewers and viewers earn for watching or sharing content.
Behind every decentralized video platform is a mix of blockchain video, a system where video files and metadata are stored across a distributed network, not on a single company’s server, and peer-to-peer video, a way to stream content directly between users without relying on central data centers. These aren’t just tech buzzwords—they solve real problems. Big platforms take 45% or more of your ad revenue. They delete your videos for breaking rules you didn’t know existed. They track everything you watch and sell it to advertisers. A decentralized platform gives you back control: you own your content, you decide how it’s monetized, and you can even earn tokens just for watching or upvoting videos.
It’s not perfect yet. Many of these platforms are still small, slow, or hard to use. But they’re growing. Projects are popping up that let you upload videos as NFTs, pay viewers in crypto to watch your content, or even vote on which videos get promoted—all without a CEO deciding what’s trending. Some use decentralized content, a model where storage and distribution are handled by a network of nodes, often incentivized with tokens, so your video stays online even if one server goes down. Others integrate with wallets so you can tip creators instantly, with no credit card or PayPal needed.
What you’ll find in the posts below isn’t hype. It’s real analysis of platforms that are actually working—some thriving, others dead. You’ll see which ones have real users, which are just vaporware, and which ones are quietly changing how video is made and paid for. No fluff. No promises of overnight riches. Just facts about what’s out there, who’s building it, and whether it’s worth your time in 2025.
Joystream (JOY) is a decentralized video platform powered by its own blockchain and native token. It lets creators own their content and earnings without middlemen. Despite low adoption and a tiny token price, it offers unique governance and monetization tools for those tired of YouTube's rules.
