Everything You Need to Know About Odysee in 2025: Features, Setup, and LBC

Odysee, YouTube Alternative, Earn LBC, Blockchain Video, Web3, Content Creator, LBRY Protocol

Odysee has emerged as one of the most prominent alternatives to YouTube, positioning itself as a haven for free speech and decentralized content. Launched in late 2020, it provides a user-friendly interface for the LBRY protocol, a blockchain-based file-sharing network.

Below is a detailed breakdown of the Odysee platform, its technology, and its role in the current digital landscape.

🚀 Join the Revolution on Odysee! Tired of ads and censorship? Join me on Odysee, the decentralized future of video. Sign up using my link to support the channel and start earning crypto just for watching:

1. What is Odysee?

Odysee is a video-sharing platform that looks and feels like YouTube but operates on a fundamentally different backend. While YouTube is a centralized service owned by Google, Odysee is built on a decentralized, peer-to-peer network.

Core Philosophy: The platform was designed to combat "deplatforming" and censorship. Its founders aimed to create a system where no single entity—including the creators of Odysee themselves—has the power to unilaterally delete content or silence creators.

Ownership: In 2024, Odysee was acquired by Forward Research, following the legal challenges faced by its original parent company, LBRY Inc., in a high-profile lawsuit with the SEC.

2. Technical Infrastructure: The LBRY Protocol

To understand Odysee, you must understand LBRY (pronounced "library").

Blockchain-Based: Every video's metadata (title, creator, description) is recorded on the LBRY blockchain. This makes the "entry" for that video permanent and verifiable.

Peer-to-Peer (P2P) Hosting: Unlike YouTube, which hosts videos on its own massive server farms, Odysee uses a distributed network. When you watch a video, you are often downloading "bits" of it from other users who have previously watched or hosted it.

Censorship Resistance: Because the data is distributed across many "nodes," it is incredibly difficult for a government or corporation to take a video down entirely.

Support the channel & join the revolution: 👉 Join Odysee here

3. Key Features for Creators and Viewers

Odysee offers several tools designed to bridge the gap between traditional Web2 video sites and the new Web3 era:

YouTube Sync

One of Odysee's most successful growth strategies is its "Sync" tool. Creators with at least 100 subscribers can link their YouTube channel, and Odysee will automatically mirror every new upload to their Odysee channel. This allows creators to build a "backup" audience with zero extra effort.

Monetization (LBC Tokens)

Monetization on Odysee is primarily driven by LBRY Credits (LBC), the platform's native cryptocurrency.

View Rewards: Both creators and viewers can earn LBC simply by interacting with the site.

Direct Tipping: Fans can tip creators in LBC, which goes directly to the creator's wallet without the platform taking a 30% cut (as YouTube does with SuperChats).

Staking: Creators can "stake" LBC on their own videos to increase their visibility in search results.

Engagement Tools

The "Slime" Button: Odysee retained a "dislike" equivalent (the Slime button) when YouTube removed theirs, leaning into its promise of transparency.

Ad-Free Experience: While Odysee has explored experimental ad programs, the core experience is significantly less cluttered with mid-roll ads than mainstream competitors.

Support the channel & join the revolution: 👉 Join Odysee here

4. Pros and Cons

Feature	Odysee	YouTube
Control	User-owned; decentralized.	Corporate-owned; centralized.
Moderation	Minimal; focused on illegal content.	High; strict community guidelines.
Revenue	Crypto-based (LBC) + Tips.	Ad-revenue sharing (AdSense).
Speed/UI	Can be slower due to P2P.	Fast and highly optimized.
Audience	Approx. 10–15M monthly users.	Over 2.5 Billion monthly users.

5. The Content Moderation Controversy

Because Odysee prioritizes free speech and uses decentralized tech, it has become a lightning rod for controversy.

The "Lax" Approach: Odysee generally only removes content that is illegal (such as CSAM, copyright infringement, or incitement of violence).

Political Migration: Due to its hands-off approach, the platform has seen a massive influx of creators who were banned from YouTube for misinformation, conspiracy theories, or extremist views.

The Challenge: Odysee faces the constant struggle of maintaining its "free speech" ideals while trying to attract "mainstream" creators and advertisers who may be wary of being associated with controversial content.

6. Current Status (2025)

As of late 2025, Odysee remains the largest blockchain-based video platform. While it hasn't "killed" YouTube, it has successfully carved out a niche for:

Crypto Enthusiasts: People interested in the Web3 ecosystem.
Privacy Advocates: Users who want to watch content without Google tracking.
Alternative Voices: Independent journalists and creators who feel restricted by mainstream algorithms.

Note: If you are a creator looking to join, the "YouTube Sync" remains the best way to start, as it provides a risk-free insurance policy against potential channel strikes on centralized platforms.

Setting up a presence on Odysee is straightforward, but it has changed recently. As of late 2024 and 2025, YouTube's anti-competitive updates have made the once-famous "Auto-Sync" feature less reliable, meaning manual management is more important than ever.

Here is how to get started as a user or creator.

If you found this helpful, you can support my work by joining Odysee through my invite link. It helps me keep creating AI-driven content tools for you! 🔗 Join Odysee here: https://odysee.com/$/invite/@AIContentools:f

1. Creating Your Account and Channel

Odysee accounts are free, and you don’t need to be a "tech expert" to set one up.

Sign Up: Go to Odysee.com and click Sign Up. You’ll just need an email and password.

Verification: To prevent spam, Odysee may ask you to verify your account. This is usually done via a quick phone number verification or by linking a credit card (no charge is made; it's just for identity).

Creating a Channel: Once logged in, click the Cloud icon (Upload) or your Profile picture and select Channels. You can create multiple "handles" (e.g., @MyAwesomeChannel).

2. The "YouTube Sync" Situation (Update 2025)

In the past, you could link your YouTube channel and Odysee would automatically copy your videos.

Important: Due to recent technical blocks by YouTube, the Auto-Sync feature often fails or is disabled for new users

What you should do now:

Attempt the Sync: If you have over 100 YouTube subscribers, still try the "Sync" tool in the settings. It might work for older content.

Manual Uploading: Most creators in 2025 have switched to manual uploads. Odysee's uploader is drag-and-drop and supports most file formats (MP4, MKV, etc.).

Browser Extension: Use the "Odysee Helper" browser extension. It alerts your viewers on YouTube if the same video is available ad-free on Odysee.

3. How to Use LBC (LBRY Credits)

LBC is the "oil" that runs the platform. You don't need it to watch videos, but you need it to grow your channel or support others.

How to get LBC:

Rewards: Click the Rewards tab in your menu. You can earn small amounts of LBC just for watching videos or logging in daily.
Direct Purchase: You can buy LBC directly through the Odysee interface using a credit card (via MoonPay or similar integrations).
Exchanges: If you use crypto, you can buy LBC on exchanges like CoinEx and send it to your Odysee wallet address.

How to Tip and Boost:

Tipping: Below any video, click the Support button. You can send a "Tip" which goes directly into the creator's wallet.

Boosting: This is a unique Odysee feature. When you "Boost" a video with LBC, you aren't giving the money away; you are "staking" it on that video. This pushes the video higher in Odysee’s search results. You can take your LBC back (un-stake) at any time.

4. Tips for Success in 2025

Interact with the Community: Odysee users value engagement. Replying to comments often earns you more tips than the video itself.

Use Tags Wisely: Odysee doesn't have a "suggested" algorithm as powerful as YouTube's. People find content via tags like #gaming, #news, or #technology.

Post Exclusive Content: To move your audience from YouTube to Odysee, post "uncut" versions or early-access videos that are only available on Odysee.