FAQ

Common questions about what Livepeer is, how the protocol and network differ, and where to go next.

This FAQ answers the most common About-tab questions and points to the deeper page when the short answer is not enough.

Livepeer Network Participants

Livepeer operates with multiple actors, both on-chain (protocol) and off-chain (network & community).

Protocol-Defined Actors

• Orchestrator: A bonded node operator that claims work on-chain. Orchestrators maintain active LPT stake, set fee-sharing percentages, and call the on-chain reward function each round. They earn ETH fees from broadcasters and LPT from inflation. (Messari: “Orchestrators (node operators) route transcoding & AI jobs… earning ETH fees and LPT rewards”.)
• Gateway (Broadcaster): A stateless demand-side node. Gateways submit video or AI jobs to the network and pay the node that completes the work. They effectively bridge an input stream into Livepeer, handling micropayment tickets on-chain.
• Delegator: A token holder who stakes LPT behind one or more orchestrators. Delegators strengthen network security and decentralization. In exchange, they receive a portion of the node’s rewards (both mint emissions and usage fees) according to their stake. As one Livepeer blog notes, “Delegators earn a share of both token emissions (while they last) and usage-based fees”.

Network-Defined Actors

• Transcoder / AI Worker: A compute node (often a GPU) that performs the actual encoding or inference. Workers do not hold stake themselves; they operate under an Orchestrator.

Network Participants

• Developers & Builders: Software teams building on Livepeer. This includes decentralised video apps (e.g. on Web3 social networks) and infrastructure tools. Messari notes Livepeer is used by projects ranging from decentralised streaming platforms to tokenised music apps.
• Livepeer Foundation: A non-profit entity formed to guide ecosystem growth. The Foundation coordinates long-term strategy and funding, runs community programmes (like advisory boards), and helps align core protocol development with the open-source community.
• Special Purpose Entities (SPEs): Community-approved teams funded by the on-chain treasury. SPEs tackle public goods for Livepeer (e.g. building dev tools, infrastructure). For example, Livepeer’s ecosystem has active SPEs like LiveInfra and LISAR working on network upgrades and on-ramp infrastructure.

Ecosystem Participants

• End-Users: Consumers of content powered by Livepeer. This includes viewers of live streams, users of AI-enhanced media apps, and anyone who benefits from the network’s capabilities without directly interacting with it. For example, fans watching a MetaDJ performance powered by Livepeer are end-users who experience the network’s impact without needing to understand its technical details.
• AI Artists & Content Creators: Performers and creators who use Livepeer’s tools (like Daydream) to produce content. For example, MetaDJ used Daydream to let fans shape the live visuals in real time. Any streamer, musician, or videographer can leverage the network for novel AI-enhanced experiences.

What is Livepeer in one sentence?

Livepeer is a protocol and open network for real-time video and AI compute, coordinated through on-chain incentives and off-chain execution.

Start with Livepeer Overview for the full explanation.

What is the difference between the protocol and the network?

The protocol is the on-chain coordination layer. It handles staking, rewards, payments, and governance.

The network is the off-chain execution layer. It handles routing, compute, verification, and marketplace behaviour.

Read Protocol Overview and Network Overview together for the clearest split.

What is LPT used for?

LPT is used for staking, delegation, and governance. It is not the token used to pay for ordinary video or AI jobs.

See Livepeer Token and Protocol Economics.

Where do I find contract addresses?

Use the dedicated reference page at Contract Addresses.

For contract relationships and protocol context, see Blockchain Contracts.

Where should I start if I am evaluating Livepeer?

Use the About navigator first, then follow the evaluation reading path.

Start with Navigator, then continue to Evaluating Livepeer.

Where can I look up terms used in this section?

Use Glossary for About-specific terminology and Livepeer Glossary for broader term coverage.