Auf Odysee: Die Rolle von Blockchain-Technologie für die Monetarisierung im rechtsextremen Onlinemilieu

The report analyzes the Odysee platform as a case study in how blockchain-based 'incentivised' social media allows right-wing extremists to bypass traditional demonetization and generate income. Through content and financial analysis, the authors find that while the platform is not exclusively right-wing, its libertarian architecture and LBRY Credits (LBC) provide financial incentives and a 'censorship-resistant' haven. Findings show that established scene figures benefit most, with some accounts earning significant sums, though total earnings are highly volatile due to LBC price fluctuations. The report argues that 'decentralized' marketing often masks the platform's ability to perform central moderation like geoblocking and delisting, and recommends that regulators include these monetization affordances in action plans against right-wing extremism.

• Odysee utilizes an 'incentivised' model where users are rewarded with LBRY Credits (LBC) for activities such as publishing, liking, and spreading posts, which is particularly attractive to right-wing extremists and conspiracy theorists whose content is often removed from mainstream platforms.
• The platform's search algorithm is influenced by the amount of LBC deposited during a video upload, reflecting a libertarian ideology where market transactions determine visibility.
• Despite marketing itself as 'censorship-resistant', Odysee employs central moderation tools such as delisting and geoblocking to make content unavailable in specific regions, including Germany.
• A qualitative analysis of 55 videos from 11 successful channels showed that news and commentary formats are most common, and content related to current political developments generally receives more financial support than 'classic' right-wing themes like historical revisionism.
• Financial analysis of 53 accounts with over 500 followers revealed a total receipt of 1,652,786.96 LBRY Credits, which would equate to approximately 122,306 USD based on the average closing price over 16 months.
• The earning potential on Odysee is extremely volatile and dependent on the LBC exchange rate; for example, the value of credits held by the studied accounts dropped from approximately 7,578.19 USD on April 13, 2022, to 3,839.48 USD by May 13, 2022.
• The most successful accounts on Odysee are typically those already known in the right-wing and conspiracy milieux, using the platform as a backup or part of a multi-platform strategy rather than gaining fame organically on Odysee.

APA

Matlach, P., Hammer, D., & Schwieter, C. (2022). Auf Odysee: Die Rolle von Blockchain-Technologie für die Monetarisierung im rechtsextremen Onlinemilieu. Institute for Strategic Dialogue. https://www.isdglobal.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/auf-odysee-die-rolle-von-blockchain-technologie-fur-die-monetarisierung-in-rechtsextremen-onlinemilieu.pdf

Chicago

Matlach, Paula, Dominik Hammer, and Christian Schwieter. Auf Odysee: Die Rolle von Blockchain-Technologie für die Monetarisierung im rechtsextremen Onlinemilieu. Institute for Strategic Dialogue, 2022. https://www.isdglobal.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/auf-odysee-die-rolle-von-blockchain-technologie-fur-die-monetarisierung-in-rechtsextremen-onlinemilieu.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Matlach |first1=Paula |last2=Hammer |first2=Dominik |last3=Schwieter |first3=Christian |title=Auf Odysee: Die Rolle von Blockchain-Technologie für die Monetarisierung im rechtsextremen Onlinemilieu |publisher=Institute for Strategic Dialogue |date=2022 |url=https://www.isdglobal.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/auf-odysee-die-rolle-von-blockchain-technologie-fur-die-monetarisierung-in-rechtsextremen-onlinemilieu.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{matlach2022auf, author = {Matlach, Paula and Hammer, Dominik and Schwieter, Christian}, title = {{Auf Odysee: Die Rolle von Blockchain-Technologie für die Monetarisierung im rechtsextremen Onlinemilieu}}, institution = {Institute for Strategic Dialogue}, year = {2022}, url = {https://www.isdglobal.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/auf-odysee-die-rolle-von-blockchain-technologie-fur-die-monetarisierung-in-rechtsextremen-onlinemilieu.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }