Livepeer

Decentralized GPU networks are demonstrating significant cost advantages over traditional cloud providers for AI video processing. **Key Performance Metrics:** - Processing over 1 million minutes of real-time AI video daily - 50-80% cost reduction compared to centralized cloud pricing - Pay-per-use model with automatic scaling The approach leverages globally distributed GPUs that would otherwise remain idle, creating a more efficient resource allocation model. This infrastructure has already proven successful with video transcoding applications. The model represents a practical alternative to services like AWS, offering both cost efficiency and scalability for compute-intensive AI workloads.

Livepeer's ecosystem documentation is now publicly accessible and open for community contributions. Builders can directly edit and improve how the protocol is explained, discovered, and integrated. This follows a documentation restructure initiative launched in September 2025, which aimed to modernize the docs with a stakeholder-focused, AI-first approach. The restructure targeted four key groups: developers, delegators, gateway operators, and orchestrators. The move enables the community to participate in shaping how Livepeer is presented to new users and developers. [View the forum discussion](https://forum.livepeer.org/t/rfp-documentation-restructure/3071/13?u=mehrdad)

Livepeer has distributed $19,000 from its treasury to support four critical open source projects: FFmpeg, OpenCV, ComfyUI, and oapi-codegen. The initiative goes beyond financial support - the ComfyUI maintainer now collaborates directly with Livepeer's AI SPE team on updates and improvements. This move demonstrates how web3 protocols can sustainably fund the open source infrastructure they rely on, creating tighter integration between projects and their dependencies.

The **AI x Open Media Forum** in Buenos Aires brought together 50+ participants for discussions on the future of open media infrastructure. **Key outcomes:** - Active conversations with [Coinbase](https://coinbase.com), [Story Protocol](https://storyprotocol.xyz), [Arweave](https://arweave.org), and XMTP - These discussions have evolved into **ongoing integration talks** led by the Livepeer Foundation - Forum featured symposium-style format with lightning talks and parallel creative/technical tracks **Major themes explored:** - Authenticity and provenance in media - Real-time video workflows - Trust across open media layers - Creative accessibility in high GPU cost regions A notable moment came from creator Franco, who highlighted how affordable compute enables creation in regions where GPU costs are prohibitive - underscoring the importance of open, accessible video AI infrastructure. The event concluded with a 500+ person celebration featuring Refraction x Livepeer, streamed live to Farcaster and Base App. [Read more details](https://forum.livepeer.org/t/rfp-devconnect-assembly/3101/6?u=mehrdad)

Livepeer's AI SPE has shipped production-ready custom workloads, allowing developers to bring their own containers to run custom AI jobs on the network. **Key developments:** - Embody has been running custom workloads for 6 months - Streamplace is preparing to launch soon - PyTrickle enables Python applications to join the network with a single package import This milestone follows the approval of the AI Video SPE Stage 3 proposal, which secured 35,000 LPT in funding. The initiative aims to unlock decentralized media-related AI compute jobs with real-time AI pipelines, batch and generative AI optimizations, and enhanced on-chain metrics. Developers can now leverage Livepeer's infrastructure for custom AI workloads, expanding the platform's capabilities beyond standard video processing. [Read the full retrospective](<https://forum.livepeer.org/t/ai-spe-phase-4-retrospective/3208>)

Livepeer Cloud SPE is rolling out network observability infrastructure in Q1 2026, introducing standardized SLA metrics, analytics tools, and public APIs. **Key developments:** - First-time access to transparent performance data for orchestrators and builders - Standardized metrics will enable better network monitoring - Public APIs will allow developers to integrate performance data into applications This builds on previous work from 2024, when the SPE proposed an AI Job Tester and Performance Leaderboard to increase visibility into the AI subnet. The new observability tools represent the next phase in making network performance more transparent and accessible. The initiative aims to help stakeholders—including orchestrators, gateway operators, and app builders—make more informed decisions based on concrete performance metrics rather than limited visibility. [View the proposal](https://explorer.livepeer.org/treasury/47675980806842999962173227987422002121354040219792725319563843023665050472833)

Livepeer has launched a Protocol R&D Special Purpose Entity (SPE) with a dedicated security team. **Key developments:** - 24/7 security coverage through Immunefi partnership - Continuous vulnerability response replacing volunteer-based model - Team responsible for shipping protocol upgrades - Operates public testnet infrastructure The move marks a shift from ad-hoc security practices to professional, round-the-clock protocol monitoring and maintenance. [View treasury proposal](https://explorer.livepeer.org/treasury/67253869199932483234551664403036205881217777786063955710174984983936506090761)

Livepeer has reactivated treasury accumulation through **LIP-101**, setting rewards at **10%** after the protocol's onchain treasury reached its 750,000 LPT cap in April. **What this means:** - Sustained funding returns for protocol security - Network development can continue - Strategic ecosystem investments unlocked as AI workloads grow The treasury had paused inflation contributions when it hit the cap. Before the pause, three major proposals were approved: - **FrameWorks SPE**: Improving transcoding stability and documentation - **Agent SPE Phase 2**: Building AI agent infrastructure with 3D avatars - **Streamplace 2.0**: Scaling livestreaming on AT Protocol [View the proposal](https://explorer.livepeer.org/voting/0xe1789067c3c0d11372326547999306bf56eacd69)

The Livepeer network completed significant governance decisions this quarter, with Advisory Boards delivering tactical recommendations across four key areas: **Governance improvements:** - Faster, transparent upgrade processes - New contributor accountability systems - Central coordination hub **Market optimization:** - Lower inflation with data-driven token models - Treasury capital activation for yield and liquidity - Enhanced dashboards for long-term capital attraction **Growth initiatives:** - Brand repositioning around real-time AI video - Strategic partnerships in AI and open social platforms - Funding for builder programs, hackathons, and artist activations **Network scaling:** - GPU compute expansion with new orchestration systems - Unified developer tooling (APIs, SDKs, observability) - Open model deployment support These recommendations represent months of collaboration and will shape the network's roadmap, funding, and execution phases. Builders can review the full recommendations on the [Livepeer forum](https://forum.livepeer.org/t/advisory-boards-phase-2-tactical-recommendations-2025/3025) and connect with the Foundation.

Livepeer is positioning itself as the infrastructure layer for real-time AI video processing across multiple sectors. **Key Applications:** - Gaming - Robotics - Data analysis - Creative tools - Security monitoring - Synthetic data generation **Core Value Proposition:** The platform offers sub-second latency for video processing and AI model execution, addressing a critical need across industries requiring real-time video AI capabilities. Livepeer presents itself as an alternative to closed cloud solutions, leveraging a community-powered network approach.