Theta Network: Theta welcomes web comedy leader FailArmy as its next premium content partner to THETA.tv, Castr adds THETA.tv as new publish destination, Mainnet 2.0 reaches 1,300+ active Guardian Nodes and about 60% of THETA staked

Published in

Paradigm

13 min readAug 27, 2020

Biweekly update vol. 50, 13th August — 27th August

Greetings, Theta community! The past two weeks have brought a number of significant tidings which are the main focus of the current report. So let’s dig into what’s new.
First and foremost, Theta Network welcomes web comedy leader FailArmy as its next premium content partner to THETA.tv global streaming platform! FailArmy counts more than 60 million fans across YouTube and social media, and will now be available 24/7 on THETA.tv. FailArmy streams on THETA.tv will be powered by Theta’s innovative blockchain, which lets users earn TFUEL rewards for sharing their video stream with others in the network, peer-to-peer and decentralized. FailArmy joins THETA.tv as it continues to enrich its content offering beyond esports into genres including classic movies from MGM Studios, live poker (World Poker Tour), breathtaking live events (NASA / first SpaceX manned launch on May 27), and live streamed virtual conferences (such as Consensus by CoinDesk, Crypto Asia Summit and Virtual Blockchain Week), with more to come down the road. Building on THETA.tv’s traditional base of live esports streaming, this new content is drawing diverse audiences from around the world to watch content, share their video with other users, and earn TFUEL rewards for their network contributions.
You all know about THETA Live Embed, a new turnkey product that allows 24/7 THETA.tv Esports live streaming content to be added to almost any website, blog, or social media platform with minimal technical effort. As you have gleaned, THETA Live Embed is now live with about 20 partner sites! Castr is the latest website where you can watch THETA.tv streamers and earn TFUEL. And more THETA Live Embed partners coming soon with their streamlined new integration process. It’s all part of the strategy to get Theta tech in the hands of as many partners as possible, getting users earning TFUEL, and showing the value Theta Network can bring to all stakeholders in video streaming.
Finally yet importantly, these weeks, Exclusive AMA with Harmony Protocol CEO Stephen Tse took place on THETA.tv, as well as Live AMA with Chiliz (CHZ). Plus, tune in now to watch the NANA Women’s Equality Day Panel live on THETA.tv!
There will be more stirring news on the way, so stay in touch!

Development

GitHub metrics:

THETA has public repositories and private repositories. Overall, the Project has frequent commits to the collection of repositories.

Developer activity (from Coinlib.io):

Theta Mainnet 2.0 reaches 1,300+ active Guardian Nodes and about 60% of THETA staked!

Theta Mainnet 2.0 launch has been a huge success, with the codebase forking to 2.0 code without a hitch, and widespread coverage of the launch partnership with Google Cloud. But what’s most important for the long-term is the launch of mainnet Guardian Node staking, which brings in the Theta community to create a truly decentralized Theta Network.

What’s the point? Theta decentralized consensus

Why do all these nodes matter? Theta Mainnet 2.0 introduced Theta’s novel Multi-BFT Consensus. Community-run Guardian Nodes now take a direct role in block production, finalizing blocks at regular 100 block intervals and making up a second layer of defense after the Validator Nodes that produce each block. With Guardian Nodes joining the network and staking, now no single group or entity controls the majority of THETA staked, marking a significant milestone toward Theta’s decentralization.

Theta Mainnet 2.0 code is open-source and can be found on the Theta GitHub.

Guardian Nodes will join the existing Enterprise Validator Nodes running on Theta Mainnet 2.0, run by Google, Blockchain Ventures, gumi Cryptos, Binance.

Guardian Nodes’ future importance

Guardian Nodes and their staked tokens become even more important to the Theta protocol later, when protocol governance votes are introduced. As Theta continues to develop and focus on decentralization as a core goal for 2020, Guardian Nodes will have a say in governance of the protocol itself, voting on whether to approve code upgrades, design changes, and the way nodes operate and earn rewards. The team trusts that the Theta community will continue to take a greater role in the development of Theta Network, and will make the right decisions to ensure Theta becomes the leading blockchain protocol for video and data delivery.

How to get started running a Guardian Node

Want to join the Theta Network and run your own Guardian Node? Here’s how you can get started:

Guardian Node setup guide

Guardian Node FAQs

Why the team is creating the Theta blockchain?

The team’s long-term vision for the Theta Network is a decentralized end-to-end protocol for processing and delivering data, not just video but all types of data. Decentralized data delivery, at the edge, powered by you. That vision encompasses three main components that are to be powered by Theta edge nodes, run by the community:

Data Delivery — Initially focused on video delivery, and implemented on THETA.tv and multiple other video platforms coming soon. But the scope of decentralized data delivery goes beyond video into file updates, game patches, OS and app updates, web content, and any other form of data delivery.

Data Storage — As Theta expands from livestreaming applications to Video-on-Demand (VoD), app updates, and game patches, it becomes necessary to have a decentralized solution to data storage. Theta nodes can cache the most in-demand live and static content and files to ensure they are able to contribute to the network and earn TFUEL.

Data Encoding — By allowing Theta nodes to perform ingest/encoding of raw video and data as close to the source as possible, particularly for live events (professional sports, concerts, conferences, for example), the Theta Network will truly become an end-to-end solution for video and data. Building out this functionality is a natural extension for the Theta team, based on the team’s experience encoding live VR events in 2016 for SamsungVR, Intel IEM, ESL, and others.

Awareness and social encounters

April 22nd — August 14th: Theta hackathon hosted by DevPost is over! Great submissions all around, and the top 3 winners are:

1. GuardianMonitor (https://guardianmonitor.io)

2. G Pool (https://gpool.io)

3. Theta / Amazon Fire stick integration Thanks to all entrants!

Check them out here: https://theta-labs.devpost.com/submissions

Finance

Live Network Statistics: August 27th, 2020

You can now see the distribution of Pre-Guardian Nodes, Edge Cachers, and Enterprise Validator Nodes in real-time at thetatoken.org! Scroll down to “Live Network Stats”, which will update each time you refresh the page.

Edge Cachers: 1948

Guardian Nodes: 1330

Enterprise Validator Nodes: 13

Information from Theta explorer:

Total THETA staked to Theta blockchain has just passed 500,000,000 tokens, more than 50% of total supply

For information on Theta Guardian Nodes and how to join, see the announcement blog.

A step by step video on how to install the PGN/UEC.

Latest PGN client download link for Windows only.

If you want to become a Guardian node click here.

Theta markets:

Information from Coinlib.io:

Partnerships and team members

Theta Network welcomes web comedy leader FailArmy as its next premium content partner to THETA.tv global streaming platform:

Theta Network welcomes web comedy leader FailArmy as its next premium content partner to THETA.tv global streaming platform!

FailArmy counts more than 60 million fans across YouTube and social media, and will now be available 24/7 on THETA.tv. FailArmy streams on THETA.tv will be powered by Theta’s innovative blockchain, which lets users earn TFUEL rewards for sharing their video stream with others in the network, peer-to-peer and decentralized.

FailArmy programming includes popular series like “Fails of the Week,” which features fan-submitted fail videos from all over the world and regularly receives tens of millions of views per installment; additional FailArmy series include Recording for Duty, FailFactory, and FailArmy Playlist. FailArmy receives more than 1 billion video views per month across digital platforms. With many of us still stuck at home this summer, users can stay safe and enjoy great new content from FailArmy on THETA.tv, and earn some TFUEL at the same time!

FailArmy joins THETA.tv as it continues to enrich its content offering beyond esports into genres including classic movies from MGM Studios, live poker (World Poker Tour), breathtaking live events (NASA / first SpaceX manned launch on May 27), and live streamed virtual conferences (such as Consensus by CoinDesk, Crypto Asia Summit and Virtual Blockchain Week), with more to come down the road. Building on THETA.tv’s traditional base of live esports streaming, this new content is drawing diverse audiences from around the world to watch content, share their video with other users, and earn TFUEL rewards for their network contributions.

“THETA.tv’s young audience of highly engaged users is a great fit for FailArmy, and we are confident that the FailArmy programming will resonate with and engage THETA.tv’s diverse and international viewers,” said Cameron Saless, Chief Business Officer of FailArmy parent Jukin Media.
“We’re always looking for exciting new content to our growing Theta Network userbase, and FailAmy is a perfect addition to our expanded content strategy at Theta.tv,” said Mitch Liu, CEO, Theta Labs. “Now, our global users can enjoy FailAmy content 24/7 while they earn TFUEL rewards on the Theta Network. We’re excited to explore more strategic collaboration with Jukin Media in the future.”

Viewers can download THETA.tv on the App Store, Google Play, Android TV or visit www.theta.tv.

Network

August 13th: Exclusive AMA with Harmony Protocol CEO Stephen Tse took place on THETA.tv.

August 18th: Live AMA with Chiliz ($CHZ).

MGM Studios brings Hollywood classics to THETA.tv powered by Theta Network

THETA.tv, the next-generation esports video platform powered by Theta blockchain, has finalized a commercial licensing agreement with MGM Studios for rights to stream classic movies from MGM’s venerable film library throughout the summer of 2020. One of the world’s oldest film studios, MGM made history with the launch of talking pictures in 1928–1929 and has created a century’s worth of beloved classics,including The Wizard of Oz, Gone with the Wind and the iconic James Bond franchise. In 1979, it spun off MGM Las Vegas Resorts International, now a global leader in entertainment and gaming. MGM becomes the first major Hollywood studio to stream their content to THETA.tv, making this collaboration a strategic step forward in bringing blockchain adoption to mainstream users. For the first time, the traditional Hollywood media & entertainment business joins forces with the cutting edge blockchain industry.

This partnership enables THETA.tv users throughout North America to ‘stay-at-home’ this June and July and enjoy a series of ‘MGM Movie Night’ events featuring legendary MGM titles, including The Return of the Living Dead, Invasion of the Body Snatchers, The Amityville Horror, and more classics. As always, these MGM movies on THETA.tv are powered by Theta’s innovative blockchain, which lets users earn TFUEL rewards for sharing their video stream with others in the network, peer-to-peer, decentralized.

This is Theta’s first content deal with a major Hollywood studio as it continues to enrich its content offering beyond esports into genres including live poker (World Poker Tour), breathtaking live events (NASA / first SpaceX launch), and live streamed virtual conferences (such as Consensus by CoinDesk, Crypto Asia Summit and Virtual Blockchain Week), and more to come down the road. Now there are even more ways for Theta users to enjoy great content and earn Theta TFUEL rewards in partnership with MGM on THETA.tv!

Theta Live Embed

Theta Live Embed is a new turnkey product that allows 24/7 Theta.tv e-sports live streaming content to be added to almost any website, blog, or social media platform with minimal technical effort. Developers need only add a few lines of JavaScript to their site. Theta developers made their product seamlessly integrate with any site’s infrastructure. Popular games like Fortnite, League of Legends, and CS:GO streamed through Theta Live Embed are fully integrated with the Theta Network blockchain.

THETA.tv now available to over 200,000 streamers on CastrHQ as a multistream destination.

More partners and adoption on the way. Apply to add THETA to your own website at: EMBED.THETA.TV

You can see THETA Live Embed in action on each site here: G FUEL Sizzle Popcorn Sweeps God Mode Unlocked EasternMediaGG Cruz Ctrl Zetetic News Network Alt Customs JSCO Artesian Builds ://zetetic.news /jscohub.com klackle.com BTC Upload TSports.TV mece.theta.tv bkwebdesigns.com/thetatv

To learn more about THETA Live Embed or to integrate it into your own site, visit embed.theta.tv.

Theta Network x NASA

The Theta Network team is working with the NASA teams to bring you a livestreams of ROCKET LAUNCHES !Watch Rocket Launches. Earn TFUEL. To the Moon!

NASA.THETA.TV

Roadmap

Theta Development Roadmap 2020 — Updated:

Now that Theta Mainnet 2.0 is launched and Guardian Node staking is live, Theta Network is more secure and more decentralized than ever. More than 1,330 Guardian Nodes are now up and running. After reviewing plans for the rest of the year, the team has made a few changes to the development roadmap for the rest of 2020.

The biggest areas of focus will be improving the usability of Theta Network for content creator and streaming platforms. For content creators, it means building out the Theta Edge Node so that fully-decentralized streams can be broadcast (codenamed ‘Anycast’) to Theta users that can’t be censored. In the Edge Node’s current beta form, you can set up your own livestream and broadcast directly to other Theta Edge Nodes entirely peer to peer — with no CDN involved. It might seem pretty basic, but this is actually the core on which entirely decentralized streaming platforms could be based on. Next steps will be to add ways to share your stream IDs with other Edge Nodes (if you choose to), notify followers that you are going live, and even message other Edge Node users fully p2p. The goal is to provide the underlying pieces so that anyone can build their own decentralized streaming site or app around the Edge Node infrastructure — for content that can’t be de-platformed, censored, or otherwise restricted.

For existing platforms with their own content rights libraries, adding smart contracts to Theta mainnet will enable decentralized DRM via non-fungible tokens (NFTs). This way content rights holders can let their content be shared over Theta Network without fear of piracy. Think of a movie studio that distributes their movies over an online streaming platform to users who purchase/rent them, or a concert promoter that sells access to live concerts from major recording artists. They are highly concerned about piracy when considering p2p video sharing. By providing NFTs to each legitimate paying customer, these content rights holders can get comfortable distributing their content p2p without fearing piracy or other illegal distribution of the content they own.

Q2 2020

Theta Mainnet 2.0 goes live with Multi-BFT consensus mechanism and growing number of enterprise validator nodes
Guardian Nodes launch on Theta Mainnet 2.0
Smart Contracts Sandbox testnet released
THETA.tv app releases on AndroidTV platform

Q3 2020

Video-on-Demand (VOD) streaming added to THETA.tv
Release of generalized Turing-complete smart contract support to testnet_sapphire
Beta of “Anycast” Theta Edge Node platform (previously Universal Edge Cacher) featuring local ingest and encoding of streams, end-to-end decentralized streaming, decentralized chat and event notifications
Beta of Theta blockchain data repository using ETL / Google BigQuery

Q4 2020

Release of generalized Turing-complete smart contracts to Theta Mainnet 2.0
Release of “Anycast” Theta Edge Node platform
Beta of Theta oracle feed to increase transparency to stakeholders including advertisers, publishers and content creators
Beta of decentralized DRM (digital rights management) system for permissioned streams, using NFTs (non-fungible tokens) as DRM authentication method to purchase and access encrypted digital content

2021 and beyond

Coming soon

Throughout Q3 and Q4, the team will share more updates on where they see the Theta project heading, progress on the roadmap, and what’s to come in 2020. They’ll also be highlighting community projects that are building out the Theta ecosystem, and how you can get involved to help build Theta Network yourself (or jump into the Theta GitHub and Theta Hackathon today!).