Introducing the Theta Edge Node (beta) — the latest evolution of the Theta Edge Cacher. The Edge Node allows you to relay video streams over the Theta Network and earn TFUEL, providing support to THETA.tv and other upcoming video platforms using the Theta Network. With the latest update, you can now also broadcast your own video streams and have them distributed over the Theta Edge Network! This allows you to stream entirely peer-to-peer without any centralized CDN involved.

To start using the Theta Edge Node, download the app for Windows or Mac. If you have an existing version of the Theta Edge Cacher / PGN app, your software will automatically update to this newest version. This also means that for the first time, Mac users can natively relay video over the Theta Network, which should boost the number of Theta Network nodes well over 1,000 and make for a more robust edge network.

When the Edge Node app starts up, if you are a brand new user you’ll be asked to enter your Theta wallet address:

If you just want to relay other users’ video streams and earn TFUEL, then you’re all set! The “Edge Cacher” section shows your current relaying Status and your Balance (earnings to date). In this beta version of the Edge Node, earnings are distributed at the end of each month. In the production version of the app, earnings will be distributed to your Theta address in real-time.

To broadcast your own stream, you’ll need to use a streaming app like OBS Studio (Open Broadcaster Software, which is free and open-source). If you are using OBS, in the Stream settings set your Service to ‘Custom’, your Server to “rtmp://localhost:1935/stream/”, and make up a Stream Key.

Then set up your Streaming source and click “Start Streaming”. (If you haven’t used OBS Studio before, you can find a quick tutorial here.

Once you are set up and streaming through OBS, your stream is now being broadcast over the Theta Edge Network! Anyone running the Theta Edge Node can now watch your stream by accessing the Theta Edge Player and entering your unique stream ID. Your stream can also be accessed directly at the URL “https://edge-player-beta.thetatoken.org/?streamId=[STREAM ID]”, where [STREAM ID] represents the address indicated as “My Stream ID” in the Theta Edge Node app. In the example pictured above, that would be “https://edge-player-beta.thetatoken.org/?streamId=0x9d8ffb2924c980d2843b7c780ad5963dbb9a87a3”. Watching via the direct URL requires an HLS stream player like the Chrome extension Native HLS Playback or VLC player.

You can also watch a demo stream we’ve set up here as long as you’re running the Theta Edge Node app.

It is normal to take a few seconds for the stream to load; since this is purely peer-to-peer streaming, it takes some time for a peer to connect and buffer the stream.

We’re excited for the next phase of the Theta decentralized streaming network, and there’s more to come ahead of Theta Mainnet 2.0 launch in May! Our team appreciates the community’s continued support and help testing the Theta protocol, and if you have any feedback/questions on the Edge Node or otherwise, please contact us at support@thetatoken.org.