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content/blog/introducing-the-livepeer-foundation.md

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-The Livepeer Foundation is a new, neutral entity created to steward the next phase of growth, decentralization, and ecosystem participation across the Livepeer network. Since its early days, Livepeer has grown from a proof of concept into open video infrastructure supporting millions of minutes of video per week. The Foundation continues that mission — as coordinating infrastructure across a maturing ecosystem.
+We're excited to announce the launch of the Livepeer Foundation: a new, neutral entity that will steward the next phase of growth, decentralization, and ecosystem participation across the Livepeer network.
 
-## How we got here
+This launch comes at a pivotal time. As the Livepeer network scales rapidly, new opportunities are emerging to strengthen coordination, expand participation, and improve transparency across a growing ecosystem.
 
-Livepeer launched in 2017 with a vision for open video infrastructure. Over the years, the protocol evolved — from mainnet launch to transcoding at scale — supported primarily by Livepeer Inc and a growing community.
+The Foundation's mission continues the Livepeer project's original vision: to build the world's open video infrastructure. That vision is now more urgent than ever as AI-powered media creation drives increasing demand for decentralized, cost-effective GPU compute.
 
-As the network matured, independent Special Purpose Entities (SPEs) began delivering upgrades and research across the stack. Community governance emerged through onchain treasury proposals, and new contributors joined across verticals.
+### How we got here:
 
-But with growth comes complexity. Coordination across multiple teams, research priorities, strategic investment, and marketing demanded a dedicated, neutral entity — not a company or a DAO, but something in between. The Foundation fills that role.
+Over the past seven years, Livepeer has evolved from a pioneering decentralized protocol into one of the most actively used networks in the DePIN category. Livepeer Inc. led the early development of the core infrastructure, launched a production-grade livestream transcoding network, and helped establish a global base of node operators. Today, Inc. is focused on unlocking demand, especially around real-time video AI, through initiatives like Daydream and other application-facing efforts.
 
-## Why the Foundation, why now?
+Meanwhile, a broader ecosystem of contributors has emerged. The Community Fund, governed by orchestrators, has enabled the rise of independent Special Purpose Entities (SPEs), which are now delivering upgrades, tooling, and research across the stack. This growth has increased the pace of innovation, but also the complexity of coordination. The [Cascade proposal,](https://mirror.xyz/livepeer.eth/bCruUtv0PJWWlFxfbCMATGM_h15hUncwvyFW1A3z7Ag) introduced in 2024, surfaced a clear opportunity: to focus the ecosystem around real-time AI video pipelines, and to organize the network's efforts with greater clarity and shared direction.
 
-Several forces converged. Real-time video AI is generating new demand. Ecosystem developers are stepping up to expand the infrastructure. Fresh talent is entering the space.
+The Livepeer Foundation was created in response: to serve as connective tissue across this maturing ecosystem, coordinate the work of core teams, define a long-term roadmap, and help the network scale with intention.
 
-The Foundation provides a lean coordination layer: structurally minimal, credibly neutral, and oriented around long-term network health. It's designed to support — not control — the diverse actors building on and for Livepeer.
+### Why the Foundation, why now?
 
-## A vehicle for ecosystem participation
+We believe that the Livepeer project is now uniquely positioned to scale its reputation as the world's leading open video infrastructure network and as one of the most important decentralized infrastructure projects globally.
 
-The Foundation's structure is organized around three pillars:
+Real-time video AI is driving new demand and opening up new possibilities. Developers and operators across the ecosystem are stepping up to scale the infrastructure, and new talent is entering the space with urgency. This momentum presents a unique opportunity to introduce a coordination layer that is structurally lean, operationally minimal, and credibly neutral.
 
-### Strategy & Vision
+We chose a foundation structure because it offers neutrality and a familiar operational model with proven relevance across the Web3 ecosystem. It also reflects the global nature of Livepeer—a network with thousands of contributors across many jurisdictions.
 
-Advisory Boards focused on Network, Governance, Demand, and Markets ensure that strategic decisions reflect community input through structured stakeholder engagement.
+We're not building a traditional foundation. We're building something purpose-fit: a steward with a lightweight team designed to usher in the next chapter of progressive decentralization for the Livepeer project.
 
-### Core Network Development
+In this next chapter, the Foundation's role is to help the Livepeer project grow into a thriving ecosystem of founders, applications, and gateways—and to ensure that the network remains performant, secure, and accountable to its token holders.
 
-The Foundation coordinates research and development across Livepeer Inc and independent technical teams, supporting stable infrastructure while reducing centralization.
+### A vehicle for ecosystem participation
 
-### Ecosystem Growth
+![](/images/blog/introducing-the-livepeer-foundation/foundation-diagram.png)
 
-Programs target developers, founders, and contributors through gateway expansion and community engagement.
+The Livepeer Foundation aims to empower all ecosystem stakeholders to participate in the strategic direction of the Livepeer project, and easily contribute to the execution of the collective vision.
 
-## What's already underway
+The Foundation will implement repeatable, self-governing systems for strategy, development, and ecosystem growth:
 
-The Foundation has already begun work across its strategic priorities. Advisory boards are being recruited, community programs are in development, and coordination across SPEs and ecosystem contributors is underway. The Foundation is also working closely with Livepeer Inc to align technical roadmaps and ensure the network is positioned for the next wave of demand.
+**Strategy & Vision**
 
-## What comes next
+We're aligning ecosystem stakeholders around a long-term roadmap through structured Advisory Boards that offer ecosystem stakeholders direct and impactful input into network priorities. These boards—focused on Network, Governance, Demand, and Markets—ensure that strategic decisions reflect community input and evolving operational realities.
 
-The Foundation's roadmap is phased:
+**Core Network Development**
 
-- **2025:** Establish operations, launch Advisory Boards, drive real-time video AI adoption
-- **2026–2027:** Lead marketing, diversify gateway infrastructure, expand demand sources
-- **2028+:** Transition governance to the broader community
+We coordinate research, development, and tooling across Livepeer Inc and independent technical teams, known as Special Purpose Entities (SPEs). This approach supports the growth of stable, extensible infrastructure while reducing centralization and creating clear entry points for new contributors.
 
-## Meet the team
+**Ecosystem Growth**
 
-The Foundation launches with a lean, experienced team:
+We're focused on attracting and onboarding new developers, founders, and contributors through targeted programs, gateway expansion efforts, and ongoing community engagement. The goal is to support a wide range of use cases and build diversified demand that strengthens the network over time.
 
-- **Rich O'Grady** — Executive Director
-- **Rick Staa** — Technical Director
-- **Ben Perez** — Operations Director
-- **Joseph Birch** — Communications Lead
+In short, the Foundation's role is to serve the network — to support public goods, fill in coordination gaps, and ensure the ecosystem can scale with integrity.
 
-The Livepeer Foundation is just getting started. If you're a developer, researcher, or community member interested in contributing to the future of open video infrastructure, we'd love to hear from you.
+### What's already underway
 
-[Join the Livepeer community on Discord](https://discord.com/invite/livepeer)
+The Foundation's first process is already in motion: the launch of Advisory Boards.
+
+Advisory Boards are small, domain-specific groups made up of ecosystem contributors—focused on Network, Governance, Demand, and Markets—who bring practical experience and community perspective into strategic planning.
+
+These boards are an extension of the Foundation and serve a critical role in shaping the Livepeer roadmap.
+
+Their job is to identify emerging opportunities, evaluate potential initiatives, and recommend priorities that will help the ecosystem execute effectively. Most importantly, they help ensure that the people building, operating, and using the network have a meaningful voice in its future.
+
+### What comes next
+
+The Livepeer Foundation is now live—and this is just the beginning.
+
+In the months ahead, we'll focus on supporting the first Advisory Boards as they prepare to share their initial findings, coordinating development efforts across Livepeer Inc and technical SPEs, accelerating adoption of real-time video AI through targeted programs, and attracting new founders, developers, and researchers to help grow the ecosystem.
+
+Looking ahead, the Foundation will take on core stewardship responsibilities through a phased approach:
+
+- **2025 – Foundation Phase**
+  Establish core operations, launch Advisory Boards, and support efforts to drive real-time video AI capabilities and adoption.
+- **2026–2027 – Scaling Phase**
+  Lead project marketing, diversify gateway infrastructure, and support the expansion of proven demand sources.
+- **2028 and beyond – Decentralization Phase**
+  Transition full brand stewardship and strategic governance to the broader community.
+
+Livepeer was built to be open—from its architecture to its community. The Foundation exists to carry that principle forward: to help the network grow, adapt, and stay accountable to those who build and rely on it. This is the start of a new phase—one that invites contributors from across Web3 and beyond to play a direct role in shaping the future of open video.
+
+### Meet the team
+
+The Livepeer Foundation is structured as a non-profit entity focused on supporting the long-term growth and decentralization of the network. The Foundation will also operate its own node infrastructure and grow its capacity in step with the network's needs. Like all other special purpose entities in the Livepeer ecosystem, the Foundation's access to the on-chain treasury for specific initiatives is accountable to token holders"
+
+The initial team includes:
+
+- **Rich O'Grady**, Executive Director
+- **Rick Staa**, Technical Director
+- **Ben Perez**, Operations Director
+- **Joseph Birch**, Communications Lead
+
+This is just the beginning! If you're building in Web3, exploring real-time video AI, or care about open infrastructure—Livepeer is where you can shape what's next.
+
+[Join The Community](https://discord.gg/livepeer)