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Beyond Twitch Streaming: Testing Abstract, Arena, Retake, Simps & Xeenon - First Impressions

Author

Blue Mojo
September 08, 2025

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Table of Contents

I’m Done With Twitch’s BS

I got tired of Twitch. After hours of streaming to audiences of 2 viewers (yourself and a bot trying to sell you fake viewers), it starts to feel pointless. Especially if you consider yourself more “live-streamer” than content creator. The algorithm buries small streamers unless you’ve been sponsored, are grinding a niche 24/7, or already have a following. Don’t even get me started on the revenue split or random copyright strikes.

Every small streamer I know struggles with shadowbans, discoverability issues, or simply finding the most effective way to monetize their livestream. Not to mention Twitch’s ad overload which tends to scare off the few viewers we do get.

So I tested a few Web3 streaming platforms to see if the experience would be any different. These platforms promise crypto rewards, better payouts, and put more power in the hands of the creator and their communities. How do these Web3 platforms stack up against Twitch, Kick, or YouTube? I’ve been testing them all, here’s what they don’t tell you.

Web3 Streaming Contenders

I consider myself a Web3 gaming content creator, but i’m all about the games NOT the crypto scams, cash grabs, and overall negative stigma attached to Web3 as a whole. I dove into platforms like Abstract.xyz, Arena.social, Retake.TV, Simps.com, and Xeenon.xyz to see how they would outshine Twitch, Kick, YouTube, while also testing how Web3 games are recieved on Web3-native platforms and gauging the differences in interaction between everyday viewers and a crypto native audience.

Platform Breakdown

  • Abstract.xyz: Launched in January 2025 as an Ethereum layer 2 blockchain with integrated streaming. Built by Luca Netz and the Pudgy Penguins team, Abstract focuses on eliminating web 3 friction through email based account creation and keeps complex blockchain aspects of web3 hidden (or abstracted away).

    • $ABS & $PENGU token: $ABS is the main utility and governance token of Abstract’s blockchain. $PENGU is the flagship meme and community token (initially launched on Solana)

    • XP Gamification Rewards: Experience points are rewarded for all platform activities, including streaming and collecting badges

    • 100+ Launch Partner Apps: Comprehensive ecosystem of gaming, trading, social apps, content creators, and developers

    • Minimal Crypto Knowledge Required: Abstract chain’s abstraction approach hides gas fees, wallet management, and allows for email based wallet management

    • NOTE: Abstract’s game catalog on launch recieved mixed reviews as there were not many ACTUAL gaming experiences vs casino apps. However their catalog is MUCH more extensive and grows every month

  • Arena.social: (formerly Stars Arena) Excels at social token monetization. The Arena App pioneered the social token model where fans buy “tickets” representing the creators influence.

    • $ARENA & $AVAX token: $ARENA is used for governance, staking, and platform rewards like tipping. $AVAX is used as the gas token (essential to pay transaction fees similar to taxes from the Avalanche blockchain).

    • Ticket Trading System: uses a model similar to “friend tech” keys, which unlock private chats, exclusive content, and provide fractional ownership

    • NOTE: I was lucky enough to test this system a few YEARS back in 2023-24 during alpha/beta testing and can appreciate the updates, changes, and pivots since launch (well done, keep cooking!)

  • Retake.tv: Newly launched platform where every creator automatically launches a creator token on Base with their first stream, unlocking instant monetization and community ownership.

    • $RETAKE token: Utility and governance token used for creator payouts, tipping, staking, and platform access (gas token is $ETH on BASE)

    • Support & Responsiveness: Social media team stays highly active and is known for quick, transparent engagement with creators and viewers (Shoot them a DM!)

    • NOTE: This is a very new platform and despite the fact that it feels like there are still a few things that need to be ironed out, I simply like the fact that this even exists on Base to give options to streamers on every chain

  • Simps.com: Also built on BASE infrastructure, Simps allows for instant payouts & real time earnings. Buy a key to access a room and watch a live stream. With every key purchased, the price goes up (streamers earn 5% of the key price).

    • Token Structure: Simps uses buyable room keys (kind of like Arena's model) that unlock livestreams exclusive to their rooms with keys that can be traded for ETH, letting fans earn as prices rise (with the inverse risk!)

    • Ease of Access: Simps boasts a 15 second signup time, along with an integrated Coinbase on ramp for non-crypto native users. Fund your wallet with a debit card, or even Apple pay

    • NOTE: Simps felt unique in that I loved the UI, and although they had a similar model Arena with their “Room” & “Room Key” model, it still felt dope and I immediately met a cool group of welcoming streamers which made me fall in love with the platform immediately

  • Xeenon.xyz: Xeenon is built on Solana and uses “CREDDIEZ” as their platform token

    • Creddiez & Creator Tokens: CREDDIEZ are used for tipping, subscribing, as well as buying creator tokens. Xeenon is the only live-streaming service from this list where you can buy, stake, and leverage against creator tokens on the platform.

    • Website Features: FREE Multi-streaming to RTMP powered platforms, party streams, built content manager and clipping system (to be updated), as well as a monthly creator token buyback, and MUCH much more

    • NOTE: As of the time of writing this article I am not sponsored by Xeenon (or any of the other platforms mentioned), however the Xeenon teams’ transparency, receptiveness, and willingness to innovate/pivot easily puts Xeenon as my favorite Web3 live-streaming platform

There are still a handful of others that I have yet to try out (like pump.fun, time.fun, zora.co & a few others) but this list is comprised of platforms I’ve been lucky enough to test out anywhere from a few months to a span of a couple years. All in all I feel the value of multi-streaming, especially to new and upcoming web3 platforms, is severely underrated and will only continue grow exponentially as blockchain technology and web3 gaming as a whole continues to mature and flourish.

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