Zap.stream
Live streaming on Nostr. Stream, chat, and earn Bitcoin in real-time.
Overview
Zap.stream is a live streaming platform built on Nostr (NIP-53). Stream directly to your audience, receive zaps during broadcasts, and own your content on an open protocol — no corporate middleman required.
Key Features
Nostr-Native Streaming
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ Zap.stream │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ │
│ ┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐│
│ │ ││
│ │ 🔴 LIVE ││
│ │ ││
│ │ [Video Stream] ││
│ │ ││
│ │ ││
│ └─────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘│
│ │
│ Streamer: @alice ⚡ 42,000 sats zapped │
│ │
│ ┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐│
│ │ 💬 Chat ││
│ │ bob: Great stream! ⚡500 ││
│ │ carol: Learning so much ││
│ │ dave: ⚡1000 keep it up! ││
│ └─────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘│
│ │
│ [⚡ Zap Streamer] [⚡ Zap Chat] │
│ │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
Live Zapping
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ Real-Time Monetization │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ │
│ Viewer watches stream │
│ │ │
│ ▼ │
│ ⚡ Click "Zap Streamer" │
│ │ │
│ ▼ │
│ Choose amount (100, 500, 1000 sats) │
│ │ │
│ ▼ │
│ Lightning payment instant │
│ │ │
│ ▼ │
│ Streamer sees zap on screen │
│ Viewer appears in chat │
│ │
│ 100% goes to creator. No platform cut. │
│ │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
Multi-Platform Restreaming
Stream once, reach everywhere:
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ Restreaming │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ │
│ Your OBS → Zap.stream │
│ │ │
│ ├──► Nostr (zap.stream) │
│ ├──► Twitch (automatic) │
│ └──► YouTube (automatic) │
│ │
│ One stream. Multiple platforms. Maximum reach. │
│ │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
NIP-53 Live Events
Streams are Nostr events:
{
"kind": 30311,
"tags": [
["d", "unique-stream-id"],
["title", "My Live Stream"],
["summary", "Talking about Nostr"],
["streaming", "https://zap.stream/stream/abc"],
["status", "live"],
["starts", "1234567890"],
["p", "guest-npub", "relay", "host"]
],
"content": ""
}
Benefits:
- Discoverable across Nostr clients
- Comments via Nostr events
- Portable stream metadata
Features
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| HD Streaming | Up to 1080p |
| Live chat | Nostr-native |
| Zap streamers | Direct tips |
| Zap chatters | Reward engagement |
| Custom emojis | Nostr emoji sets |
| Restreaming | Twitch/YouTube |
| VOD | Archived streams |
| Clips | Highlight moments |
Getting Started
For Streamers
- Login with Nostr — Extension or nsec
- Get stream key — From dashboard
- Configure OBS:
Server: rtmp://zap.stream/live
Key: your-stream-key - Start streaming — Go live in OBS
- Receive zaps — Watch sats flow in
OBS Settings
Recommended settings:
| Setting | Value |
|---|---|
| Encoder | x264 or NVENC |
| Bitrate | 3000-6000 kbps |
| Resolution | 1920x1080 |
| FPS | 30 or 60 |
| Keyframe | 2 seconds |
For Viewers
- Visit zap.stream
- Browse live streams
- Login to chat and zap
- Support creators directly
Pricing
| Plan | Cost |
|---|---|
| Streaming | 21 sats/minute |
| Viewing | Free |
| Zaps | 100% to creator |
Pay as you stream with Lightning.
Comparison with Twitch
| Aspect | Zap.stream | Twitch |
|---|---|---|
| Ownership | You | Amazon |
| Monetization | Direct zaps | Subscriptions + bits |
| Platform cut | 0% | ~50% |
| Algorithm | None | Heavy |
| Censorship | Decentralized | Platform rules |
| Chat | Nostr-native | Proprietary |
| Portability | Full | None |
Content Types
Gaming
- Live gameplay
- eSports
- Retro gaming
- Speed runs
Tech
- Coding streams
- Bitcoin/Nostr development
- Tutorials
- Q&A sessions
Creative
- Music production
- Art creation
- Podcast recording
- Talk shows
Education
- Workshops
- Lectures
- Demonstrations
- AMAs
Technical Details
Infrastructure
OBS ──► Zap.stream ──► CDN ──► Viewers
│
├── Nostr relay (events)
├── Chat (Nostr)
└── Zaps (Lightning)
Supported Inputs
- RTMP from OBS/Streamlabs
- Cloudflare streaming
- Custom RTMP sources
Output
- HLS for playback
- Nostr events for discovery
- Lightning for payments
Mobile App
Available on Google Play:
- Watch streams
- Chat and zap
- Browse live content
Links
- Website: zap.stream
- GitHub: v0l/zap.stream
- NIP-53: Live activities spec
See Also
- Nostr Protocol — The protocol
- Alby — For zap payments
- noStrudel — Also supports NIP-53
- Zapstr — Audio streaming