They use blockchain-based video storage that needs its own token to incentivize video hosting. But crypto tokens seem like they need proof of work for security so it was hard to make that work.
They're switching from their original video storage blockchain to a more general purpose file storage / data processing blockchain thing called arweave that also has its own token.
It all seems designed to distract & divert from BitTorrent imo. That's where decentralized video was already figured out, without a blockchain. Nostr can just slowly merge with BitTorrent over time and I don't see how this arweave thing would compete.
Odysee is still a potentially worthwhile place to look for an audience. They should at least just add nostr logins.