BitTorrent Lays Off Half of Its Staff

SAN FRANCISCO — The company behind file-sharing system BitTorrent has laid off 18 employees — about half of its staff — and may drop plans to challenge iTunes with its own network.

In August, the company let go 20 percent of its workforce in August and the layoffs are “showing signs of serious trouble while [BitTorrent] tries to commercialize its technology,” according to a New York Times report.

As an open-source technology protocol, BitTorrent represents about half the world’s Internet traffic.

The future of BitTorrent Entertainment Network, once heralded as a challenger to iTunes, is uncertain. The company’s 20 employees will work on BitTorrent DNA, a content delivery network that helps media and video game companies distribute their products cheaply over the Internet.

On Friday, BitTorrent announced that it was promoting Eric Klinker, who served as chief technology officer, to CEO. The company's co-founder, Ashwin Navin, has announced he's leaving the company.

Related:  

Copyright © 2026 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More News

Ofcom: AVS Group Has Not Paid $1.3 Million Fine

AVS Group Ltd. has not paid the penalty of 1 million pounds, or approximately $1.3 million, that Ofcom imposed on the company for failure to implement robust age checks on 18 adult websites, the U.K. media regulator disclosed on Monday.

AV Bulletin: Loopholes and Lawsuits

This roundup provides an update on the latest news and developments on the age verification front as it impacts the adult industry.

Utah 'Porn Tax' Bill Will Head to Governor's Desk

A bill that would tax adult websites and make them liable if minors circumvent geolocation has passed the Utah state legislature and will soon head to the office of Gov. Spencer Cox for signature or veto.

Flirt4Free Co-Founder Gregory Clayman Passes Away

Gregory Clayman, a pioneering figure in the live cam sector and cofounder of the long-running webcam platform Flirt4Free, has passed away.

Pornhub to Restrict Access in Australia as AV Rules Take Effect

Pornhub parent company Aylo will restrict access to its free video-sharing platforms in Australia in response to new age verification regulations, the company confirmed Thursday.

ASACP Announces F2F as 1st Gold Sponsor

The Association of Sites Advocating Child Protection (ASACP) has announced Friends2Follow (F2F) has upgraded its sponsorship and become the organization’s first Gold Sponsor.

House Committee Approves Online Safety Bill With Federal AV Requirement

The U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce on Thursday passed the Kids Internet and Digital Safety (KIDS) Act, which includes provisions to make age verification by adult websites federal law.

Segpay Adds 'Pay by Bank (UK)' Payment Solution

Segpay has added the Pay by Bank (UK) option to its direct payments solutions.

Creator Verification Platform 'VerifiedCollab' Launches

Performer Eli Thomas has launched VerifiedCollab, a verification platform for creators and producers.

House Committee to Weigh Online Safety Bill With Federal AV Requirement

The U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce will meet Thursday to consider and potentially amend the Kids Internet and Digital Safety (KIDS) Act, which includes provisions to make age verification by adult websites federal law.

Show More