Kick's journey from an upstart livestreaming service to a genuine big-game player over the past three years has been well-documented. The Stake-backed platform recently announced that it had reached 100 million users in its three years of existence while announcing major updates on its future.
What started as a "protest" platform following Twitch's 2022 gambling restrictions has evolved into a genuine global competitor. While Twitch, TikTok and YouTube remain the preferred destinations in the live streaming world, Kick has enhanced its standing as a genuine alternative to the two. Streams Charts traces the platform's time in the livestreaming spotlight, from its initial teething issues to its spree of signing big-name content creators to the recent milestone announced across social media.
What announcements did Kick make in early 2026?
On April 9, 2026, Kick co-founder Bijan Tehrani confirmed via X (formerly Twitter) that he and fellow co-founder Ed Craven have personally invested nearly $1 billion into the platform since its inception.
Tehrani now promises a series of updates that would make the user experience better for users and streamers. These included fixing discovery versus bots so "real creators with real communities will not have to compete against bots or rely on staff favoritism for discovery," and rebuilding the mobile app from scratch to make it more desirable to users.
Kick will also continue to operate on the 95/5 revenue split, meaning it will continue to favor creators, a significant draw compared to competitors. There is also no forced exclusivity, and unlike other platforms that may lock in streamers, the Neon platform will allow its influencers to broadcast on multiple platforms simultaneously (e.g., YouTube or TikTok) to maximize earnings and reach.
However, those who exclusively live broadcast for the Stake-backed platform will be rewarded accordingly. That is because the calculated revenue will be different when multistreaming (which may result in a reduction of revenue by 50%) compared to revenue generated for streaming exclusively on Kick.
How did Kick rise in a market dominated by Twitch and YouTube?
Kick launched in January 2023 with a single value proposition driving it ahead: the 95/5 revenue split. By allowing creators to keep 95% of their subscription earnings — compared to Twitch's standard 50% — the platform immediately became the "entrepreneur's choice" for streamers.
One of North American Twitch's biggest names, Tyler "trainswrecktv" Niknam, was a major mover to Kick. After the purple platform restricted gambling content from unlicensed casino sites in October 2022, he migrated to the upstart livestreaming service as a partial owner. His presence helped launch Kick in the best possible way as it looked to respond to Twitch's tightening restrictions on gambling-related content.
As Kick gained more and more notoriety, it pulled off a couple of coups in a short span of time. First came the signing of Twitch legend Felix "xQc" Lengyel in June 2023, shocking the industry as he signed a non-exclusive $100 million deal, signaling they had the capital to play in the big leagues.
In the same week, Kaitlyn "Amouranth" Siragusa, one of the most popular female Twitch streamers, held a live broadcast on the neon platform. The singular force behind the Pools, Hot Tubs, and Beaches category's addition to Amazon's platform, her Kick debut was symbolic as it happened on the seventh anniversary of her livestreaming career.
Incredibly, Amouranth was initially skeptical about the hype surrounding Kick, but then joked that she "also wants to get a $100 million deal" after seeing xQc's announcement. While the details of her contract with Kick, if there even is one, are unknown, the American sensation has already held several streams on the platform.
If sources are to be believed, Kaitlyn earned a substantial $38 million on Kick before returning to Twitch as part of the ongoing industry movement to take advantage of the multistreaming trend.
How has Kick diversified its global brand power over the last few years?
In 2024, Kick moved to shed its reputation as "just a slots platform". It pivoted heavily into high-profile sports and mainstream culture sponsorships, including renaming the Sauber Formula 1 team to Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber.
The livestreaming platform also entered the footballing space, partnering with Everton FC as a sleeve sponsor. Moreover, it entered a massive partnership with the UFC for exclusive behind-the-scenes content.
Unlike its first two years, when it concentrated on growth, 2025 was about stability. Kick continues to overhaul its mobile app, introduce more robust moderation tools, and expand the Kick Creator Incentive Program (KCIP), which pays streamers an hourly rate based on engagement rather than just subs.
By March 2026, Kick recording over 500 million Hours Watched (HW) in a single month had become a common occurrence. The platform’s demographic has shifted from a purely North American audience to a global one, with major creator hubs emerging in Latin America, the Middle East and Africa (MENA) and Japan.
Kick has also worked on expansion beyond gaming. Unlike early Twitch (which was gaming-first), it quickly diversified its Just Chatting and IRL streaming content, encouraged political and cultural discussions and supported event-based streams. This broadened appeal helped it move beyond niche gaming audiences.
What challenges does Kick face as it looks ahead to more growth?
Despite its growth, Kick still faces major hurdles, with brand safety concerns one of the major ones. That is why advertisers remain cautious due to controversial content, but with advertising revenue can be a massive shot in the arm, it remains to be seen how the company moves forward.
There's also the question of platform identity. Many fans and critics have asked if Kick is a creator-first utopia or a "wild west" alternative to platforms with more stringent rules, like Twitch and YouTube. The company has been working to make its streaming space safer and free of controversy, but the jury remains out in this regard.
To ensure it continues its steady growth, Kick will need to look at the big picture and start looking at things long-term. As one of the legitimate alternatives to the likes of Twitch and YouTube, it isn't just participating but reshaping the rules. Hence, the company and its officials will need to ensure its rules and policies mark a more viewer-friendly stance that reflects its increasing standing as a public entity with massive social responsibility.
FAQs
How many users has Kick reached by 2026?
Kick announced it had reached 100 million users in its three years of existence by early 2026.
What is Kick's revenue split for streamers?
Kick operates on a 95/5 revenue split, allowing creators to keep 95% of their subscription earnings.
Who are some major streamers that joined Kick?
Tyler "trainswrecktv" Niknam, Felix "xQc" Lengyel, and Kaitlyn "Amouranth" Siragusa are some of the major streamers who joined Kick.
What updates did Kick announce in early 2026?
Kick announced plans to fix discovery issues, rebuild its mobile app, and continue its 95/5 revenue split, with co-founders investing nearly $1 billion into the platform over the years.
