Rainberry, Inc.

Rainberry, Inc.
Company type	Private
Industry	Internet software and services
Founded	September 22, 2004; 22 years ago
Founder	Bram Cohen, Ashwin Navin
Headquarters	San Francisco, United States
Area served	Worldwide
Key people	Eric Klinker (former CEO), Steve Liu (CEO), Ashwin Navin (co-founder)
Products	μTorrent, BitTorrent Mainline, DLive
Number of employees	110 (2012)
Parent	TRON Foundation

Adapted from the English Wikipedia article Rainberry, Inc., available under CC BY-SA 4.0Updated 25 July 2025

Rainberry, Inc., previously known as BitTorrent, Inc., is a United States-based company recognized primarily for its leading software products, μTorrent and BitTorrent Mainline. Established on September 22, 2004, by innovators Bram Cohen and Ashwin Navin, the firm quickly became a notable player in the internet software and services sector. Under the leadership of CEO Eric Klinker, Rainberry successfully weathered the challenges of the Great Recession, securing a strong position in the peer-to-peer content distribution market.

The year 2018 marked a significant transition when Rainberry was purchased by the blockchain enterprise TRON Foundation, signaling a new strategic direction. Shortly after this acquisition, co-founder Bram Cohen exited the organization. Headquartered in San Francisco, California, Rainberry continues to operate globally, offering consumer freeware alongside embedded software solutions to a wide audience.

Among its subsidiaries is DLive, which broadens the company's reach within content delivery services. As of 2012, Rainberry's workforce numbered around 110 employees. In March 2022, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission brought fraud allegations against Rainberry concerning the unregistered sale of cryptocurrencies Tronix (TRX) and BitTorrent (BTT), affecting both its financial results and regulatory compliance.

Leading figures such as CEO Steve Liu and co-founder Ashwin Navin remain influential in steering Rainberry’s strategic vision and expansion efforts. The company’s organizational evolution reflects its integration into TRON’s investment framework and ongoing commitment to sustaining its role in the digital content distribution arena.

History

Founded in 2004 by Bram Cohen and Ashwin Navin, the company was a pioneer in decentralized peer-to-peer file sharing technology through its signature products, μtorrent and BitTorrent software. By the early 2010s, BitTorrent had amassed up to 250 million active monthly users, with its protocol responsible for nearly half of worldwide file-sharing bandwidth.

In 2018, the cryptocurrency startup Tron acquired Rainberry and launched BTT, a BitTorrent token aimed at monetizing the software platform that had previously depended on advertising revenue.

In early 2023, Rainberry shut down its San Francisco headquarters and reduced its staff by 92 employees. By March 2023, Justin Sun held the CEO position across Rainberry, Tron, and Peiwo simultaneously. That same month, the SEC initiated legal action against Tron founder Justin Sun, the Tron Foundation, BitTorrent Foundation, and Rainberry for allegedly selling unregistered securities through TRX and BTT tokens.

BitTorrent software

BitTorrent is a peer-to-peer application created by Bram Cohen and BitTorrent, Inc., designed for file sharing using the BitTorrent protocol. It was the inaugural client developed for this protocol and is often referred to as Mainline to denote its official status. Starting with version 6.0, the BitTorrent client became a rebranded iteration of μTorrent, transitioning from open-source to proprietary software available on Microsoft Windows and Mac OS X platforms.

μTorrent

μTorrent is a freeware, proprietary BitTorrent client owned by BitTorrent, Inc., compatible with Windows, Android, and Mac OS X platforms, alongside a μTorrent Server edition designed for Linux. The entire suite is programmed using C++.

BitTorrent, Inc. expanded its presence in the peer-to-peer file sharing sector by acquiring μTorrent on December 7, 2006.

BitTorrent/μTorrent Pro

The term Pro denotes the premium editions of BitTorrent and μTorrent software available for Windows, formerly known as Plus. These upgraded versions provide additional functionalities and are purchasable for US$19.95. Pre-orders started on November 29, 2011, with full release occurring on December 8, 2011. An Android Pro edition is also offered at a lower initial cost but may incur higher expenses through in-app purchases compared to desktop versions.

Purchasing the Pro upgrade grants access to advanced features such as:

Embedded anti-virus scanning for torrent files
An integrated high-definition media player
Media transcoding options
Ability to stream content while downloading

These improvements align with BitTorrent, Inc.'s commercial approach to generate revenue by delivering enhanced services that distinguish its products within the competitive torrent client marketplace.

BitTorrent Sync

BitTorrent Sync is a peer-to-peer synchronization application available for Windows, Mac, and Linux systems, facilitating file synchronization over local networks or between remote users via the Internet.

Initially released in pre-Alpha in January 2013 and made publicly accessible by April 2013, BitTorrent Sync advanced to version 1.2 with a beta API launch in November 2013. On June 1, 2016, the project and its team were spun off as Resilio Inc., continuing development under the new name Resilio Sync.

BitTorrent Bundle

BitTorrent introduced "Bundles," partnering with artists such as Linkin Park, Pixies, Public Enemy, and Madonna. The Madonna Bundle titled secretprojectrevolution, launched in September 2013, featured a film along with exclusive materials accessible through donations and email registration.

In September 2013, BitTorrent rolled out "BitTorrent Bundles for Publishers," enabling content creators to distribute various media types through the BitTorrent client. The inaugural bundle was the fantasy movie "Overturn: Awakening of the Warrior."

On September 26, 2014, Thom Yorke debuted his album Tomorrow's Modern Boxes as the first paid Bundle priced at $6.00. By October 2014, the initiative had surpassed one million downloads encompassing both free and paid offerings.

Alice in Chains released their "Phantom Limb" music video via BitTorrent Bundle in October 2014, providing free streaming and downloads alongside exclusive content and merchandise opportunities.

BitTorrent DNA

BitTorrent, Inc. provides BitTorrent DNA (Delivery Network Accelerator), a complimentary content delivery platform that utilizes the BitTorrent protocol to assist providers in distributing data by leveraging users' bandwidth resources, thereby improving delivery speed and lowering server demands.

SoShare (beta)

Originally launched in alpha on January 5, 2012 as "Share" integrated within the μTorrent client and as standalone desktop and web plug-in applications, SoShare was repositioned in February 2013 into an intuitive web application aimed at creative professionals. It facilitates sharing of high-resolution photos, files, and videos via email or public links. Registered users can transfer up to one terabyte per session free of charge—demonstrating BitTorrent’s intent to expand into enterprise and creative industry markets.

BitTorrent Live

Initially revealed in September 2011 and undergoing public trials by October 2011, BitTorrent Live launched its public beta phase in March 2013 as a live streaming service featuring performances from musicians and DJs. Despite its pioneering method for delivering live content, the platform ceased operations in 2017. In March 2019, BitTorrent declared intentions to revive BitTorrent Live, this time reimagined as a Snapchat-style social media application for Android and iOS devices, reflecting a shift toward mobile-focused social interaction.

BitTorrent Bleep

BitTorrent Bleep was a free, cross-platform, peer-to-peer messaging application that operated without servers, available on Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS. While never formally discontinued, by August 2017 the official website and Windows version were inaccessible, and the app was removed from Google Play. Since 2015, activity on the Bleep blog and forums has ceased, effectively marking the product as defunct.

Project Maelstrom

Unveiled in December 2014, Project Maelstrom was a browser built on Chromium technology that utilized BitTorrent and Distributed Hash Table (DHT) protocols to facilitate censorship-resistant decentralized web publishing. Starting as a closed alpha release, it later moved into a public beta stage exclusively for Windows users. By early 2017, the browser was no longer available for download, had not been updated beyond Chromium version 44, and all project updates stopped in September 2015, indicating its discontinuation.

DLive

At the end of 2019, BitTorrent acquired DLive, a blockchain-powered streaming service focused on video games that launched in 2017. Known for its lenient moderation policies and attractive monetization options, DLive became popular among far-right groups and conspiracy theorists who faced bans on other platforms. The Southern Poverty Law Center reported that DLive facilitated significant cryptocurrency payouts to extremist users via its platform. Notably, DLive was used to broadcast and organize activities during the January 2021 storming of the U.S. Capitol, resulting in bans for several streamers involved.

Partners

BitTorrent Inc. has established strategic alliances with prominent venture capital firms such as Accel Partners and DCM, alongside technology collaborators including ESA Flash Components, NTL:Telewest, and Opera Software. Its device partnerships extend to companies like Buffalo Technology, D-Link, I-O Data, Marvell Semiconductors, Netgear, Planex Communications Inc., and QNAP Systems, which collectively support its worldwide operations and product ecosystem.

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