Oxtorrent functioned not by hosting copyrighted files on its own servers but by providing magnet links and torrent files that allowed peer-to-peer sharing via the BitTorrent protocol. This technical distinction is crucial: the platform argued it merely indexed content available elsewhere online. However, copyright holders and regulatory bodies, particularly in France, viewed this as willful facilitation of mass infringement. At its peak, Oxtorrent boasted millions of monthly visits, rivaling mainstream legal platforms in popularity. Its success stemmed from a combination of an intuitive user interface, active moderation, and a loyal community that rapidly uploaded new releases—often within hours of official distribution.

Like many P2P sites, ISPs often block it due to copyright concerns, leading the site to rotate domains (e.g., .co, .gg, .xyz).

Torrenting has increasingly become the domain of "power users"—those seeking high-fidelity 4K rips, specific software, or content unavailable on streaming services. Oxtorrent has successfully retained this core demographic, but the broader shift toward streaming suggests a slow decline in the relevance of torrent indexing sites for the general public.