diff --git a/.env.defaults b/.env.defaults
index 975646bac..7505c9733 100644
--- a/.env.defaults
+++ b/.env.defaults
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ WELCOME_VERSION=1.0
 # Custom Site info
 DOMAIN=lbry.tv
 URL=https://lbry.tv
+THUMBNAIL_CDN_URL=https://cached-proxy.vanwanet.com/?url=
 
 # UI
 SITE_TITLE=lbry.tv
diff --git a/config.js b/config.js
index 59121e9ae..367d84387 100644
--- a/config.js
+++ b/config.js
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ const config = {
   DOMAIN: process.env.DOMAIN,
   SHARE_DOMAIN_URL: process.env.SHARE_DOMAIN_URL,
   URL: process.env.URL,
+  THUMBNAIL_CDN_URL: process.env.THUMBNAIL_CDN_URL,
   SITE_TITLE: process.env.SITE_TITLE,
   SITE_NAME: process.env.SITE_NAME,
   SITE_DESCRIPTION: process.env.SITE_DESCRIPTION,
diff --git a/ui/component/fileThumbnail/view.jsx b/ui/component/fileThumbnail/view.jsx
index d13829050..21ad1f4a0 100644
--- a/ui/component/fileThumbnail/view.jsx
+++ b/ui/component/fileThumbnail/view.jsx
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 // @flow
 import type { Node } from 'react';
+import { THUMBNAIL_CDN_URL } from 'config';
 import React from 'react';
 import FreezeframeWrapper from './FreezeframeWrapper';
 import Placeholder from './placeholder.png';
@@ -37,7 +38,13 @@ function FileThumbnail(props: Props) {
     );
   }
 
-  const url = thumbnail || (hasResolvedClaim ? Placeholder : '');
+  let url = thumbnail || (hasResolvedClaim ? Placeholder : '');
+  // @if TARGET='web'
+  // Pass image urls through a compression proxy
+  if (thumbnail && !thumbnail.includes('https://spee.ch')) {
+    url = `${THUMBNAIL_CDN_URL}${encodeURIComponent(thumbnail)}`;
+  }
+  // @endif
 
   return (
     <div