Perfectly alive with aprox 100k daily users

I compile the source code: git clone, cd mldonkey, ./configure, make, make install

You could use i2p for torrent it is free and secure, but slow

It’s still my favorite network (using it from more 20 years ago), but for the latest things I use bittorrent and seed to both networks (bittorrent and ed2k/kad) through mldonkey 24/7.

You could try on ed2k/kad network (emule/amule/mldonkey)

eMule/aMule/Mldonkey works like old limewire, it is from the same age, but still kicking

You can still use ed2k/kad network, it works fine.

I recommend you to use ed2k/kad networks. You just have to start the client (emule, aMule or mldonkey) and share the folders. The first time you will need a server.met file, which contains the servers, the ipfilter.dat and also nodes.dat for the kad network.

I would say debian but as others said, are you on hopping distros? Do you have any problem with fedora 39?