Aethir (ATH) is a decentralized GPU cloud platform focused on high-computing applications like artificial intelligence and gaming. Unlike traditional cloud giants, it brings together idle graphics processing units (GPUs) from around the world into a single global network, providing a more cost-effective and low-latency infrastructure. It offers a flexible, accessible, and scalable solution for applications such as AI model training, machine learning inference, and cloud gaming. Aethir adopts the DePIN (Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Network) approach, meaning it operates its infrastructure not through a few hubs but through contributions from a broad community. At the heart of this entire ecosystem is the ATH token. Let's take a closer look at what Aethir is.
Aethir's Definition and Origins
Aethir offers a decentralized cloud computing infrastructure that fundamentally changes how enterprise-level GPUs are owned, shared, and used. Its primary goal is to reduce reliance on traditional data centers and establish a distributed computing network. Rising demand, particularly in AI and cloud gaming, has led to a GPU crisis in recent years. As major tech companies amass advanced graphics cards, cloud providers' costs are also rising significantly. This creates a significant access problem, particularly for entrepreneurs and researchers.
Aethir is launching a solution that reverses this problem. It pools idle GPUs globally, making them accessible and shareable. This creates a competitive infrastructure and distributes computing power more equitably. This approach relies on two key layers: First, Resource Pooling. GPU owners connect their unused processing power to the network, generating revenue and facilitating access for others. Second, Distributed Ownership. Aethir aims to create an open and inclusive ecosystem managed collaboratively by participants, rather than a structure controlled by a few large institutions.
The project's motivation is quite clear: As we approach artificial general intelligence (AGI), centralized systems can no longer keep up with the increasing demand for GPUs. Demand is growing daily, but access remains limited to large players. Aethir's vision is to disrupt this balance. To accelerate innovation in the AGI era, it aims to provide everyone with access to computing power. Therefore, it builds its infrastructure on GPU servers located at the edge. This ensures resources are provided as close to the user as possible, virtually eliminating latency in applications like AI tasks or game streaming.
Today, the Aethir network combines over 430,000 GPUs from around the world to deliver real-time, high-performance computing power.
Aethir's History: Key Milestones
Aethir emerged as an idea in 2022. The founding team quickly built the technical infrastructure while also establishing a strong presence in the Web3 world. The project quickly evolved into a global infrastructure initiative with launches, partnerships, and investments. Let's explore the key milestones in Aethir's journey.
Foundation and Initial Development
Aethir's foundations were laid in 2022. The three founders, Daniel Wang, Mark Rydon, and Mack Lorden, combined their expertise in blockchain, AI, and gaming to bring the Aethir idea to life. Initially, a prototype combining GPUs from different regions into the same network was developed, and its functionality was tested. This early phase crystallized Aethir's vision: to make unused processing power accessible worldwide in a decentralized manner.
Testnet and Collaborations (2023)
2023 was a critical period for Aethir's technical growth and community support. They rapidly expanded their infrastructure with the expansion program they dubbed "New Horizons." More GPU providers joined the network, bringing increased capacity in both AI and cloud gaming.
That same year, Aethir made its name known to a wider audience by participating in the TOKEN2049 event. This launch increased interest in the project from both investors and developers. Also in 2023, a strategic partnership was established with the Filecoin Foundation, a leader in decentralized storage. This enabled the Aethir network to provide not only computation but also secure and efficient data storage services.
The collaboration with Reality+ demonstrated Aethir's cloud gaming potential in the real world. By bringing instant playability to projects like Doctor Who: Worlds Apart, the system's performance was tested through user experience.
Token Launch and Mainnet (2024)
After a lengthy preparation process, Aethir launched its ATH token on June 12, 2024. The token was issued using the ERC-20 standard on the Ethereum mainnet and was also distributed on second-layer networks like Arbitrum. With this multi-network strategy, ATH became tradable on both centralized exchanges and integrated into Aethir's own infrastructure rewards system. Since its launch, the ATH price has followed a similar pattern:
During the same period, partnerships with financial institutions such as Auros were announced. Thanks to these partnerships, the ATH token became more accessible for enterprise use. Furthermore, new programs such as Aethir Forge and the AI Unbundled Alliance were announced, bringing developers and content creators into the ecosystem.
Growth and Partnerships (2025)
2025 was the year Aethir matured and strengthened through large-scale partnerships. In March, a significant partnership was announced with the Avalanche Foundation. Aethir allocated a $100 million fund to support AI projects developed on the Avalanche network. This fund made it possible to provide GPU power to developers via the Aethir network.
During this period, Aethir's infrastructure reached over 400,000 GPU containers, and annual recurring revenue exceeded $91 million. The network included over 3,000 NVIDIA H100/H200 graphics cards and over 61,000 Aethir Edge devices. This scale solidified Aethir's leadership in the industry.
One of the notable developments of the year was the strategic investment of $344 million in Aethir by US-based artificial intelligence company Predictive Oncology. This investment evolved into a new model they call the "Strategic Computing Reserve." With this model, Predictive Oncology began supporting its AI infrastructure with Aethir's decentralized GPU network. The "Digital Asset Treasury (DAT)," announced in October 2025, allowed investors and institutions to directly share in the GPU resources in Aethir's infrastructure.
Why Is Aethir Important?
Aethir's importance stems from its vision of democratizing computing power, which has become the backbone of today's technology. With its decentralized structure, Aethir offers both an economic and strategic advantage by making the massive GPU infrastructure, which might otherwise be monopolized by a few large companies, available to the masses. In this section, we will examine the factors that determine Aethir's importance under the headings of use cases and token economy.
Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
Artificial intelligence is one of Aethir's strongest areas. Many applications, from large language models and image processing systems to autonomous vehicles and medical research, require intensive GPU power. Aethir's distributed GPU cloud addresses this need with a scalable and accessible infrastructure. The computational capacity required for training and inference processes for AI models is delivered much faster and more cost-effectively than traditional solutions. For example, an AI startup can access the GPU resources it needs through Aethir within 24-48 hours, without waiting weeks or allocating huge budgets.
The system is also ideal for real-time AI applications. Aethir's low-latency edge computing model offers a significant advantage, especially in applications requiring instantaneous responses, such as chatbots, voice assistants, or image analysis systems. Because processing power flows closer to the user, responses are faster, resulting in a seamless experience.
Cloud gaming
Another area where Aethir excels is cloud gaming. Thanks to the infrastructure they call Atmosphere, games with high-quality graphics can now be played without needing a powerful computer. With just an internet connection, users—whether they're using a phone or an old laptop—can instantly access games via the Aethir network.
This capability of Aethir has been directly tested and found successful, particularly in popular projects like Doctor Who: Worlds Apart. Thanks to its decentralized structure, even if a server in one region becomes unavailable, a backup resource from another location automatically steps in. This ensures an uninterrupted gaming experience.
Other Applications
Beyond AI and gaming, Aethir's application areas are also quite broad. It provides GPU power to numerous sectors, including scientific research, financial modeling, 3D animation rendering, NFT and metaverse projects.
A university team is able to run large simulations on Aethir at a much lower cost than traditional supercomputers. By connecting its own graphics cards to the network, an animation studio can meet its own needs and generate revenue by renting out the idle power.
One of the most exciting future scenarios is the concept of "cloud telephony." Aethir's infrastructure is ready for such projects. Instead of embedding expensive hardware into devices, smartphone manufacturers can use Aethir's GPU cloud to perform heavy-duty processing remotely and only transmit the results to the device.
Democratic Access and the Importance of DePIN
One of the key differences that distinguishes Aethir from other cloud solutions is its open access. While in traditional systems, only the paying user receives the service, in Aethir, both the service users and the infrastructure providers become inherent parts of the system.
In other words, someone with a powerful graphics card sitting idle can connect it to the network and generate revenue. Simultaneously, an AI company can procure the GPU power it needs at an affordable price. This two-sided model, combined with the Web3 incentive mechanism, creates a much more sustainable structure.
Token Economy
At the heart of Aethir is the ATH token. This token functions both as a payment instrument for on-platform transactions and as a unit of value that grants voting rights in governance.
The total supply is limited to 42 billion ATH. This supply is carefully divided into various categories and distributed under headings such as the community, team, investors, network rewards, and ecosystem fund. A significant portion is allocated as a reward for those contributing computing power. In other words, everyone who contributes GPUs or runs nodes on the network earns ATH proportional to their contribution.
Tokens allocated to early supporters and the team are not released immediately; they circulate over time according to the vesting schedule. This prevents sudden selling pressure in the market.
ATH Usages
The ATH token serves several functions. First, it serves as a payment instrument for all services within the platform. Users who utilize services such as artificial intelligence training, game streaming, or scientific calculations pay for their GPU time with ATH.
Second, it plays a role in the system's reward and incentive mechanism. GPU providers, node operators, and checker nodes that monitor quality of service earn ATH in exchange for their contributions. Checker nodes are also required to stake a certain amount of ATH to maintain the security and service standards of the network. Currently, over 91,000 checker nodes are actively operating, and all benefit from this incentive model.
Staking and Assurance Mechanism
The ATH token is also used for security. GPU providers stake a certain amount of ATH as collateral when joining the network. If service quality deteriorates or contracts are breached, this collateral can be deducted (slashed). This mechanism protects users and incentivizes providers to provide honest and high-quality service.
Stakeholders also earn an average annual return (APY) of 8–15%. This rate can increase based on performance, ensuring both security and sustainable returns.
Deflationary Model and Revenue Return
Another notable element of Aethir's economic model is its revenue return. 70% of GPU rental revenue generated on the platform is used to buy back ATH tokens from the market. This creates a constant demand for ATH, and the circulating supply decreases over time.
This model operates differently from how traditional cloud providers distribute their profits to shareholders. Aethir recycles its revenue back into the ecosystem. For example, when a company rents a large GPU, a large portion of the fee is used to buy back ATH from the market, and these tokens are either burned or locked for an extended period. Consequently, ATH has the potential to increase in value based on usage.
Governance and Decision-Making
ATH token holders are poised to have a say in Aethir's future. The evolving ecosystem aims to foster a community-based governance model. In the near future, ATH holders will be able to propose various resolutions and participate in voting.
These resolutions may include expansion into new regions, partnership proposals, or technical updates. While governance is not yet fully implemented, the vision is for Aethir to eventually become fully decentralized.
Who are Aethir's Founders?
Behind Aethir is a strong team with experience in various areas of the technology world. Co-founders Daniel Wang, Mark Rydon, and Mack Lorden are three individuals who shaped the project's vision and technical foundation.
- Daniel Wang: An entrepreneur and engineer with experience in blockchain technologies. Prior to Aethir, he participated in various blockchain projects, gaining deep knowledge in decentralized systems and cryptoeconomics. At Aethir, he particularly leads the design of Web3 integration and the token economy. He stands out as one of the key figures behind the ATH token's versatile structure.
- Mark Rydon: He has a long-standing background in artificial intelligence and cloud computing. Throughout his career, he has worked on both enterprise-scale AI infrastructures and massive cloud systems. At Aethir, he is responsible for technical architecture and scalability. Under his leadership, the infrastructure that efficiently manages hundreds of thousands of GPUs distributed globally on a single network was established. Rydon's goal is for Aethir to continue providing reliable enterprise-level service and maintain the capacity to support the latest GPU technologies (e.g., the NVIDIA H100 series).
- Mack Lorden: With his expertise in the gaming industry and distributed systems, he developed Aethir's gaming-focused infrastructure. He oversees product development and integrations with the gaming industry. Lorden's primary responsibilities include ensuring the Atmosphere infrastructure delivers a seamless cloud gaming experience, establishing partnerships with game studios, and developing appropriate tools for developers. His intimate understanding of the needs of the gaming world has enabled Aethir to rapidly gain adoption in the industry.
Aethir operates under the Aethir Foundation. In addition to the founders, this organization includes executives from operations, finance, strategy, and business development. However, the most significant difference that distinguishes Aethir from traditional companies is that its decentralization principle is also maintained in its governance.
Community feedback is taken into account when making key project decisions, and processes are transparently communicated. The Aethir Foundation operates an ecosystem fund, grant programs, and partnership initiatives to support growth-oriented projects. Developers can contribute directly through GitHub or community forums thanks to open documentation. The ability for anyone to connect their own server to the network makes Aethir's development a collective effort.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Below are some frequently asked questions and answers about the ATH token:
- What is the ATH token and how does it work?: ATH is the native cryptocurrency of the Aethir network. It serves both utility and governance purposes. All payments on Aethir are made in ATH; users pay for GPU services they receive with this token. It is also used to distribute rewards to network providers and ensure security. GPU operators and checker nodes participate in the network by staking ATH and earn profits based on their contributions. In the future, ATH holders will also have voting rights in network governance.
- Is Aethir decentralized?: Yes. Aethir's cloud infrastructure is not connected to a single center; it consists of thousands of independent nodes worldwide. These nodes are operated by individuals, institutions, or data centers and are connected peer-to-peer. This ensures a secure and distributed structure without a single point of failure. Because transactions are recorded on the blockchain, the system operates both transparently and securely.
- Which networks does it work on?: The ATH token operates on the Ethereum mainnet using the ERC-20 standard and is traded on many centralized exchanges. Aethir has also been integrated into the Arbitrum network for lower transaction fees. Payments to GPU providers are made via smart contracts on this network. It can also be bridged to the Solana network. Essentially, Aethir's distributed GPU network operates off-chain; the blockchain is used only for payments and records.
- How can individual investors join Aethir?: The easiest way to participate is to purchase ATH tokens from exchanges. By holding the token, you can indirectly benefit from the growth of the ecosystem. Users with GPU hardware can join the Aethir network as providers and earn income. Those with technical knowledge can run checker nodes to verify service quality and earn rewards. It is also possible to include ATH tokens in the official staking program, both supporting the network and generating passive income.
- What differentiates Aethir from its competitors?: Aethir is one of the first decentralized cloud infrastructures entirely GPU-driven and optimized for real-time applications. While other projects typically offer simple computational services, Aethir supports demanding tasks like AI inference and low-latency game streaming with high-performance NVIDIA GPUs. Its edge computing model reduces latency by allocating resources closest to the user. By 2025, it had become one of the largest networks in the industry, with over 430,000 GPU containers in 94 countries.
- Its economic model is also distinct: a significant portion of its revenues are used to buyback ATH, which reduces the token supply and supports its value. Furthermore, thanks to integrations with projects like Filecoin, Avalanche, and EigenLayer, Aethir offers a flexible and robust infrastructure ecosystem.
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