The AI boom has turbocharged demand for GPU compute. Hyperscaler pricing — $2–$8 per hour for an H100 — puts many workloads out of reach for startups and independent researchers. Decentralised compute networks aim to route idle GPU capacity at 60–80% discounts. Whether they succeed depends on reliability, latency SLAs, and real utilisation.
Data centres globally run at roughly 30–40% average utilisation. Every idle RTX 4090 in a render farm, every dormant A100 cluster sitting unused overnight, is potential supply. dePIN compute networks aggregate this dark capacity, match it with buyers, and split revenue between node operators and token holders via on-chain distribution.
| Protocol | Symbol | Focus | Nodes | 30D Rev | Chain |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Render Network | RENDER | GPU rendering, AI inference | 11,240 | $38.0M | Solana |
| Akash Network | AKT | Cloud compute marketplace | 412 | $2.1M | Cosmos |
| io.net | IO | ML compute clusters | 82,752 | $4.8M | Solana |
| Aethir | ATH | Enterprise GPU-as-a-Service | 91,000 | $42.3M | Arbitrum |
Aethir leads on raw monthly revenue at $42.3M, powered by enterprise H100/A100 contracts with gaming and AI studios. Render Network follows at $38M, sustained by GPU rendering demand from Hollywood VFX pipelines and independent creators. These two networks alone account for over 95% of compute-sector protocol revenue.
Render Network on Solana specialises in GPU rendering with deep integrations into Cinema 4D and Blender workflows. Akash Network is Cosmos-native and developer-focused, offering Kubernetes-compatible deployments for containerised workloads. io.net differentiates by aggregating GPUs across 138+ countries into on-demand ML clusters. Aethir targets enterprise workloads with SLA-backed availability under formal provider contracts.
Use the Compare tool to run a side-by-side analysis of all key metrics, or the ROI Calculator to model node operator returns based on your specific hardware configuration and local electricity costs.