Akash Network

Akash Network is a decentralised marketplace for cloud and GPU computing; AKT secures its proof-of-stake chain and pays for compute.

Akash Network is an open marketplace for cloud computing. Anyone with spare servers or GPUs can rent them out, and developers can deploy apps and AI workloads on them, often for less than large cloud providers charge. In 2026 it added consumer GPUs (Homenode) and confidential compute.

Akash runs its own proof-of-stake blockchain on CometBFT and the Cosmos SDK with up to 100 validators. AKT is staked to secure it and is used in governance. A validator that double-signs loses 5% of its stake, and delegators share the penalty.

Since 23 March 2026, tenants pay for compute through Burn-Mint Equilibrium: they burn AKT to mint ACT, a USD-pegged compute credit, and providers are paid in newly minted AKT. New AKT is also issued at 3–4% a year. A 2026 proposal (AEP-79) would move Akash to security rented from another Layer 1.

Mainnet launched on 25 September 2020. All-time compute spend passed $5 million in early 2026.