Akash Network
Akash Network is a decentralized peer-to-peer marketplace for cloud GPU compute, built on Cosmos SDK, where independent providers compete in reverse auctions to serve AI startups, researchers, and enterprises at 60-85% below hyperscaler pricing.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2018
- HeadquartersSan Francisco, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What Akash Network does
Akash Network is a decentralized peer-to-peer marketplace for cloud compute, built on the Cosmos SDK and operating as a protocol rather than a traditional cloud provider. Independent infrastructure providers list GPU and CPU capacity on the network, and tenants access that capacity through a reverse-auction mechanism where providers compete in real time to win lease bids. The platform exposes its infrastructure through three primary interfaces: Akash Console for Docker-native container deployments, AkashML for managed AI inference (OpenAI-compatible endpoints for Llama, DeepSeek, and Qwen models), and Akash Homenode for consumer-grade GPU owners to participate as providers. Additional tooling includes the Provider Console for supply-side management, Console Air for self-custody deployment, and an SDK/API suite for programmatic access.
The platform's product surface is grounded in Kubernetes-based container orchestration layered over a Proof-of-Stake blockchain, with on-chain governance, a native utility token (AKT), and a recently launched Burn-Mint Equilibrium (BME) tokenomics model that permanently burns tokens used for compute deployments. Pricing is published and usage-based across GPU SKUs ranging from consumer RTX cards ($0.10-$0.71/hr) through enterprise A100s and H100s ($1.19-$2.72/hr) to H200 and NVIDIA Blackwell B200/B300 ($3.64-$6.00/hr), positioning Akash at 60-85% below AWS and Coreweave pricing. Revenue capture is indirect: the protocol accrues value through AKT token burns rather than direct enterprise billing, though Overclock Labs (the core developer) operates enterprise sales via a 'GPUs On Demand' custom quote channel.
The network currently lists 61 active providers, 11,000+ vCPUs, 256 GPUs, and 780+ TB of storage, with 65% GPU utilization as of June 2026. Compute spend crossed an all-time high of $5M+ in Q1 2026. Akash serves AI/ML developers, AI startups, Web3 builders, academic institutions (Cornell, USC, UT Austin, Princeton), and select enterprises (most notably Razer). The company is structured as a Cayman Islands-registered Decentralized Cloud Foundation with development led by Overclock Labs under founder/CEO Greg Osuri, and reports a 495-contributor open-source community.
Akash Network firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Akash Network
- Legal name
- Decentralized Cloud Foundation
- Website
- https://akash.network
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2018
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Akash Network is a decentralized peer-to-peer marketplace for cloud GPU compute, built on Cosmos SDK, where independent providers compete in reverse auctions to serve AI startups, researchers, and enterprises at 60-85% below hyperscaler pricing.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Akash Network industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Decentralized GPU Cloud Marketplace
- NAICS
- Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services (518), Computer Systems Design and Related Services (5415)
- SIC
- Services-Computer Rental & Leasing (7377), Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Decentralized GPU/AI Compute Networks (training/inference, GPU renting, model hosting) (FSAPALAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- DePIN Orchestration, Scheduling & Middleware (resource discovery, job scheduling, workload orchestration) (FSAPALAK), Managed Application Platforms (App PaaS & Runtime Services) (HDABAAAD)
Keywords
Where Akash Network is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- San Francisco
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Akash Network business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- GPU Compute Marketplace Fees: Akash operates a marketplace where tenants rent GPU compute from providers. The network earns through the economic activity of deployments - providers earn from compute leases, and the protocol captures value through token economics (AKT burning via BME). Revenue is usage-based, generated when compute is deployed and paid for.
- AkashML Managed Inference: Managed AI inference service offering OpenAI-compatible API access to open-weight models on decentralized GPUs. Serves Llama, DeepSeek, and Qwen models with 70-85% cost savings vs centralized inference APIs.
- Enterprise Custom Deployments: Custom GPU configurations and bulk orders for enterprise customers with specialized requirements. Accessed via 'Get in Touch' enterprise sales form for quote-based engagements.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Usage-based | Pay-as-you-go | H200 GPU - High-end enterprise compute (141GB HBM3e) |
| Usage-based | Pay-as-you-go | H100 GPU - High-performance compute (80GB) |
| Usage-based | Pay-as-you-go | A100 GPU - Professional compute (80GB) |
| Usage-based | Pay-as-you-go | NVIDIA Blackwell B200/B300 - Next-gen GPUs |
| Usage-based | Pay-as-you-go | Consumer GPUs - RTX series |
| Usage-based | Pay-as-you-go | AkashML Inference |
| Usage-based | Pay-as-you-go | Enterprise Custom Quotes |
Go-to-market motion4 records
Distribution channels7 records
Marketing channels10 records
Akash Network product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Akash Network operates a decentralized, peer-to-peer marketplace for cloud compute built on the Cosmos SDK, where independent providers compete in real-time reverse auctions to offer GPU and CPU capacity to tenants. Tenants deploy Docker containers through Akash Console or invoke pre-configured AI models via the AkashML OpenAI-compatible inference API. The platform supports 256+ GPUs across 61 active providers globally, offering H100, H200, A100, B200, and consumer RTX 30/40/50 series hardware at 60-85% lower cost than centralized hyperscalers like AWS.
Product overview
Akash Network is a decentralized GPU compute marketplace built as a protocol on Cosmos SDK, operating as a platform-plus-modules architecture. The core offering consists of Akash Console (primary deployment dashboard) and AkashML (managed AI inference) which provide the main interfaces for accessing distributed GPU resources. Supporting products include Akash Provider Console (for compute providers to monetize hardware), Console Air (self-custody deployment option), Akash Chat and Akash Gen (AI demonstration applications), Akash Homenode (enabling consumer GPUs to join the network), and the Akash Blockchain SDK / Deployment API (developer tools). The AKT token powers governance, staking security, and economic incentives. The ecosystem includes Student Ambassador and Startup programs, Ecosystem Grants, and integrations with FLock.io (AI training), Prime Intellect (GPU aggregation), and Pyth Network (price oracle). The network aggregates over 40% of idle global GPU capacity across 50+ provider locations, offering 60-85% cost savings versus AWS through reverse-auction pricing.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Akash Console: The deployment dashboard for managing clusters and monitoring bids on the Akash Network.
- AkashML
- Akash Provider Console
- Akash Chat
- Homenode
- Console Air
Products and services
- Akash Console Self-serve web-based deployment dashboard for Docker containers on the Akash decentralized cloud. Enables users to configure workloads, submit bids, monitor leases, and manage deployments with zero sales-call required. Supports GPU allocation, automated bidding, lease management, and billing analytics.
- AkashML Fully managed AI inference service offering OpenAI-compatible API access to open-weight models (Llama, DeepSeek, Qwen) running on decentralized GPUs. Delivers 70-85% cost savings versus centralized inference APIs with global low-latency access.
- Akash Homenode Software platform that enables consumer-grade GPUs (NVIDIA RTX 30/40/50 series) to join the Akash Network as compute providers. Lets home users monetize idle gaming/workstation GPUs with simplified onboarding, no Kubernetes expertise required.
- Akash Provider Console Dashboard for compute providers (data center operators, GPU owners) to list their hardware on the global Akash marketplace, manage leases, monitor earnings, and automatically earn revenue from tenant deployments.
- Console Air Self-hostable, self-custody version of Akash Console for users wanting full control over their crypto keys and UI. Splits from Akash Console (managed wallet/credit card) to serve advanced users.
- Akash Chat Privacy-first chat interface for high-performance Large Language Models running on Akash GPU clusters, demonstrating latency and cost-efficiency of open compute using latest open-weights models.
- Akash Gen Image generation platform that orchestrates diffusion models (Stable Diffusion, SDXL) across the global GPU grid for professional-grade creative tools without proprietary lock-in.
- Akash Blockchain SDK Official Go and JavaScript/TypeScript SDKs for programmatic full protocol integration, including self-custody wallets, custom bidding engines, and deployment automation on the Akash Network.
- Akash Deployment API REST API enabling credit card deployments via Akash Console, handling blockchain complexity for SaaS platforms and users without crypto-native experience. Includes Console Managed Wallet API and Console API for Network Data.
- AKT Token Native utility token of Akash Network serving as the primary means to govern, secure the blockchain (Proof-of-Stake), incentivize participants, and provide value exchange within the ecosystem.
Quantifiable outcome
- 65% GPU cost savings vs AWS (H200: $3.64/hr vs $10.44/hr)
- +6 more outcomes
Companies that use Akash Network
Customer profileNamed customers17 records
Segments7 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Akash Network technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration4 records
AI capability9 records
Feature8 records
Akash Network partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
18 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.
- RazerflagshipRazer integrated its open-source AIKit platform with Akash's independent compute network for the AVA Mini campaign. Pooled distributed high-performance consumer GPUs behind a single managed endpoint. Achieved elastic scaling with zero manual infrastructure intervention. Generated 11,000+ images at $0.01/image with 3.24s response time.
- Prime IntellectcoreIntegration of Akash Supercloud's NVIDIA H100, A100, and other high-performance GPUs into the Prime Intellect platform. Democratizes AI development by enabling AI developers to find compute for training, fine-tuning, and inference. Permissionless compute access.
- Flock.iocoreStrategic integration enabling decentralized AI model training on Akash's Supercloud. Flock.io's platform for training and fine-tuning AI models uses Akash's GPU infrastructure, simplifying UX for developers to access compute. Founder Jiahao Sun stated the partnership democratizes AI development and ensures data privacy.
- NVIDIAcoreBrev.dev (Akash ecosystem member providing seamless GPU access for AI development) was acquired by NVIDIA. Agora Labs (started as students building on Akash) was also acquired through this chain. Validates Akash as a pipeline for AI talent and innovation.
- Nous ResearchcoreNous Research leveraged Akash's decentralized cloud to successfully train Nous Hermes 2, an advanced AI model built on over 1,000,000 entries of GPT-4 data. Demonstrates Akash's capability for foundation model training.
- Eliza (ai16z)coreMulti-agent simulation framework built on Akash infrastructure. Enables creating, deploying and managing autonomous AI agents on decentralized compute.
- Venice AIcorePrivate, uncensored AI conversations and image generation platform using Akash for decentralized compute backend.
- MorpheuscoreOpen-source p2p network of personal general-purpose AI powered by the MOR token, integrated with Akash decentralized infrastructure.
- OsmosiscoreOsmosis team runs API servers on Akash Network. Interchain Liquidity Lab uses Akash for blockchain infrastructure.
- ThirdwebcoreThirdweb's Head of Dev Rel building with Thirdweb and deploying on Akash. Deeper integration coming soon.
- BlocklesscoreBlockless enabled to be decentralized from day one using Akash while keeping infrastructure costs minimal per their Head of Engineering.
- NodeShiftcoreEnterprise-grade decentralized cloud computing services built on Akash infrastructure.
- Agora LabsflagshipStarted as students who couldn't find GPUs, built better interface for AI/ML developers to access Akash permissionless compute. Later acquired by Brev.dev and subsequently NVIDIA. Proof of concept for AI startup ecosystem on Akash.
- University of Texas at AustincoreProfessor Sriram Vishwanath leading efforts to bring AI startups to Akash from centralized providers. Academic collaboration including research grants and student programs.
- Cornell UniversitycorePilot university for Akash Student Ambassador Program. Faculty advocating for Akash as decentralized AI solution. Cornell Tech hosting Akash Accelerate events.
- Passage 3DcoreConnected virtual worlds for work and play. Reduced cloud spend by 50% using Akash while maintaining high-performance requirements for real-time rendering.
- Bagel (AI & Cryptography Research Lab)coreAI & Cryptography Research Lab making Open Source AI monetizable leveraging novel cryptography, building on Akash infrastructure.
- Pyth NetworkcoreOracle integration providing cryptographically verifiable AKT/USD price feeds required by Burn-Mint Equilibrium (BME) mechanism (AEP-81).
Scale indicators14 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Akash Network competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- io.net: Decentralized GPU compute network aggregating consumer and data-center GPUs for AI/ML workloads. Most direct competitor to Akash, targeting the same AI developer and startup segments with similar reverse-auction mechanics and Solana-based architecture.
- Render Network: Decentralized GPU rendering and compute marketplace originally focused on 3D rendering, now expanding into general AI compute. Operates a similar supply-aggregation model with token-incentivized providers.
- Vast.ai: Peer-to-peer marketplace for renting GPU compute from individual providers. Long-standing decentralized GPU rental platform competing for the same price-sensitive AI developer segment with bidding-based pricing similar to Akash's reverse auction.
- Salad Technologies: Decentralized GPU network that aggregates consumer gaming PCs for AI/ML workloads via Salad Cloud. Uses a similar consumer-grade GPU supply model to Akash's Homenode product targeting inference and batch workloads.
- Gensyn: Decentralized compute protocol purpose-built for machine learning training with cryptographic verification of work. Competes with Akash for the AI training compute segment with a more ML-specialized feature set.
Broad incumbents
- Coreweave: Large specialized GPU cloud provider serving AI startups and enterprises with NVIDIA H100/H200 capacity. Featured directly in Akash's pricing comparisons ($6.31/hr H200 vs Akash's $3.64/hr). Represents the centralized incumbent Akash competes against on cost.
- Lambda Labs: GPU cloud provider specializing in AI/ML workloads with on-demand and reserved NVIDIA GPU instances. Targets similar AI developer and startup segments as Akash with traditional cloud infrastructure and pricing.
- Amazon Web Services (EC2 P-series): The primary cost benchmark for Akash's pricing comparison pages ($10.44/hr H200 vs Akash's $3.64/hr). Hyperscaler incumbent with full managed services, compliance certifications, and global SLAs that decentralized providers structurally lack.
Emerging players
- Together AI: AI cloud platform providing GPU compute for training and inference with optimized inference stack for open-source models. Overlaps with AkashML on managed inference for Llama and other open-weight models but uses centralized infrastructure.
Others
- Filecoin: Decentralized storage network operating as adjacent DePIN infrastructure on similar Cosmos/interchain technology. Represents the broader DePIN ecosystem where Akash sits, with potential cross-protocol compute-storage bundling.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Akash Network social profiles
Digital presenceAkash Network financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Akash Network leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles11 records
Akash Network funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors8 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Akash Network M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments4 records
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Akash Network
What does Akash Network do?
Akash Network operates a decentralized, peer-to-peer marketplace for cloud compute built on the Cosmos SDK, where independent providers compete in real-time reverse auctions to offer GPU and CPU capacity to tenants. Tenants deploy Docker containers through Akash Console or invoke pre-configured AI models via the AkashML OpenAI-compatible inference API. The platform supports 256+ GPUs across 61 active providers globally, offering H100, H200, A100, B200, and consumer RTX 30/40/50 series hardware at 60-85% lower cost than centralized hyperscalers like AWS.
Is Akash Network a public or private company?
Akash Network is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Akash Network founded?
Akash Network was founded in 2018. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Akash Network based?
Akash Network is headquartered in San Francisco, United States, in the North America region.
How does Akash Network make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. GPU Compute Marketplace Fees are the primary driver. The others are akashML Managed Inference and enterprise Custom Deployments.
Who are Akash Network's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are io.net, Render Network, Vast.ai, Salad Technologies and Gensyn. Broad incumbents are Coreweave, Lambda Labs and Amazon Web Services (EC2 P-series). Together AI is listed as an emerging player. Filecoin is listed as an others.
Does Akash Network have an API?
Yes. Akash offers a suite of APIs and SDKs for programmatic access to the decentralized cloud platform. The Akash Blockchain SDK provides official Go and JavaScript/TypeScript libraries for full protocol integration, including self-custody wallets and custom bidding engines. The Deployment REST API enables credit card deployments via Console, handling blockchain complexity for users without crypto-native experience. The Console API — Network Data provides indexed data on providers, GPU availability, and network statistics. Node RPC offers direct gRPC/REST/RPC access to raw protocol state for real-time monitoring. AuthZ and Fee Grants support permission management and sponsored transactions. Developer documentation is at akash.network/docs/api-documentation/sdk.
What industry is Akash Network in?
Akash Network's product category is Decentralized GPU Cloud Marketplace. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSAPALAC, Decentralized GPU/AI Compute Networks (training/inference, GPU renting, model hosting), with a secondary code of FSAPALAK, DePIN Orchestration, Scheduling & Middleware (resource discovery, job scheduling, workload orchestration). Its NAICS code is 518 and its SIC code is 7377.