Aethir Cloud: A decentralized cloud computing infrastructure platform focused on AI and gaming

AI and gaming are experiencing significant growth, driving the demand for cloud services to new levels.

However, the current cloud services are facing challenges, such as GPU underutilization and high costs, which hinder this surge in innovation.

Aethir, a decentralized GPU cloud computing infrastructure, offers a scalable solution for these challenges in two of the fastest-growing markets: AI and gaming.

Currently, Aethir boasts:

• Over 200k users

• More than 23 node locations

• Partnerships with over 10 game studios

In this article, we'll dive into the essentials of Aethir and how you can participate in the upcoming airdrop.

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What is Aethir Cloud

• Aethir Cloud is a decentralized GPU-compute platform connecting providers and consumers, focusing on AI, gaming, and virtualized devices.

• Key innovations include resource pooling, web3 alignment, and the $ATH token to enable rapid scaling.

• Recently, it has presented Aethir Edge, a decentralized solution for pooling GPU power from various idle sources, which is the hardware component of Aethir DePIN.

Key Value Proposition per segment

• Existing infrastructure providers: increase utilization, global reach

• New infrastructure investors: access to global clients, ecosystem support, decrease CapEx risk

• Retail contributors: returns on idle hardware, ecosystem exposure

• GPU consumers (AI/gaming/virtual): improve performance, low-latency, competitive prices, global coverage

Aethir’s ecosystem

The Aethir ecosystem addresses critical cloud computing challenges such as scalability via:

• Containers: virtual endpoints

• Checkers: ensuring integrity

• Indexers: matching consumers with Containers

Aether Checker Nodes play a crucial role in the ecosystem by helping to verify the computational power of other node participants. In return for their participation, node operators can earn rewards.

Aethir’s Business Model

• Aethir is a marketplace and aggregator connecting supply-side participants (node operators and GPU providers) with users from computing-intensive sectors (AI, virtualized compute, cloud gaming, and cryptocurrency mining).

• Revenue generation in Aethir's ecosystem:

  • 20% service fee (in $ATH tokens) on payments from customers to suppliers.

  • 5% of total $ATH annual token emissions for grants and operations program for indexers.

• 50% of total ATH tokens allocated for token incentives to benefit node operators and supply-side entities.

• Node Operators have three forms of rewards:

  • Service Fee: 80% of the fee paid by compute buyers.

  • Proof of Rendering Work: Token incentives for completing computing tasks.

  • Proof of Capacity: Rewards for demonstrating readiness to provide compute services.

Aethir operates in three primary sectors with the same business model (with slight differences):

• Cloud Gaming Model

• AI Model

• Virtualized Compute Model

Traction

• Aethir’s Cloud, with $24M of equipment across +23 locations in 13 countries, has secured another $10M for infrastructure growth in 2024.

• 42,040 GPUs online

• 597,885 Computing power measured in Teraflops

Partnerships

Aethir has recently announced several partnerships, including:

• NodeOps: Node-as-a-service (NaaS) partner

• Luganodes: Node-as-a-service (NaaS) partner

• Easeflow: Node-as-a-service (NaaS) partner

• Ionet: strategic collaboration to enhance GPU access and performance

• CARV: powering next-gen gaming and AI

• Theta Edgecloud: GPU Marketplace

• Meta48: Streaming

Investors

Backed by @hiFramework, @MeritCircle_IO, @HashKey_Capital, @animocabrands, @MaelstromFund, @Mirana, and others, Aethir has raised over $9M in private funding rounds for its ecosystem.

In addition, Aethir secured approximately $100M through a Node sale on @impossiblefi.

Competitive Landscape

• Aethir competes with both traditional and decentralized cloud GPU providers.

• Centralized providers face challenges in pricing, service availability, scalability, infrastructure limitations, and limited GPU options.

The following image offers an overview of current landscape within centralized providers.

In the decentralized space, Aethir focuses on enterprise-grade GPUs and has proven capable of closing deals with major clients and acquiring H100 chips.

Decentralized cloud GPU providers:

Tokenomics

• The $ATH token serves as the primary currency for transactions, enables governance, and is used for staking by node operators to ensure quality and security.

• The token distribution allocates 50% for ecosystem and 20% for team and advisors, with the remaining 30% for treasury, liquidity, and public sale.

Airdrop

The token has not been launched yet, but Aethir just started their airdrop campaign (Aethir Cloud Drop), which is live until May 12, 2024.

The campaign utilizes a badge and quest system to determine eligibility for the airdrop. You can achieve this by:

• Purchasing Aethir Checker nodes

• Engaging on social media

• Participating in quizzes

• Referring to friends

• Being part of specific NFT/token communities

Conclusion

• Aethir is well-positioned to capitalize on the growing demand for AI services and high-performance computing.

• Strategic partnerships and a strong team give Aethir a competitive edge in the market.

• Aethir's flywheel effect creates a sustainable growth loop through partnerships, increased utilization, and attracting more contracts and investors.

• Targeting cloud gaming in developing regions allows Aethir to expand into new markets and promote digital inclusivity.

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Disclaimer: The information provided here is for educational purposes only and should not be financial decisions. Any actions taken based on the information presented are at your own risk. considered as financial advice. The content is intended to provide general information and should not be relied upon as the basis for any financial decisions.