Io.net Unveils Rewards Program Ahead of Token Launch
Io.net, a Solana-based decentralized physical infrastructure network (DePIN) project focused on sourcing GPU computing power, has announced the launch of its rewards program called Ignition. The program is set to begin on March 1 and will run until April 28.
Rewards Based on GPU Supply
Under the Ignition rewards program, users will receive points based on their supply of GPUs to the network. The rewards algorithm takes into account various factors including job hours completed, the node’s bandwidth, GPU model, and uptime. Additionally, the program will consider GPU supplier activity dating back to the launch of io.net in November 2023.
What is io.net?
Io.net is a Solana-based DePIN project that aims to aggregate GPU resources for AI and ML companies. The project was initially developed by Shadid in 2020 while building Dark Tick, an ML quant trading business. To reduce costs, Shadid designed a distributed network of GPUs worldwide which proved to be suitable for serving AI/ML companies with high computing capacity requirements. Io.net became one of the winners of the Solana Hackathon in April 2023 and officially launched its network in November.
The io.net network currently provides access to hundreds of thousands of GPUs at lower costs and faster lead times. In just three months since its launch, io.net has grown to over 25,000 nodes and has served more than 47,000 compute hours. It has also facilitated payments of over $300,000 from customers to network suppliers.
According to Shadid, there is a significant demand for GPU compute capacity for AI applications that exceeds what cloud services like AWS and Azure can provide. This has led to increased costs and longer lead times for everyone involved. Io.net aims to address this shortage by building an “Internet of GPUs” and providing a decentralized solution.
Utilizing the Solana Blockchain
Io.net leverages the Solana blockchain to ensure transparent proof-of-compute and make every job and transaction visible on-chain. This provides a unified transaction experience for users and enables incentive mechanisms for suppliers, customers, and users to participate in and contribute to the growth of the network. The project’s native token, IO, will play a central role in facilitating these transactions and incentives.
The Ignition Rewards Program: Decentralizing io.net
The launch of the Ignition rewards program marks the first step towards decentralizing io.net and transitioning governance to the community. By incentivizing GPU suppliers through this program, io.net aims to further expand its network and meet the increasing demand for GPU compute capacity in the AI industry.
Hot Take: Addressing the GPU Compute Capacity Shortage
Io.net’s rewards program, Ignition, is a strategic move to attract more GPU suppliers to its network while decentralizing its operations. By incentivizing suppliers through rewards points based on their GPU supply, io.net aims to address the shortage of GPU compute capacity in the AI industry. With the growing demand for AI applications and machine learning models, traditional cloud services are struggling to meet the requirements, leading to higher costs and longer lead times. Io.net’s “Internet of GPUs” concept powered by the Solana blockchain offers a decentralized solution that can provide access to a vast network of GPUs at lower costs and faster speeds. As io.net continues to grow its network and transition governance to the community, it has positioned itself as a key player in solving the GPU compute capacity challenge.