Skip to main content

IO.net

Decentralized compute network.

About IO.net​

Io.net operates the world's largest decentralized GPU cloud network, aggregating underutilized computing resources from data centers, crypto miners, and individual hardware providers across 138+ countries. Designed for AI/ML developers and startups, the platform delivers cost-efficient, on-demand compute power at up to 90% lower costs than traditional cloud providers like AWS. Its decentralized physical infrastructure network (DePIN) model enables permissionless access to distributed GPU clusters, making it a critical infrastructure layer for democratizing AI development.

Main Products/Services:

  • IO Cloud: Instant deployment of machine learning clusters via decentralized GPU pools.
  • IO Intelligence: Custom AI model training and API integrations.
  • Worker Marketplace: Monetization platform for GPU owners to rent idle resources.
  • Solana-Powered Payments: Instant transactions for compute services using $IO tokens.

Web3 Significance: Io.net bridges the AI/ML resource gap by leveraging blockchain for transparent resource allocation, decentralized governance, and tokenized incentives. It’s a cornerstone project in the DePIN (Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Networks) sector, valued at $32B as of 2025.

Technology​

Stack & Innovations:

  • Built on Solana for high-speed payments and governance.
  • Uses a customized IO-SDK (fork of Ray) for orchestrating distributed GPU clusters.
  • Implements mesh VPNs and reverse tunneling for low-latency node communication.
  • Multi-layered architecture with dedicated security (SOC2 compliance), API, and decentralized task management systems.

Technical Approach:
The network aggregates GPUs into "super clusters" that function as unified compute units. Users deploy ML workloads through a unified dashboard, while blockchain ensures transparent pricing and Proof of Time-Lock validation to guarantee uninterrupted resource access.

Problems Solved:

  • Eliminates cloud provider wait times (often months for specialized GPUs).
  • Reduces compute costs by up to 90% compared to centralized alternatives.
  • Democratizes AI development for SMEs lacking infrastructure budgets.

Key Features​

  1. Decentralized GPU Clusters: Dynamically scaled clusters with auto-failover and load balancing.
  2. Hourly Billing: Pay-per-use model without long-term commitments.
  3. Global Low-Latency Network: Nodes optimized for proximity in 130+ countries.
  4. Pre-Configured ML Stacks: Out-of-the-box support for PyTorch, TensorFlow, and Jupyter.
  5. Solana Integration: Instant settlement and revenue-sharing via $IO tokens.
  6. Hardware Flexibility: Mix-and-match GPUs (NVIDIA A100, H100) and CPUs.
  7. Enterprise Security: End-to-end encryption and SOC2-compliant infrastructure.

Integration with Eliza​

Io.net’s integration with ElizaOS focuses on providing seamless access to decentralized compute resources for AI-driven workflows. While no official ElizaOS plugin is documented in public repositories, the partnership likely enables:

  • Direct API Access: ElizaOS users can deploy ML models on Io.net’s GPU clusters via API endpoints.
  • Unified Billing: $IO token transactions for compute services within Eliza’s ecosystem.
  • Use Cases:
    • Training AI agents using distributed GPU power.
    • On-demand inference for large language models (LLMs).

Developers should monitor the elizaos-plugins GitHub organization for potential future tools, such as cluster deployment templates or wallet-integrated payment gateways.

Recent Developments​

  • Node Growth: Expanded from 24,000 to 89,000 GPUs between Feb–Mar 2024.
  • Injective Collaboration: Partnered to power DeFAI (Decentralized Finance & AI) applications with 10,000+ cluster-ready GPUs.
  • Tokenomics Upgrade: Announced future revenue-sharing for $IO stakers in Q2 2025.
  • Enterprise Adoption: Onboarded 50+ AI startups in 2024, including Ritual and Banyan.

Market Position​

Competitive Edge:

  • Largest decentralized GPU network (95,000+ GPUs vs. Render’s 30,000).
  • 90% cost reduction vs. AWS/Azure for comparable ML workloads.

Key Partnerships:

  • Filecoin/Render: Shared decentralized storage and rendering resources.
  • Injective: AI/blockchain integration for DeFAI applications.
  • Solana: Core infrastructure partner for payments and governance.

Adoption:

  • 1,000+ active clusters deployed monthly.
  • 500,000+ registered GPU suppliers as of March 2025.