Deploying AI projects on blockchain rails seems like a natural fit. Yet, there are real obstacles that have to be overcome for two technologies to work seamlessly. Permissioned and costly access to centralized GPUs and the technical complexity of managing them are among the largest barriers to developing AI crypto products.
Large investments in the same private, centralized tech monopolies that dominated Web2 have created GPU moats, stifling AI innovation on blockchains. io.net offers novel solutions to these problems through on-demand, permissionless, decentralized GPU clustering models.
The Need for Decentralized GPU Access
Because centralized providers have long been the only viable option for AI compute, developers have little choice but to rely on them — despite their high costs and technical complexity. This reliance creates a vendor lock-in, where developers are subject to fluctuating prices and scalability limitations, often making it infeasible for smaller, open-source projects to compete. Big Tech compute providers can also introduce latency issues by restricting GPU access without warning, causing bottlenecks and creating single points of failure in the compute supply chain. These constraints limit innovation and make AI development prohibitively expensive.
io.net’s decentralized GPU clustering model addresses these challenges by offering a frictionless API deployment process and tapping into an internet of underutilized GPU compute. This permissionless access enables any developer to leverage the io.net cloud, lowering entry barriers, reducing compute costs over time through competitive sourcing, and eliminating the risk of a centralized honeypot for malicious actors.
Simplified Worker Portal
At the core of io.net’s model is the ease of API integration for providers. Understanding that simplified GPU integration is the key to unlocking trapped compute, io.net removes the technical barriers of navigating intricate setups and configurations. This ease of setup is reinforced through a dynamic and secure real-time monitoring interface for compute providers.
Becoming a provider can be completed in a few minutes by following the io.net Quick Start Guide and connecting to a Solana or Aptos Wallet. Once established, providers can track their earnings using their Dashboard.
The ecosystem optimizes GPU supply through smart task allocation and workload management, using fault monitoring, reporting, and analytics layers. Providers can access real-time earnings insights, adding transparency and control. These features make GPUs more readily available and affordable while reducing dependence on centralized providers, eliminating single points of failure, and minimizing bottlenecks.
Navigating the Developer Tools
io.net’s API is built on RESTful principles, giving developers key insights and access to different elements of the io.net network. The IO API Explorer allows developers to analyze network insights, offering a clear advantage over closed, centralized alternatives.
Authentication Steps
To authenticate via a JWT token, follow these steps:
- Go to IO.net > Get Started > IO Explore > Workers tab.
- In the UI, right-click and select Inspect.
- In the Inspect tool, click Network.
- Refresh the Workers page.
- In the list of elements, click Devices.
- Scroll down to the Request Headers section.
- Copy and store the token.
Note: The token remains valid for 21 days.
Once authenticated, developers can use cURL to make API requests. io.net provides generous rate limits for each account:
- 150 requests / 10 seconds (umbrella rate limit on Explorer)
- Summary: 100 requests / 5 minutes
- Details: 100 requests / 5 minutes
- Search: 80 requests / 1 minute
The Future is Decentralized
io.net’s DePIN architecture spans over 138 countries, utilizing more than 300,000 individual GPUs to aggregate lost or stranded compute power. This results in cost reductions of up to 90% for developers. The streamlined, frictionless API grants direct access to the IO network, while the easy onboarding process encourages provider participation.
At a time when centralized providers are building deeper moats around AI infrastructure, io.net offers a true decentralized alternative for a truly decentralized space.
Get involved today at io.net
