AMA with AETHIR – Hosted by Bitfinex & BitFreedomGus

06 Jun AMA with AETHIR – Hosted by Bitfinex & BitFreedomGus

Aethir is leading the way in decentralised physical infrastructure (DePIN), reshaping how the world accesses GPU computing power. As demand for high-performance infrastructure continues to surge—especially in AI and gaming—Aethir’s mission is to make cloud computing more democratic, accessible, and borderless. 

On May 23, 2025, Bitfinex hosted an Ask Me Anything (AMA) session with Mark Rydon, Co-Founder and CSO of Aethir, joined by our host BitFreedomGus. The conversation explored decentralised physical infrastructure (DePIN), the future of GPU cloud computing, Aethir’s AI and gaming solutions, and their recent token listing on Bitfinex. It was an insightful and engaging discussion—you can dive into the full transcript below.

Session 1: Introduction & Vision

Bitfinex (BitFreedomGus):
Hello everyone, welcome! Great to have you all for another AMA Session.
I’m your host BitFreedomGus and Today we’re talking with Mr. Mark Rydon, Co-Founder and CSO from Aethir.
Aethir is creating a new way to access computing power for Artificial Intelligence and Gaming, using a decentralised network. Mr. Mark Rydon, thanks for being here with us!

Aethir (Mark):
Thank you for having me! 💚💚💚

Bitfinex (BitFreedomGus):
Thank you, Mark!
Well, to start, can you tell us a bit about yourself and your work at Aethir?

Aethir (Mark):
For sure 💚
I’m the Co-Founder and Chief Strategy Officer at Aethir: a decentralised cloud computing network founded in 2022 to make high-performance GPUs more affordable, accessible, and scalable for developers in AI, LLMs, and cloud gaming.
My career began in infrastructure, but I had always been focused on blockchain and the growing challenges of compute accessibility for tech companies.
Since launching Aethir with my co-founder Daniel Wang, we’ve scaled from a five-person startup to a global organisation with over 150 employees and one of the largest decentralised networks in the world – backed by NVIDIA, Qualcomm, Animoca Brands and many more.

Bitfinex (BitFreedomGus):
Incredible growth in the company.
Aethir emerged due to the high demand for GPUs for AI and Gaming. What was the main idea or the problem Aethir wanted to solve?

Aethir (Mark):
Great question
The global GPU cloud computing industry is heavily centralised. Compute resources are concentrated in major regional data centres and operated by big-tech cloud providers, who charge high fees and often provide inefficient, high-latency computing services. Centralised cloud providers have low GPU utilisation rates, often below 30%, leading to high maintenance costs and, ultimately, higher service prices for clients. Aethir’s mission is to provide a decentralised GPU cloud alternative for AI and gaming enterprises at scale. We aim to bring compute closer to our clients by distributing GPU resources worldwide. Our GPU containers are decentralised across 95 countries, enabling us to provide low-latency, secure, scalable, and cost-effective cloud computing services to enterprises, regardless of location. Aethir’s long-term goal is universal cloud compute – a future in which premium quality cloud computing is available to anyone and not just large-scale corporations.
We don’t want GPUs to only be available for the top 5 big companies!
We want everyone to have access.

Bitfinex (BitFreedomGus):
That is great. Small companies or independent developers can also take advantage of that for sure.
What is Aethir’s main goal today? And how do you see the project helping the Web3 community in the future?

Aethir (Mark):
Big question! Aethir has built the only decentralised enterprise-grade GPU-as-a-service platform on the market. We already have a flourishing ecosystem of 120+ partners and clients from the AI, gaming, and Web3 sectors, leveraging our GPU network to build and launch state-of-the-art innovations in their respective fields.
We aim to continue building and expanding our network until decentralised cloud computing becomes a universally available service for companies of all types and sizes, from early-stage startups to corporations.
We are incredibly passionate about supporting the flourishing Web3 AI startup ecosystem, which is why we launched AI Unbundled, an industry-wide alliance with sector leaders focused on supporting the most innovative AI builders in the Web3 industry with the infrastructure needed to create life-changing innovations.

Session 2: Technology & Infrastructure

Bitfinex (BitFreedomGus):
Aethir uses a model called DePIN to offer GPUs. In simple terms, how does this help make access to powerful GPUs easier and cheaper for everyone, compared to traditional cloud services?

Aethir (Mark):
DePIN = Decentralised Physical Infrastructure Network
DePIN stands for decentralised physical infrastructure networks, signifying a distributed approach instead of the traditional, centralised architecture of big-tech infrastructure providers.
Decentralised infrastructure enables Aethir to pool GPU computing power from different sources and channel computing to our clients from our network’s physically closest available GPUs.
This way, we ensure the lowest possible latency for clients, and maximise GPU utilisation. By maximising utilisation, we can reduce operating costs and offer unbeatable service prices.
By sourcing GPUs from a vast decentralised network of Cloud Host providers, we don’t need to maintain massive, expensive data centres, and our infrastructure is more scalable.
We can quickly allocate additional GPUs to our clients without supply chain bottlenecks because we simply assign additional resources from our Cloud Host network.

Bitfinex (BitFreedomGus):
So the computational power is utilised from multiple GPUs that are geographically separated and closer to the customer? Is that Correct?

Aethir (Mark):
Yes! In many cases that’s exactly the advantage we can offer. In other instances, the advantage might be cost, because the client doesn’t have strict considerations on where the GPUs are located.
We have solutions for anyone looking for enterprise-grade GPUs for AI or Gaming.

Bitfinex (BitFreedomGus):
We know that Aethir has solutions for AI (Earth) and Gaming (Atmosphere). Can you quickly explain what each one does and how they help developers and gamers?

Aethir (Mark):
Good question – this speaks to our broad product offering across gaming and AI!

First, let’s talk AI:
Aethir Earth specialises in supporting AI enterprises of all types and sizes. It offers a wide range of high-performance GPUs specialised for advanced AI workloads such as AI inference, large-language model training, generative AI, and AI agent training.
The service leverages our globally distributed network of premium AI GPUs, including NVIDIA H100s, H200s, and, most recently, GB200s, alongside other advanced GPU models.
Aethir Earth is fully customisable and tailored to each client’s needs. We strive to understand each of our clients and deliver the best possible service for their projects.
Aethir Earth provides the GPU infrastructure for all types of AI innovations that need access to reliable and scalable GPU computing at affordable prices.

Now gaming!:
Aethir Atmosphere, on the other hand, is our GPU service, which is designed for gaming enterprises. It offers industry-leading cloud computing for GPU-intensive gaming projects across the Web2 and Web3 gaming sectors. —> it lets any gamer play any game on any device!
Aethir Atmosphere can efficiently support cloud gaming platforms and game developers in need of innovative direct-to-customer distribution channels.
With Aethir Atmosphere, we can offer Instant Play streaming solutions to studios and publishers exploring innovative user acquisition and retention strategies.
By leveraging our Instant Play mechanics, developers can avoid mainstream app stores and directly reach their customers on the open web without paying service fees to big-tech app stores.

Session 3: Token, Ecosystem & Developer Support

Bitfinex (BitFreedomGus):
Let’s get more into $ATH.
The $ATH token is important to the project. Besides paying GPU providers, how does the $ATH token help users and Aethir’s growth?

Aethir (Mark):
Did you say All Time High?
ATH!
At the center of the Aethir DePIN stack is our ATH token, which plays a key role in facilitating the daily operations of Aethir’s GPU network.
ATH is the economic centerpiece of the Aethir ecosystem, connecting all the elements of our network and unifying them into a highly versatile, decentralized GPU cloud computing powerhouse for enterprise clients.
Since the introduction of ATH during our mainnet launch and token generation event in June 2024, we’ve introduced numerous additional ATH utilities, which make ATH much more than just a cryptocurrency token.

Aethir (Mark):
Our GPU network is monitored by 91,000+ community-owned Checker Nodes responsible for ensuring that all of our 428,000 GPU containers provide the same premium quality services to all clients at all times.
Checker Nodes are rewarded daily ATH token rewards for their role in the Aethir ecosystem. The same goes for stakers.
All compute power in the Aethir ecosystem is staked with ATH, meaning that ATH stakers contribute to our GPU network’s overall stability and daily operations.
Cloud Hosts, our GPU compute providers, also earn ATH as rewards for providing our enterprise clients with decentralised GPU cloud computing power, the same way Aethir Edge operators earn daily ATH rewards.
All of Aethir’s stakeholders directly benefit from the various ATH token utilities.

Bitfinex (BitFreedomGus):
Nice, how does Aethir plan to attract more developers to create applications (dApps) on its network? What kind of support or incentives do you offer?

Aethir (Mark):
We announced our $100m Ecosystem Fund a few months ago – that has gained us a huge amount of developer attention!
It was even more popular than I expected, which was really cool to see.
Aethir specialises in providing the GPU computing power needed to launch various types of apps across blockchain networks. We aren’t limited to a single network. Instead, Aethir’s compute infrastructure is versatile and can support builders across various blockchains.
Our $100 million Ecosystem Fund is built to support AI and gaming innovators with cloud computing grants for Aethir’s DePIN stack. We’re incredibly excited about AI agents and the intersection of RWA and AI.
So far, we’ve supported 25+ AI agent projects with compute grants from our Ecosystem Fund, and we’ve recently announced Batch 6 of our ecosystem grantees featuring innovative RWA projects.
Aethir is here to support promising projects with GPU computing from day one. Our ecosystem grants are a testament to our dedication to supporting the AI, gaming, and Web3 sectors by allowing builders to realise their visions without bottlenecks such as a lack of access to premium GPU cloud computing.

Session 4: Partnerships, Expansion & Future Plans

Bitfinex (BitFreedomGus):
As a former technical education teacher, I can say that there are many young developers in Latin America seeking knowledge to develop in Web3. These incentives help to shape the future of Web3. Thank you for your reply.

Let’s talk about our partnership.
The listing on Bitfinex was an important step. What does this partnership mean for Aethir’s growth and for making the project better known?

Aethir (Mark):
Thank you! You are totally right – the more resources we can provide to builders worldwide, the better off the world will be!
The listing of ATH on Bitfinex is quite important for us, given that it’s a prominent global crypto exchange, which supports our mission of global ATH accessibility.
This listing brings ATH closer to more users, ensuring wider access to the ATH token and leading to broader ecosystem expansion.
We’d like to have ATH available in all parts of the world and the listing on Bitfinex is a HUGE step in this direction!

Bitfinex (BitFreedomGus):
Amazing. Let’s talk about the future.
Looking at future plans, what are the most important updates the community can expect from Aethir? How will these plans help more people use the network?

Aethir (Mark):
I love thinking and talking about the future.
We just made this big announcement! https://aethir.com/blog-posts/aethirs-eigenlayer-ath-vault-is-here-stake-ath-and-mint-eath-to-maximize-rewards
You can check that out later, but we have LOTS planned coming up.
Our one-year token generation event (TGE) anniversary is approaching on June 12th, and we are preparing some exciting updates and launches to celebrate it.
We’ve recently announced an exclusive 10-week staking bonus for our community members, enabling them to earn triple ATH staking rewards as part of our TGE anniversary celebration.
Aethir constantly strives to introduce new product functionalities that improve user experiences and enhance our DePIN ecosystem.
Through our Ecosystem Fund and AI Unbundled alliance, we are actively onboarding innovative Web3, AI, and gaming builders into our network and supporting them with the GPU computing resources for their projects.
In the coming months, we will introduce expanded ecosystem services and new partnerships, strengthening Aethir’s position as a global GPU DePIN leader.

Bitfinex (BitFreedomGus):
We encourage all the community to check the announcement!
We saw that Aethir offers access to cutting-edge NVIDIA technology (GB200). What does this mean for Aethir’s future in Artificial Intelligence?

Aethir (Mark):
Thank you so much!
FYI – the GB200’s are the newest Nvidia GPU! Super powerful and nobody in Web3 has them except us!
The AI industry is highly competitive, and it’s evolving rapidly. Innovative AI projects are being launched daily, and they need reliable, cost-effective GPU resources to scale their operations.
AI workloads are extremely compute-demanding, and only high-performance GPUs can efficiently support advanced AI use cases. That’s why Aethir is constantly onboarding new cohorts of GPU Cloud Hosts, focusing on the most powerful NVIDIA AI chipsets, such as GB200s.
However, unlike centralised cloud providers, Aethir’s decentralised cloud offers these high-performance GPUs at much lower prices, allowing AI startups and smaller companies to access premium computing at affordable prices.
We think these powerful GPUs shouldn’t only be accessible to the wealthiest companies. To truly support AI innovation, computing needs to be accessible for all types of companies, and that’s precisely what Aethir is offering for the future of AI development.

Bitfinex (BitFreedomGus):
Exclusive Aethir GPU for now? That’s huge!

Aethir (Mark):
We always have the best infra!

Bitfinex (BitFreedomGus):
Aethir has recently announced compute support and partnerships with several RWA projects. Can you tell us why?

Aethir (Mark):
We love RWAs
The RWA sector has experienced significant growth in the past year, showcasing how real-world utility is becoming increasingly attractive for Web3 and TradFi users alike.
Projects like Plume and GAIB are pioneering innovative RWA use cases, such as the tokenisation of GPU assets, and introducing new industry categories like RWAfi, the intersection of RWA, DeFi, and AI.
Some analysts estimate that the RWA sector will reach a $500 billion tokenised assets value by the end of 2025, while long-term estimates predict a massive RWA growth potential of up to $30 trillion in tokenised assets by 2030.
Aethir has already established comprehensive partnerships with some of the most innovative RWA projects in the space. By launching the RWAI Initiative with Plume and the GPU Tokenisation Pilot on BNB Chain with GAIB, Aethir is positioning itself at the forefront of RWA innovation.
We are expanding our ecosystem support from AI agents to supercharging RWA development with the power of decentralised cloud computing because we believe the RWA sector will play a critical role in the future of AI development.

Session 5: Community Engagement & Final Thoughts

Bitfinex (BitFreedomGus):
Due to the limited time, we have included only one audience question. We have three in total, but we found this one particularly interesting—would you mind answering it?
Additionally, if we send the other questions later, would you be able to respond so we can add them to our blog?
This question is from @EdsonRMiguel:
I’m a local LLM enthusiast. With the global GPU shortage — initially driven by the crypto mining boom and now by the skyrocketing demand from AI companies — how do you see Aethir impacting this scenario? How can the decentralised infrastructure you’re building help democratise access to computational power and make these resources more accessible for people developing AI solutions, like myself?

Aethir (Mark):
Great question Edson – and it hits at the heart of what we’re building with Aethir.
We’re living through a massive GPU crunch, driven first by crypto mining and now supercharged by AI’s exponential growth. Centralised hyperscalers have hoarded the lion’s share of compute, making it nearly impossible for independent developers, startups, and local LLM enthusiasts like yourself to get reliable, cost-effective access. That’s the choke point – and it’s exactly what Aethir is designed to fix.
Aethir flips the model. We don’t own the GPUs – we aggregate unused compute from enterprise-grade data centers around the world and unify them into a decentralized, enterprise-grade GPU cloud. That means instead of relying on a handful of players in Silicon Valley or Ashburn, you’re tapping into a global mesh of distributed infrastructure. It’s faster, cheaper, and more accessible than ever.

Bitfinex (BitFreedomGus):
This shows that Aethir will be a possible solution if we have another GPU Shortage, especially with the massive computational power needed to drive AI solutions.
To finish, what is Aethir’s final vision? What mark do you hope to leave in the world of decentralised computing by making technology more accessible?

Aethir (Mark):
For sure – GPUs are only going to get more important to the global economy, not less!
As mentioned earlier, universal cloud compute is Aethir’s endgame. It’s a future in which builders can access high-performance GPU computing without entry barriers such as unaffordable costs, geopolitical constraints, and supply chain bottlenecks.
Aethir’s cloud computing infrastructure advocates complete global decentralisation in true Web3 spirit, allowing anyone to become a Cloud Host in Aethir’s DePIN stack and support global AI evolution.
Access to reliable and scalable cloud computing is becoming increasingly important in an AI-enhanced world where all industries are incorporating AI-based solutions in their daily operations to some extent.

Bitfinex (BitFreedomGus):
Mr. Mark Rydon, thank you very much for this clear and interesting conversation about Aethir. It was great to better understand your vision and plans!

Aethir (Mark):
You are very welcome – it was my pleasure! Thanks so much for having me!
Follow me on X, guys! https://x.com/MRRydon
And our main social details are here:
Official Website (https://aethir.com/)
Twitter (https://twitter.com/AethirCloud)
Telegram (https://t.me/Aethir_Official)

Bitfinex (BitFreedomGus):
Amazing!
Don’t forget that the transcription of this AMA and the additional questions will be answered in an article on our blog and available in multiple languages!

Aethir (Mark):
Thanks again, guys!

Bitfinex (BitFreedomGus):
Thank you, Mr. Mark!
That concludes our AMA session—thank you all, and we’ll see you next time!