Akash Network
The open-source Supercloud and decentralized compute marketplace
Key network specifications
Network architecture & ecosystem
Akash Network is a sovereign Proof-of-Stake blockchain and permissionless compute marketplace built with the Cosmos SDK. It allows any cloud provider or data center to list idle CPU, GPU, memory, and storage capacity in an open reverse auction. Developers deploy containerized Docker applications using human-readable Stack Definition Language (SDL) files, achieving up to 85% savings over centralized cloud providers.
Key strengths
- •Fully open-source, permissionless, and censorship-resistant marketplace with zero vendor lock-in
- •Reverse-auction bidding mechanism where independent providers compete down to real market clearing price
- •Clean Kubernetes-native manifest abstraction (SDL) allowing portable Docker container deployments
- •Settlement supported in native AKT, stablecoins (USDC), and credit card fiat rails
Limitations & tradeoffs
- •Requires familiarity with YAML manifests (SDL) and container operations rather than simple 1-click GUIs
- •Lack of native centralized companion services (e.g. proprietary managed serverless DBs or streaming queues)
- •Tier-1 enterprise 8x H100 SXM5 pods can experience high provider contention during peak AI surges
Target workloads
Akash GPU pricing table
Sourced from active cloud instances and order books
| GPU model | VRAM | Price / hour | Status | Source note | Audit date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NVIDIA H100 (80GB HBM3) | 80 GB HBM3 | $1.85 / hr | Last checked: 2026-10-01 | Verified on-chain bid leases for NVIDIA H100 80GB SXM5 nodes | Last checked: 2026-10-01 |
| NVIDIA A100 (80GB SXM4) | 80 GB HBM2e | $1.15 / hr | Last checked: 2026-10-01 | Akash reverse auction market rate for A100 80GB SXM4 instances | Last checked: 2026-10-01 |
| NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 (24GB) | 24 GB GDDR6X | $0.45 / hr | Last checked: 2026-10-01 | Akash community data center lease rates for RTX 4090 24GB | Last checked: 2026-10-01 |
Head-to-head comparisons
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