Decentralized GPU computing network Aethir today officially announced the launch of the ACCELERATE strategic project, marking a full extension of this network, previously known for global GPU computing aggregation and scheduling, into the field of physical AI infrastructure construction.

From Scheduler to Builder

ACCELERATE is a substantial leap in Aethir's business model. In the past, Aethir aggregated third-party GPU computing in over 90 countries, managing more than 430,000 GPU containers. After the launch of ACCELERATE, Aethir will actively identify sites and independently promote GPU computing go-live, transitioning from network operator to infrastructure owner. The first batch targets 10 sites in the United States and Europe, with a total capacity of up to 20 megawatts. The official disclosed contract size goal: up to $700 million by the end of 2026, with a total value of over $2 billion after all 10 sites are completed.

Infrastructure Designed for the Inference Era

ACCELERATE sites support NVIDIA B300 and GB300 clusters, with node scales ranging from 64 to 256, aimed at AI training and inference workloads, with deployment cycles measured in months. Deloitte predicts that inference will account for about two-thirds of all AI computing demand in 2026—what inference workloads need is not gigantic centralized parks, but rapidly deployable computing resources that are close to customers and can scale on demand. ACCELERATE aims to fill this supply gap. According to McKinsey data, global AI data center power demand is expected to expand from 44GW in 2025 to 156GW in 2030, and nearly half of the planned global new capacity for 2026 is facing delays due to approval and grid issues. Speed of delivery has become the most scarce competitive asset.

Demand First, Contract Driven

Aethir clearly states that the go-live of each ACCELERATE site corresponds to real demand under signed contracts, rather than speculative bets— the built clusters will be used to fulfill existing contractual obligations. On the partnership level, Axe Compute (NASDAQ: AGPU), through its Axe Build business, is deeply involved, with the latter having signed contracts exceeding $3 billion cumulatively by 2026, having received customer prepayments of about $400 million (all documented in public SEC filings). The Aethir Foundation holds equity in Axe Compute. Aethir co-founder and Chief Strategy Officer Mark Rydon stated, "The winner of this competition will not be the one who builds the largest park, but the one who delivers usable computing power first. Our network can tell us where the demand is even before driving the first stake."

Token Economics Updated Concurrently

With the launch of ACCELERATE, Aethir will update the IDC token economic policy, introducing a destruction mechanism and a floating platform fee to enhance the protocol's resilience during price fluctuations, allowing existing ATH holders to benefit from income growth on the chain. The first batch of contracts for ACCELERATE is expected to be executed over the next few months, with each site announcing its agreements sequentially.