Akash Network (AKT): how it works, supply and reviews
In short
- Type
- Decentralized cloud compute marketplace; providers bid on deployments defined in a YAML file (SDL)
- Burn and mint (BME)
- Under AEP-76 (status Final), tenants burn AKT to mint ACT credits; at settlement ACT is burned and AKT is minted to providers at the current price
- Risks and caveats
- Workloads run on independent providers' hardware; reliability and isolation depend on the chosen provider.
- Checked
- 31 October 2026
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Key facts
- Ticker
- AKT
- Official site
- akash.network
Key facts checked on 31 October 2026 against official sources.
What is Akash Network
Akash Network is a decentralized cloud computing marketplace: independent providers bid to host containerised workloads, including GPU jobs, and tenants lease the capacity they choose. AKT is the native token used for staking, governance and gas, while deployments are paid with ACT, a USD-pegged compute credit created by burning AKT.
Network and consensus
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Type | Decentralized cloud compute marketplace; providers bid on deployments defined in a YAML file (SDL) |
| Consensus | Proof-of-stake chain secured by validators that stake AKT |
| Runs on | Cosmos SDK (upgraded from v0.45 to v0.53 in Mainnet 14, 28 October 2025) |
| Launched | Mainnet 1 launched on 25 September 2020 with 64 validators |
| Smart contracts | Permissioned CosmWasm smart contracts were introduced |
| Providers | Providers in 85+ countries |
Supply and issuance
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Burn and mint (BME) | Under AEP-76 (status Final), tenants burn AKT to mint ACT credits; at settlement ACT is burned and AKT is minted to providers at the current price |
| Fee burn | Token burns settle provider payments, linking AKT supply to compute demand, with circuit breakers |
| Circuit breaker | Warning at a credit ratio of 0.95; certain operations are halted at 0.90 |
What AKT is used for
- Staking: AKT is staked to secure the network through validators
- Governance: AKT holders vote on software upgrades and parameter changes
- Gas: transaction fees are paid in AKT
- Compute credits: AKT is burned to mint ACT, which pays for deployments
Who develops and governs Akash Network
- Founders
- Greg Osuri and co-founder Adam Bozanich
- Governance
- On-chain voting by AKT holders; changes are proposed as Akash Enhancement Proposals (AEPs)
- Open source
- Node and provider software is open source on GitHub (akash-network); docs are under CC BY 4.0
History
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 25 September 2020 | Akash Mainnet 1 launches with 64 validators; AKT is offered in an IEO on BitMax in October 2020. |
| 2023 | GPU marketplace launches (Mainnet 6). |
| 21 September 2025 | AEP-76 (Burn Mint Equilibrium) is created; its status is now Final and deployments are paid in ACT. |
| 28 October 2025 | Mainnet 14 upgrades the chain to Cosmos SDK v0.53 and adds JWT authentication and expedited governance. |
Security and audits
- Validators staking AKT secure the chain; providers are independent operators, so tenants choose providers by price, location and reputation.
- AEP-76 includes circuit breakers that warn at a 0.95 credit ratio and halt some operations at 0.90.
Security incidents
| Date | What happened | Source |
|---|---|---|
| March 2025 | Spam attack: Akash says the network experienced a malicious spam attack in March 2025 and that the core team and validators responded by adjusting transaction costs within hours. | akash.network |
Risks and caveats
- Workloads run on independent providers' hardware; reliability and isolation depend on the chosen provider.
- AKT supply now moves with compute demand under BME: AKT is burned to mint ACT and minted again to pay providers.
- In extreme market conditions the BME circuit breaker can suspend certain operations.
- Trial deployments are limited to 24 hours each.
Official links
- Website: akash.network
- Docs: akash.network/docs
- Token: akash.network/token
- Source code: github.com/akash-network
- Roadmap and AEPs: akash.network/roadmap
- Blog: akash.network/blog
Questions and answers
What is Akash Network?
Akash is a decentralized cloud marketplace where independent providers in 85+ countries bid to host container and GPU workloads.
What is the AKT token used for?
AKT is used for staking, on-chain governance and gas, and it is burned to mint ACT credits that pay for deployments.
What is ACT on Akash?
ACT is a non-transferable, USD-pegged compute credit created by burning AKT (or bought by card in Console) and used only to pay for Akash leases.
Who founded Akash Network?
Akash was co-founded by Greg Osuri and Adam Bozanich; its Mainnet 1 launched on 25 September 2020.
How does Akash work?
A tenant describes the resources it needs in a YAML file; providers bid, the tenant accepts a bid to open a lease, and the workload runs on that provider.
Sources
- Akash Network — Home
- Akash Network — AKT token
- Akash Docs — What is Akash Network?
- Akash Docs — How funding works
- Akash Roadmap — AEP-76 Burn Mint Equilibrium
- Akash Blog — Mainnet live and BitMax IEO (2020)
- Akash Blog — Mainnet 14
- Akash Blog — 2025 year in review
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