Io.net has unveiled a redesigned token model for its decentralized AI computing network, in a move aimed at linking token rewards more closely with real usage and demand.
The company announced the Incentive Dynamic Engine, or IDE, as a new framework for how it issues and allocates its tokens across hardware providers, users and investors.
Io.net runs a distributed network of graphics processing units, or GPUs, that support AI training and inference workloads. The company said its network has handled more than $20 million in compute leases since June, across tens of thousands of GPUs.
The new model is part of a broader effort in the decentralized physical infrastructure network, or DePIN, sector. Many DePIN projects use token incentives to attract hardware providers but face questions about inflation, market volatility, and limited real-world usage.
Dynamic symbol system
The IDE uses a dynamic control system that adjusts token issuance and payout levels based on real-time network conditions. The design links token emissions to factors such as computing demand and the use of available graphics processing units, the company said.
Io.net said the approach differs from previous models that focused on providing supply through high token rewards. These models often produced persistent inflation and did not always keep pace with end-user demand.
The company said the IDE aims to stabilize the income of GPU providers in more than 130 countries. It also said it aims to support more predictable prices for network users.
“We are at a critical juncture for AI: either continue to use centralized scaling tools backed by opaque circular finance, or build open, decentralized markets for computing,” said Gaurav Sharma, CEO of io.net.
“DePINs in their current form are not fit for purpose. The IDE is a pioneering new model, and is the foundation for the next phase of io.net’s growth. GPU providers, users and investors will benefit from the first trusted and open computing network, precisely aligning incentives. Following its implementation next year, the IDE will enable startups, researchers and enterprises to develop and deploy AI systems on io.net over the long term.”
The trust gap in companies
Decentralized computing networks have so far seen limited adoption among large enterprises. Business users often cite concerns about reliability, transparency, and the relationship between resource supply and application demand.
Many blockchain-based networks obscure the relationship between GPU availability and usage, Io.net said. This lack of transparency has eroded confidence in the stability of decentralized infrastructure, she said.
The IDE works hand-in-hand with a commitment to greater network data visibility, the company said. The merger is designed to create a more open computing market that is easier for companies and investors to understand, she said.
An open marketplace that directly matches any hardware provider with any user can support long-term capital deployment by investors and hardware manufacturers, Io.net said. This structure could reduce concerns about circular financing arrangements in AI infrastructure, she said.
Benefits to stakeholders
The IDE framework includes mechanisms that the company describes as deflationary in certain circumstances. These mechanisms link token flows to real-world use rather than speculative trading.
Io.net said the model reduces income volatility for GPU providers. She also said that the design rewards investors who support the actual use of the network.
The company said network users could see more flexible access to computing as a result of the realignment of incentives. This is important for AI developers who rely on constant access to GPU capacity to train and run models, he said.
Io.net supports AI projects at startups, startups, and larger enterprises. Clients include media, entertainment, blockchain infrastructure and research institutions, the company said.
Io.net said it operates one of the largest distributed GPU clusters on the market. Its platform supports model training, deployment, and large language model workloads.
Community review
The IDE proposal has been released in a white paper for review by the io.net community. The company has set a comment period lasting until late February.
It said it plans to incorporate community input into the final design of the token. The updated document is scheduled to be published at the end of March.
The company expects to roll out the redesigned token model on its network in the second quarter of 2026. It said the launch will place its global GPU base in a market structure that aligns all stakeholders around maintaining an open and resilient decentralized AI computing network.
Io.net said it views the IDE as a foundation for the next phase of its growth, as AI developers look for alternatives to centralized cloud providers.
