Direct from the desk of Dane Williams.
With Render (RNDR) being the top AI coin by market cap, I’m naturally curious as to what is so special about the project.
From my 5 largest AI coins by market cap post, we know that Render aims to democratise access to high-performance computing by utilising blockchain technology.
RNDR allows anyone to tap into a global network of idle GPUs, enabling them to quickly render (go figure) complex graphics and images quickly.
Something very similar to Akash’s AI pivot, becoming a decentralised marketplace for GPU owners to rent their valuable resources.
Let’s take a look at what’s the difference between Akash and Render, then ask some questions about why Render is the clear number 1 when maybe it doesn’t deserve to be.
What’s the difference between Render and Akash?
When I was doing some research for this post, I came across this recent Tweet from Boz, Akash’s COO.
Well it turns out that they’re asking the same questions I am about just how deserving Render are of their top position.
Check this Tweet out below 👇
https://twitter.com/boz_menzalji/status/1676689648834445312
- boz_menzalji
Come on Leo, get Tweet and Thread embeds working already!
As you can see, Akash Network is an open, decentralised and permissionless network, built upon an open-source codebase.
One of its standout features is actually its community governance, an extremely important aspect of any project which uses the word decentralised in its marketing material.
From meetings to funding decisions, roadmap planning and product development, Akash operates with utmost transparency by conducting all activities in the public eye.
This inclusive approach ensures that the community has a voice in shaping the network's future, giving it a sense of ownership and control.
Akash's impressive capability of running 15,000 models on Hugging Face is certainly noteworthy.
The platform showcases its scalability and flexibility, allowing developers to leverage a decentralised infrastructure to deploy and manage their applications.
All without relying on a single centralised entity.
The possibilities seem endless with Akash, as it empowers individuals and organisations to tap into the full potential of decentralised computing.
Exactly what we’re trying to achieve here in the crypto space.
Now, let's turn our sceptical eye towards Render.
So unlike Akash, Render operates as a closed-source software hosted on centralised AWS or Google cloud providers.
This alone surely raises eyebrows, right?
How can Render be marketed as a decentralised and open-sourced protocol while it relies on closed-source products hosted on central cloud providers?
There certainly seems to be a disconnect between the marketed image of the project that has propelled it to its place as the top AI coin, and the actual implementation.
Another differentiating factor is that Render operates within a permissioned system, meaning that not everyone can participate.
This limitation certainly contradicts the principles of decentralisation, where inclusivity and accessibility should be paramount.
It raises further doubts about Render's claim to be a truly decentralised platform and as we know, where there’s smoke there’s going to be fire.
Moreover, Render's specialisation in running a single model on Stable Diffusion is worth considering.
While Akash boasts the ability to handle a multitude of models concurrently, Render's focus seems narrow.
This specialisation may be advantageous for applications that prioritise stability and specific optimisations, but it leaves little room for versatility.
So why is RNDR the top AI coin by market cap?
In the fast-evolving world of AI coins, it’s crucial to critically evaluate the promises made by platforms like Akash and Render.
By understanding the disparity between their features and philosophies, we can make informed decisions about which platform aligns best with our values and goals.
While hopefully making money in the process.
Wrapping up, the stark contrast between Akash and Render highlights the importance of transparency and community involvement in the decentralised space.
Akash's commitment to these principles distinguishes it as a platform that empowers developers, while Render's limitations and closed-source nature certainly raise concerns.
But just remember that it's the market that decides price and value.
And that it can remain irrational longer than you can remain solvent.
Don’t ever forget that quote!
Best of probabilities to you.