Acurast Explained: How the Network Works, Tokenomics Breakdown & Future Plans

Acurast is taking a different path in decentralized computing by turning smartphones into a global compute network.

Instead of relying on data centers or servers, it uses everyday devices to deliver secure and scalable compute power.

As demand for AI and high performance workloads grows, centralized providers control most of the infrastructure.

Acurast aims to shift that balance by offering a decentralized, verifiable, and privacy focused alternative powered by people, not corporations.

Key Takeaways

• Acurast uses smartphones as decentralized compute units instead of data centers.

• The ACU token aligns compute providers, developers, and users through clear incentives.

• The network already supports real workloads and plans mainnet growth.

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What Is Acurast?

Acurast is a decentralized compute network designed to run applications securely on smartphones across the globe.

These phones act as independent compute units, verified through hardware security features to ensure trust without relying on the device owner.

Built for decentralization and scale

The network has onboarded more than 165,000 compute units on its incentivized testnet, making it one of the most decentralized verifiable compute systems available today.

Devices are spread across over 140 countries, reducing reliance on any single location or provider.

Key design pillars include:

• Decentralized by design: No centralized servers or data centers

• Scalable by design: Millions of potential devices worldwide

• Secure by design: Trusted Execution Environments protect data and execution

Acurast already supports mission critical workloads, including AI execution and high security applications.

This shows the network is moving beyond theory and into real world use, positioning it as more than just another DePIN experiment.

Read Also: Decentralized AI: How Blockchain Empowers Trust in Multi-Agent Systems

How Acurast Uses Phones for Decentralized Compute

Smartphones are often underestimated as compute devices, yet they rival older server hardware in performance while consuming far less energy. Acurast builds on this by turning idle phones into active contributors.

Providing compute on Acurast

Users can participate as compute providers through two options:

• Processor Lite: Runs on everyday phones and activates when convenient

• Processor Core: Uses dedicated phones locked for compute only

Both options earn rewards as long as the device stays online and reports activity. Developers can choose whether to deploy workloads on Lite devices, Core devices, or both, depending on task length and security needs.

Real world use cases

Acurast supports a wide range of applications, including:

• Secure AI and confidential computation

• Automated on chain trading strategies

• Decentralized VPN and bandwidth services

• Distributed computing clusters and zkProof generation

By using phones, Acurast keeps costs low while offering strong geographic diversity and resilience, something traditional cloud providers struggle to match.

Read Also: ICP Blockchain: Utilising AI for Infinite Scaling in New Innovation

ACU Tokenomics and Network Incentives

The ACU token sits at the center of the Acurast ecosystem. It powers transactions, secures the network, and gives the community a voice in governance.

ACU supply and allocation

• Initial supply: 1,000,000,000 ACU

• Annual inflation: Fixed at 5%

• Community focused: Nearly 70% allocated to community and ecosystem growth

• Early backers: Limited to 6.5% to support fair distribution

Team and advisor tokens follow long lock up and vesting schedules, aligning long term incentives with the network’s success.

Token utility

ACU serves several core functions:

• Network fees: Required for transactions and execution

• Staking: Adds economic security and rewards participants

• Governance: Allows holders to vote on protocol decisions

The network also supports cACU and MIST. cACU is used on the canary network and converts to ACU on mainnet with flexible lock periods.

MIST points reward early contributors through the Cloud Rebellion program and support future airdrops.

Read Also: Introduction to DecentralGPT and DGC Token

Conclusion

Acurast shows how decentralized compute can move beyond servers and into everyday devices.

By using smartphones, it offers a scalable, secure, and globally distributed alternative to centralized cloud infrastructure.

With a strong focus on verifiability, real world workloads, and community driven tokenomics, Acurast is building foundations that can support long term growth.

As the mainnet launch and ACU TGE approach, interest in decentralized infrastructure continues to rise.

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FAQ

What is Acurast used for?

Acurast provides decentralized compute for AI, secure applications, automation, and distributed workloads.

How does Acurast ensure security?

It uses smartphone Trusted Execution Environments to verify hardware and protect data privacy.

What is the ACU token used for?

ACU is used for fees, staking, governance, and rewarding compute providers.

When is the ACU TGE planned?

The TGE and mainnet launch are currently planned for a later date.

Can anyone provide compute on Acurast?

Yes, users can contribute using Processor Lite or Core on supported Android and iOS devices.

Disclaimer: The views expressed belong exclusively to the author and do not reflect the views of this platform. This platform and its affiliates disclaim any responsibility for the accuracy or suitability of the information provided. It is for informational purposes only and not intended as financial or investment advice.