Real Decentralized Compute Network - Powered by Phones
Serverless compute on a global network of smartphone-based processors. Verifiable execution via Trusted Execution Environments (TEEs). Pay in ACU or USDC.
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Curious how it works under the hood? Read the protocol architecture ↗
What is Acurast
Acurast is redefining compute by utilizing billions of smartphones - no data centers required. This verifiable, scalable, and confidential compute network enables developers to run secure applications on decentralized infrastructure at scale, without compromising speed or privacy.
Acurast has already onboarded 250,000+ compute units worldwide, making it the most decentralized verifiable compute network available today. This compute already powers mission-critical workloads with high-security and AI requirements - from REST APIs and webhooks to LLM inference and confidential data processing.
This isn't just another DePIN protocol - it's a fundamental rethink of how the world computes. Instead of relying on data centers or even servers, Acurast harnesses the world's most abundant, powerful, and secure form of compute: the smartphone.
Why Acurast
As global demand for computing power continues to skyrocket, control has gradually shifted into the hands of a few large, centralized providers. With AI's rapid growth further accelerating the need for massive compute resources, the call for a truly decentralized, global-scale network - by the people, for the people - has never been stronger.
The only way to deliver on this vision is by rethinking decentralized compute from the ground up. Instead of relying on data centers or even servers, Acurast harnesses smartphones: secure by hardware design, abundant in supply, distributed by default.
Decentralized by design
Tens of thousands of phones serve as compute units across the globe - no centralized data centers required. United by a growing community of Compute Providers active in 140+ countries, this network sets a new standard for true decentralization.
Scalable by design
By tapping the compute of billions of smartphones worldwide, Acurast is primed to reach unprecedented scale. Backed by academic research benchmarking its performance against leading centralized providers, the protocol is built for the future of decentralized compute. Battle-tested: more than 250 million transactions processed on testnet demonstrate its scalability and resilience.
Secure by design
Acurast safeguards significant digital assets across leading networks - Bitcoin, Ethereum, Tezos, Polkadot, peaq, and others. The smartphone's best-in-class Trusted Execution Environments (TEEs) confirm that hardware is genuine rather than fake, and maintain confidentiality without requiring trust in the device owner. This emphasis on verifiability and confidentiality delivers the robust security essential for mass adoption of decentralized compute.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Acurast?
Acurast is a decentralized cloud compute network powered by smartphones. Developers deploy serverless workloads - REST APIs, webhooks, scheduled jobs, LLM inference, confidential computation - to a global pool of smartphone processors that execute the code inside hardware-backed Trusted Execution Environments (TEEs). Compute Providers earn ACU rewards by running the processor app on their phones.
How is Acurast different from other DePIN networks?
Most DePIN networks coordinate hardware (storage, bandwidth, GPUs in data centers) without verifying what runs on it. Acurast uses smartphone TEEs to prove that the deployed code ran unmodified, on genuine hardware, with confidential inputs the device owner cannot inspect. The result is verifiable, confidential compute - not just decentralized compute.
What can I deploy on Acurast?
Anything that runs in a Node.js environment: web servers, API integrations, scheduled jobs, Telegram bots, headless browsers (Puppeteer), WebAssembly modules, and LLM inference. See Example Apps for ready-to-clone projects, or jump to the Quickstart.
How do I deploy something quickly?
Three entry paths:
- CLI - interactive local workflow:
npx @acurast/cli new my-projectthenacurast deploy. - SDK - programmatic deploys from TypeScript/JavaScript for CI and backends.
- Deploy Agent - pay with USDC on Base via x402, no ACU account needed. Best for AI agents.
Pick one in the Quickstart.
How do Compute Providers earn?
Install the Acurast Processor app on a supported smartphone, register it on-chain, and start earning ACU as your phone executes deployments. See Become a Compute Provider for the full setup.
What is the ACU token used for?
ACU pays for compute, rewards Compute Providers, secures the network through staking, and grants governance rights. See Acurast Token and Tokenomics.