What are Compute Networks?
Compute Networks encompass decentralized and distributed computing platforms that provide off-chain or on-chain computational resources for web3 applications. Tools and services in this category include decentralized compute platforms, serverless compute frameworks, distributed task execution networks, and blockchain-integrated virtual machines. These networks enable developers to run complex computations, data processing, and smart contract logic beyond the limitations of base layer blockchains.
Primary users of Compute Networks are developers building scalable dapps, decentralized finance protocols, gaming applications, and data-intensive services that require reliable and verifiable off-chain computation. Key characteristics of these tools include decentralization, trust minimization, scalability, and integration with blockchain state and data. Subcategories may include decentralized cloud compute, off-chain computation oracles, and blockchain-native compute environments. Developers should explore Compute Networks when their applications need scalable, secure, and verifiable computation that cannot be efficiently handled solely on-chain.