by Render Network Foundation
Quick Fact
Originally launched on the Ethereum blockchain as an ERC-20 token, Render Network expanded its capabilities by bridging to the Polygon network in 2021 to address scalability and gas fee concerns. In November 2023, the network underwent a significant transition by migrating its infrastructure and token contract to the Solana blockchain. This move aimed to leverage Solana's high throughput and low transaction costs, enhancing the network's ability to handle complex rendering tasks and expanding its services to include GPU computing for AI and machine learning applications.
Render Network is a leading decentralized GPU rendering protocol that connects users needing complex digital rendering with node operators who provide idle GPU power. By leveraging blockchain technology, Render dramatically reduces costs, increases efficiency, and decentralizes access to high-performance computing for digital artists, developers, and researchers.
Originally launched in 2017 by OTOY Inc.—a pioneer in GPU rendering technology—Render Network was envisioned as a way to democratize access to rendering resources. In 2023, governance of the network transitioned to the Render Network Foundation, a non-profit that now manages protocol upgrades, community proposals (RNPs), and long-term ecosystem growth.
Render Network began on Ethereum as an ERC-20 project but faced the same limitations many Web3 platforms encountered: high gas fees and congestion. To address this, it bridged to Polygon in 2021. In late 2023, Render made a pivotal migration to Solana, using its high-throughput and low-cost architecture to handle increasing rendering workloads and GPU-based compute services.
Today, Solana supports the full Render stack—allowing real-time interactions, faster payments, and the ability to extend beyond 3D rendering into AI model training, scientific simulations, and virtual environments.
3D Rendering: Powering CGI for film, games, architecture, and metaverse projects
Digital Art & NFTs: Enabling artists to render high-fidelity visuals for on-chain projects
AI & ML Compute: Supporting AI model processing on distributed GPU resources
Scientific Computing: Facilitating research simulations in a scalable, cost-efficient way
By decentralizing GPU compute, Render Network is empowering a new generation of creators and developers to access high-end resources without centralized gatekeeping. It represents a fundamental shift in how visual content and AI services are powered in Web3—fast, permissionless, and owned by the community.