Product Keynote: Render Network Foundation (Sunny Osahn)

Seven years after setting out to prove that consumer-grade GPUs could power Hollywood-quality visual creation, the Render Network has unveiled its next evolution: a dedicated AI compute subnet called Dispersed, marking the network's expansion beyond rendering into generative AI territory. The announcement came at Solana's Breakpoint 2025 conference, where Render Network Foundation's Sonny Osahn revealed staggering growth metrics and a roadmap that positions the network at the intersection of traditional 3D workflows and artificial intelligence.

Summary

The Render Network, which has established itself as the largest decentralized physical infrastructure network (DePIN) on Solana, delivered a comprehensive update showcasing its remarkable growth trajectory. The network has now processed 63 million cumulative frames, with over a third of those rendered in 2024 alone. This explosive growth is supported by a 40% increase in rendering compute power and an 87% growth in the two-sided GPU marketplace compared to the previous year.

Beyond the impressive numbers, the announcement of Dispersed represents a strategic pivot for the network. This customer-facing brand for the Compute Subnet allows users to access generative AI models running on decentralized GPUs—a significant expansion from the network's original rendering-focused mission. The platform is already live at Dispersed.com, signaling that Render Network is no longer just about creating visual frames but about providing comprehensive GPU compute infrastructure for the AI era.

The network's commitment to the creative community remains central to its identity. In the past year, Render funded a record 276 artist grants and partnered with world-class creators on groundbreaking projects. The integration with Otoy Studio, which offers over 600 curated AI artist models, demonstrates how the network is actively merging traditional 3D creation tools with AI capabilities. Looking ahead to 2026, the team anticipates a significant blurring of lines between traditional 3D creation and AI-powered workflows.

Key Points:

Dispersed: The New AI Compute Platform

The launch of Dispersed marks Render Network's most significant strategic expansion to date. This customer-facing brand represents the Compute Subnet's evolution into a full-fledged generative AI platform running on decentralized GPU infrastructure. Unlike traditional cloud computing services controlled by centralized providers, Dispersed leverages the same distributed GPU network that has powered millions of rendered frames, now repurposed to process AI models.

The significance of this launch cannot be overstated. By enabling generative AI processing on decentralized hardware, Render Network is positioning itself to capture a share of the rapidly growing AI compute market while maintaining its core value proposition of affordability and accessibility. The platform went live immediately following the announcement, demonstrating the team's readiness to compete in this space.

Record-Breaking Growth Metrics

The past year has been transformative for Render Network's growth. The network has achieved several milestone markers: over 1 million cumulative render tokens have been burned through network activity, representing significant demand for services. The 87% year-over-year growth in the GPU marketplace demonstrates healthy expansion on both sides of the network—providers offering compute power and users consuming rendering services.

The 40% increase in onboarded rendering compute power indicates strong interest from GPU owners looking to monetize their hardware. This growth, combined with the passing of four community governance proposals, shows a maturing ecosystem with active participation from stakeholders. The network's position as the largest DePIN on Solana underscores its dominance in the decentralized infrastructure space.

Immersive Experiences and Real-World Applications

Render Network has identified immersive experiences as the sector with the strongest product-market fit. The network's value proposition—affordable, on-demand, at-scale rendering—proves especially compelling for creating massive visual installations that would be prohibitively expensive or time-consuming through traditional means.

The collaboration with Artech House in New York demonstrates this capability powerfully. Sixteen world-class artists created 12 pieces rendered at 18K resolution, representing the largest digital art exhibition ever rendered on a decentralized network. Some pieces that would have taken over two years to render on a high-end desktop computer were completed in just one week using the network. This dramatic reduction in time and cost opens creative possibilities previously unimaginable for independent artists.

The Convergence of AI and 3D Workflows

The integration between traditional 3D creation and AI represents the network's vision for the future of creative production. Otoy Studio, the first user of the Compute Subnet, offers access to over 600 curated artist AI models and includes Canvas, a node-based creation workspace for composing images, videos, and Gaussian splats.

The network has signaled its intention to run as many open-weight AI models as possible, democratizing access to powerful creative tools. By 2026, the team expects AI 3D interoperability to unlock new levels of control and consistency in creative workflows. The emphasis on "world models"—AI systems that learn how the world works, predict outcomes, and plan accordingly—suggests Render Network sees itself as a potential infrastructure provider for the next generation of AI systems.

RenderCon and Community Building

The network's commitment to community extends beyond grants and marketplace mechanics. RenderCon, the network's first in-person conference, launched successfully and has already scheduled its second iteration for April 16, 2026, in Hollywood. This physical gathering of artists, developers, and network participants represents a maturing community infrastructure.

The partnership with Librof Productions on a VFX assembly pipeline that rivals traditional Hollywood workflows demonstrates the network's penetration into professional creative industries. By offering production-quality tools at decentralized prices, Render Network is positioning itself as a serious alternative to established render farms that have long dominated the visual effects industry.

Facts + Figures

• 63 million cumulative frames have been rendered on the Render Network to date
• Over one-third of all renders occurred in 2024, demonstrating accelerating adoption
• 40% increase in rendering compute power onboarded to the network
• 87% year-over-year growth in the two-sided GPU marketplace
• Over 1 million cumulative render tokens have been burned through network usage
• Record 276 artist grants funded in the past year
• Four community governance proposals passed during this period
• 16 world-class artists participated in the Artech House exhibition
• 12 pieces rendered at 18K resolution for the immersive gallery
• Some pieces completed in one week that would have taken over two years on a high-end desktop
• Over 600 curated AI artist models available through Otoy Studio
• Render Network is the largest DePIN on Solana
• RenderCon 2 scheduled for April 16, 2026, in Hollywood
• The network has been operating for seven years
• Dispersed.com is live and processing generative AI models on decentralized GPUs

Top quotes

• "Seven years ago, we set out to prove that consumer-grade GPUs could power cinematic-grade creativity at scale."

• "Today, the Render Network is one of the most successful decentralized infrastructure networks in the world."

• "Some were rendered in a week, but would have taken over two years on a high-end desktop."

• "In 2026, we expect to see the lines between traditional 3D and AI creation blur with more control and consistency unlocked through AI 3D interoperability."

• "Rendering was just the beginning."

• "We are extremely excited by how AI will accelerate and enhance how GPU compute is used to power cinematic great creativity."

• "This is kind of a big deal. Rendering was just the beginning."

• "We invite you all to join us as we build the decentralized compute layer for creative AI 3D."

Questions Answered

What is the Render Network and why does it matter?

The Render Network is a decentralized GPU computing platform that has been operating for seven years, enabling artists and creators to access powerful rendering capabilities without owning expensive hardware. It matters because it democratizes access to Hollywood-quality visual production tools, allowing independent creators to compete with well-funded studios. As the largest DePIN on Solana, it represents a successful proof of concept for decentralized infrastructure networks, demonstrating that distributed consumer-grade GPUs can effectively power professional-grade creative work.

What is Dispersed and how does it change the Render Network's focus?

Dispersed is the customer-facing brand for Render Network's new Compute Subnet, specifically designed to process generative AI models on decentralized GPUs. This represents a significant expansion beyond the network's original rendering focus into the broader AI compute market. By launching Dispersed, Render Network is positioning itself to capture demand from the rapidly growing AI sector while leveraging its existing distributed GPU infrastructure. The platform is already live at Dispersed.com, allowing users to access AI capabilities on decentralized hardware immediately.

How much has the Render Network grown in the past year?

The network experienced substantial growth across multiple metrics in 2024. The GPU marketplace grew by 87% year-over-year, while rendering compute power increased by 40% through new provider onboarding. Over 21 million frames were rendered in 2024 alone, representing more than a third of the network's entire 63 million frame history. Additionally, over 1 million render tokens have now been burned cumulatively, and the network funded a record 276 artist grants, demonstrating healthy demand and community engagement.

What makes immersive experiences particularly suitable for the Render Network?

Immersive experiences require rendering at extremely high resolutions and scales that would be prohibitively expensive or time-consuming through traditional methods. The Render Network's decentralized model provides affordable, on-demand access to massive compute power, making projects like 18K resolution art installations financially viable. The Artech House exhibition demonstrated this perfectly—works that would have taken years on traditional hardware were completed in weeks, fundamentally changing what independent artists can create.

How is Render Network integrating AI with traditional 3D workflows?

The network is pursuing AI integration through multiple channels. Otoy Studio, the first user of the Compute Subnet, offers over 600 curated AI artist models alongside Canvas, a node-based workspace for composing various media types including Gaussian splats. The network plans to run as many open-weight AI models as possible, giving creators broad access to cutting-edge tools. By 2026, the team expects traditional 3D creation and AI generation to merge significantly, with world models—AI systems that understand and predict real-world dynamics—representing a key area of opportunity.

What is RenderCon and when is the next one?

RenderCon is the Render Network's annual in-person conference, which held its inaugural event successfully in 2024. The second RenderCon is scheduled for April 16, 2026, in Hollywood. The conference brings together artists, developers, and network participants to celebrate creative work produced on the network and discuss future developments. It represents the network's investment in building real-world community connections beyond its digital marketplace.

How does Render Network support the artist community?

The network maintains a robust artist grant program that funded a record 276 recipients in the past year. Beyond direct funding, partnerships like the collaboration with Librof Productions on a professional VFX assembly pipeline provide artists with Hollywood-competitive tools at accessible prices. The network also showcases community work prominently—this year's Breakpoint visuals were created by artist Brilly using the Render Network. These combined efforts create an ecosystem where artists can access both financial support and professional-grade infrastructure.