Product Keynote: Render Network: Render Network Foundation

The largest decentralized physical infrastructure network (DePIN) on Solana just revealed its biggest evolution yet: a customer-facing AI compute platform called Dispersed that processes generative AI models on decentralized GPUs. The announcement came during Breakpoint 2025, where Render Network Foundation's Sonny Osahn delivered a product keynote packed with impressive milestones and a clear vision for the future of creative computing.

Summary

Seven years after setting out to prove that consumer-grade GPUs could power cinematic-quality creativity at scale, Render Network has established itself as one of the most successful decentralized infrastructure networks globally. The network has hit remarkable milestones, including 63 million cumulative frames rendered to date, with over a third of those completed in 2024 alone. The platform now serves as the backbone for immersive experiences, Hollywood-grade visual effects, and increasingly, AI-powered creative workflows.

The keynote's most significant reveal was Dispersed, Render Network's customer-facing brand for its Compute Subnet. Available now at Dispersed.com, this platform represents the network's expansion beyond traditional rendering into generative AI processing. This marks a pivotal shift in the network's capabilities, positioning it as a comprehensive decentralized compute layer for creative AI and 3D applications.

The network's two-sided GPU marketplace has experienced 87% growth compared to the previous year, maintaining its position as Solana's largest DePIN project. With 40% more rendering compute power onboarded and over 1 million cumulative Render tokens burned, the economic flywheel continues to strengthen. The Foundation also funded a record 276 artist grants and passed four community proposals, demonstrating healthy governance and community engagement.

Looking ahead to 2026, Render Network anticipates a blurring of lines between traditional 3D creation and AI workflows. The team believes world models—AI systems that learn how the physical world works and can predict outcomes—represent a significant opportunity for the network to capture more compute workloads.

Key Points:

Dispersed: The New Face of Decentralized AI Compute

The headline announcement from the keynote was the launch of Dispersed, Render Network's customer-facing brand for its dedicated Compute Subnet. This platform is now live and processing generative AI models on decentralized GPUs—a capability that Osahn described as "a big deal."

Dispersed represents Render Network's strategic expansion beyond its core rendering services. While the network built its reputation on 3D rendering for artists and studios, the Compute Subnet opens doors to a much broader market of AI workloads. The first major user is Otoy Studio, which offers over 600 curated artist AI models through the platform. This integration marks a crucial first step toward merging traditional AI and 3D workflows on decentralized infrastructure.

Immersive Experiences as the Primary Use Case

Render Network has identified immersive experiences as the sector with the strongest product-market fit for its services. The value proposition of affordable, on-demand, at-scale rendering resonates most powerfully in this rapidly growing space.

To demonstrate this capability, the network launched what it claims is the largest digital art exhibition ever rendered on a decentralized network at Artech House in New York. Sixteen world-class artists created 12 pieces rendered at 18K resolution—all at a fraction of the cost of traditional render farms. Some of these works were completed in just one week but would have taken over two years on a high-end desktop computer. This dramatic efficiency improvement showcases why decentralized GPU networks are disrupting traditional creative workflows.

Hollywood-Grade VFX Pipeline Development

In collaboration with grant recipient Librof Productions, Render Network has developed a VFX assembly pipeline that rivals traditional Hollywood workflows. This represents a significant milestone for decentralized infrastructure, demonstrating that distributed GPU networks can meet the demanding standards of professional film and television production.

The development of professional-grade tooling is essential for broader industry adoption. As more studios and production companies seek cost-effective alternatives to expensive centralized render farms, having workflows that match or exceed industry standards removes a major barrier to adoption.

Otoy Studio and Canvas Integration

Otoy Studio has emerged as a flagship application built on the Render Network infrastructure. The platform includes Canvas, a node-based creation workspace that allows artists to compose images, videos, and Gaussian splats (a modern 3D representation technique) in an intuitive visual editor.

The inclusion of over 600 curated artist AI models within Otoy Studio signals the growing convergence of AI and traditional 3D creation tools. Otoy has announced intentions to run as many open-weight AI models as possible on the Render Network, suggesting significant expansion of available AI capabilities in the future.

World Models and the Future of Creative AI

Looking toward 2026 and beyond, Render Network sees world models as a key area of opportunity. These are AI systems that learn how the real world operates, predict what comes next, and can plan actions accordingly. This technology is particularly relevant for creative applications where realistic physics, lighting, and environmental interactions are crucial.

The convergence of world models with existing 3D and rendering capabilities could enable more intuitive and powerful creative tools. Artists might be able to describe a scene and have AI systems that understand real-world physics automatically generate appropriate animations, lighting, and environmental effects—all processed on Render Network's decentralized infrastructure.

Facts + Figures

• 63 million cumulative frames have been rendered on the network to date, with over one-third completed in 2024

• 40% increase in rendering compute power onboarded since last Breakpoint

• 87% growth in the two-sided GPU marketplace compared to the previous year

• Over 1 million Render tokens have been cumulatively burned

• 276 artist grants funded in the past year—a new record

• 4 community proposals passed through governance

• 16 world-class artists participated in the Artech House exhibition in New York

• 12 pieces rendered at 18K resolution for the immersive gallery exhibition

• Over 600 curated artist AI models available through Otoy Studio on the Compute Subnet

• RenderCon 2026 scheduled for April 16, 2026, in Hollywood

• Seven years since the network was founded with the goal of proving consumer GPUs could power cinematic creativity

• Render Network remains the largest DePIN on Solana

• Some exhibition works completed in one week that would have taken over two years on high-end desktop hardware

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."

"Rendering was just the beginning."

"We see immersive experiences as the area where the network has the strongest product market fit, in which the value proposition for affordable on-demand at-scale rendering is the strongest."

"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."

"There is a real opportunity to power much of this on the Render Network."

"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 Dispersed and why is it significant?

Dispersed is Render Network's new customer-facing brand for its Compute Subnet, available now at Dispersed.com. It represents a major expansion of the network's capabilities beyond traditional 3D rendering into generative AI processing. For the first time, users can run AI models on decentralized GPUs through a dedicated platform, opening up entirely new use cases for the network. This is significant because it positions Render Network to capture growth in the rapidly expanding AI compute market while maintaining its existing rendering business.

How has Render Network grown over the past year?

The network has experienced substantial growth across multiple metrics since the previous Breakpoint conference. The two-sided GPU marketplace grew 87% year-over-year, while the network onboarded 40% more rendering compute power. Over 63 million frames have now been rendered cumulatively, with more than a third of those completed in 2024 alone. Additionally, over 1 million Render tokens have been burned, and the Foundation funded a record 276 artist grants while passing four community proposals.

What makes Render Network attractive for immersive experiences?

Render Network offers affordable, on-demand, at-scale rendering that is particularly valuable for immersive experiences—one of the fastest-growing creative sectors. The demonstration at Artech House in New York showcased this value proposition clearly: 16 artists created 12 pieces at 18K resolution at a fraction of traditional render farm costs. Some works that would have taken over two years on high-end desktop hardware were completed in just one week. This dramatic efficiency improvement makes previously cost-prohibitive immersive projects economically viable.

How is Render Network integrating with professional Hollywood workflows?

Through a partnership with grant recipient Librof Productions, Render Network has developed a VFX assembly pipeline that rivals traditional Hollywood workflows. This demonstrates that decentralized GPU infrastructure can meet the exacting standards of professional film and television production. The network is proving that distributed computing isn't just for independent artists but can serve major studio productions that require consistent quality and reliability.

What role will AI play in Render Network's future?

AI is central to Render Network's strategy moving forward. The launch of Dispersed brings generative AI processing to the network, while Otoy Studio's integration of over 600 curated artist AI models signals the convergence of AI and traditional 3D workflows. The network sees world models—AI systems that understand real-world physics and can predict outcomes—as a major opportunity. By 2026, the team expects traditional 3D and AI creation to blur together, with more control and consistency enabled through AI-3D interoperability.

What is RenderCon and when is it happening?

RenderCon is Render Network's in-person conference that launched this year. The inaugural event was successful enough to warrant a second edition, scheduled for April 16, 2026, in Hollywood. The conference brings together the community of artists, developers, and node operators who power and use the Render Network, providing a venue for networking, education, and announcements about the network's future direction.