Bitcoin MENA: Blockchain Center Abu Dhabi to collaborate as a partner for Aethir’s $100MN Ecosystem Fund
Aethir and The Blockchain Center Abu Dhabi (ADBC) are dedicated to supporting cutting-edge Web3 enterprises on their paths to create never-before-seen innovative platforms and applications. Aethir and ADBC announced the partnership at Bitcoin MENA to supercharge AI and gaming development through Aethir’s $100 Million Ecosystem Fund. The fund comprises of Aethir compute subsidies and token grants for eligible projects, focusing on innovators developing projects in Abu Dhabi and the broader MENA region. ADBC will be the regional onboarding partner for Aethir’s AI and gaming ecosystem grants, as they have expertise in the local Web3 sector.
Aethir is the only enterprise-grade GPU-as-a-service platform on the market, capable of supporting AI and gaming companies of all types and sizes with reliable, secure, and highly scalable GPU computing power. With 43,000+ top-shelf GPUs and 3000+ NVIDIA H100s for advanced AI workloads, Aethir’s decentralized cloud infrastructure can efficiently service the most demanding enterprises in the Web3 industry with premium GPU compute resources. Additionally, Aethir’s network of over 33,000 globally distributed Aethir Edge cloud computing devices enables anyone to become a compute provider in our network and support the everyday workloads of our clients worldwide.
ADBC is at the forefront of Web3 innovation in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), empowering builders and professionals from all industry sectors by providing a collaborative platform for education, research, and enterprise solutions. ADBC aims to empower businesses, governments, and individuals to leverage blockchain technology for sustainable growth and transformation that can positively impact users' everyday lives globally. The center’s Incubation & Acceleration Hub provides Web3 startups with comprehensive resources, expert mentorship, and strategic funding.
Who Is Eligible for the Aethir Ecosystem Grant Program in the MENA Region?
The grant program will primarily focus on AI and gaming enterprises building projects in the MENA region, focusing on Abu Dhabi with ADBC’s support. Aethir will be the exclusive GPU computing provider for all eligible projects with compute grants, subsidies, and token grants from our $100 million Ecosystem Fund.
Four categories of companies are eligible for Aethir’s grant program.
- Gaming Innovators: Projects building breathtaking gaming experiences leveraging blockchain technology and introducing innovative gameplay mechanics that are pushing the boundaries of Web3 gaming. The applicants should have high APRU and large, active user bases on-chain. With access to Aethir’s GPU computing infrastructure, gaming innovators can create enhanced gaming experiences and build their community with ATH token grants.
- AI-Integrated Enterprises and Startups: Companies leveraging AI agents or requiring high-level compute for AI workloads such as LLM training and AI inference. AI is the most GPU-intensive sector on the market, and Aethir can offer computing subsidies to promising AI projects to scale their operations. Also, grantees can receive integration support through ADBC's advisory services.
- Cloud Gaming Platforms: The cloud gaming industry is rapidly growing, with 1.2 billion potential new users worldwide. Cloud gaming platforms need access to low-latency cloud infrastructure to support user base growth. Platforms with significant user engagement seeking to expand with premium cloud resources can leverage Aethir’s industry-leading decentralized GPU cloud and receive marketing support from ADBC to grow their user bases.
- Pre-Launch Companies: Stealth mode companies gearing up for significant milestones like TGEs, Beta Launches, or Airdrops can receive valuable support in navigating pre-launch phases with compute subsidies, an advisory service from ADBC, and strategic token grants.
Aethir and ADBC’s Ecosystem Collaboration Framework
ADBC will be Aethir’s exclusive partner for onboarding innovative AI and gaming projects from the MENA region into our ecosystem through Aethir’s grant program. ADBC will form a committee to source and onboard startups into the Aethir ecosystem, specifically in Abu Dhabi and the broader MENA region, and will offer grantees expertise in regulatory compliance, business strategy, and market entry within the UAE. Furthermore, ADBC will co-host or sponsor events to increase the visibility of grantee projects and create networking opportunities, as well as joint marketing campaigns to promote these projects.
Aethir’s role in this partnership is to provide compute subsidies and token grants to eligible applicants. All grant program applicants must use Aethir’s cloud-computing infrastructure or partner with Aethir through allocations of their native tokens. Furthermore, each eligible applicant can receive one grant, with exceptions considered on a case-by-case basis. To ensure the alignment of grantee projects with Aethir’s Web3 vision and strategic goals, Aethir retains control over which projects receive grants through a veto right for grant applicants.
The implementation plan, as well as the timeline, selection process, and post-grant support details for Aethir and ADBC’s collaboration, will be announced at a later date.
Aethir and ADBC are Supporting Web3 AI and Gaming Innovation at Scale
Through Aethir and ADBC’s partnership to support AI and gaming innovators in the MENA region, we are jointly contributing to the mass global expansion of Web3 creativity geared toward transforming and enhancing numerous industries. AI is here to stay, and it’s helping automate workloads in various sectors by introducing advanced tools such as AI agents and AI-powered blockchain applications. On the other hand, gaming enterprises are elevating gameplay by leveraging AI and Web3 solutions to introduce new types of immersive gaming experiences.
Our partnership to grow Aethir’s ecosystem through our grant program is the beginning of Aethir and ADBC’s close collaboration in supporting promising AI and gaming projects, with a potential for scaling the partnership and expanding into new areas of technology.
In the following period, we shall publish more information regarding the application process for Aethir’s ecosystem grant program with support from ADBC in the MENA region on our website, X profile, and community channels (TG & Discord).
To stay up to date with the latest progress on our partnership, make sure to follow Aethir’s communication channels.
