In a strategic move set to redefine the landscape of web3 gaming, Aethir, a pioneer in distributed GPU cloud computing, has announced a new partnership with Magic Eden, a leading multi-chain NFT platform. This collaboration aims to integrate Aethir's enterprise-grade GPU infrastructure with Magic Eden's NFT marketplace, promising a unified gaming ecosystem poised to revolutionize the gaming experience for millions worldwide.

Blockchain and NFTs

With blockchain gaming projects increasingly reliant on NFT mechanics, the partnership addresses the critical need for enhanced GPU power. By leveraging Aethir's decentralized cloud infrastructure, gaming ventures operating in the web3 space can ensure seamless and immersive experiences for users - overcoming the limitations of traditional app stores.

Daniel Wang, CEO of Aethir, emphasized the significance of Magic Eden's expertise in supporting blockchain gaming and web3 innovation. Wang envisions this collaboration as a catalyst for blockchain gaming scalability, offering NFT gaming studios the resources to seamlessly onboard millions of new users.

“Magic Eden is a true NFT powerhouse with unprecedented experience in supporting blockchain gaming and web3 innovation. As an industry leader among NFT marketplaces, their role complements Aethir’s disruptive GPU cloud infrastructure as a revolutionary DePIN framework for powering cloud gaming. Aethir’s partnership with Magic Eden is about blockchain gaming scalability and providing NFT gaming studios with the resources to seamlessly integrate millions of new users worldwide. Our GPU infrastructure and Magic Eden’s NFT marketplace are a combination for the next generation of web3 gaming.”

Scalability and Accessibility

The collaboration between Aethir and Magic Eden signifies a significant leap forward in the realm of web3 gaming, promising scalability, accessibility, and immersion for players worldwide. Backed by leading web3 investors, Aethir aims to redefine cloud gaming through its GPU-as-a-service technology, enabling game developers to reach players more efficiently while reducing costs.

Chris Akhavan, chief revenue officer of Magic Eden, highlighted the platform's role as the premier NFT marketplace, now spanning Ethereum, Polygon, Solana, Bitcoin, and Base. Akhavan emphasized the platform's offering to game developers, providing a launchpad for NFT collections and facilitating smooth transactions within a vibrant gaming community.

“Magic Eden is now officially by far the biggest NFT marketplace in the world, covering Ethereum, Polygon, Solana, and Bitcoin. And we just launched on Base. We’ve also got a multi-chain wallet. And then from a gaming perspective, the primary offering we provide game developers is our launch pad.” 

Paul Thind, CRO of Aethir, echoed the sentiment, stressing the partnership's role in accelerating innovation in web3 gaming. Thind emphasized the combined strength of Aethir's GPU cloud platform and Magic Eden's community-centric marketplace in delivering a seamless gaming experience.

“We’re seeing a lot of folks that just want to be able to get in and play, have a quick game session, and then kind of move on. The partnership with Magic Eden really allows for that because they might have NFTs that they bought.”

Aethir and Nvidia

In light of these developments, Aethir also recently announced their participation in Nvidia's Inception program, a well-known supporter of AI startups. This strategic move aims to propel Aethir's mission to revolutionize the gaming and AI industries. The collaboration with Nvidia will provide access to venture capitalists, enhance visibility, and potentially attract more investments and partnerships.

Aethir's unique incentive model encourages compute providers, including crypto miners, to contribute underutilized resources to the network. This approach allows Aethir to build its cloud service without purchasing additional GPUs, creating a cost-effective and efficient ecosystem for gaming and AI applications.

Aethir addresses cost and latency challenges in current cloud technology by offering an infrastructure alternative for premium GPU computational loads. The company's decentralized network becomes faster and cheaper as it expands, delivering low-latency GPU resources via the cloud.

Funding and Valuation

Back in July of this year, Aethir announced the completion of its Pre-A funding round, bringing the total value raised to over $9 million and the company valuation to $150 million. The round was led by leading global investors, including Sanctor Capital, Hashkey, Merit Circle, and CitizenX.

Participation also came from Mirana Ventures, Animoca Brands, Momentum6, Big Brain Holdings, Builder Capital, Tess Ventures, Maelstrom (Arthur Hayes), and more. Industry veteran Paul Thind, appointed as Chief Revenue Officer, emphasizes the importance of formulating a cloud strategy amid growing industry interest.

Final Thoughts

Despite challenges posed by distribution restrictions and market fluctuations, both Aethir and Magic Eden remain optimistic about the future of web3 gaming. With renewed interest from industry giants like Ubisoft and promising developments in web3 startups, the stage is set for continued growth and innovation in the gaming sphere.

As the web3 gaming market gains traction, Aethir and Magic Eden stand poised to lead the charge, expanding their influence beyond Asia to shape the global gaming landscape for years to come. With a focus on user participation and economic empowerment, web3 gaming holds the promise of a new era in interactive entertainment.