The Battle for AI Power: Can Blockchain Break Big Tech’s Cloud Monopoly?

As artificial intelligence (AI) continues to scale, so does the demand for computational power—the lifeblood of AI models.

However, with a handful of centralized cloud providers controlling the majority of global compute infrastructure, many innovators are warning of a growing bottleneck in the market.

Breaking the Cloud Monopoly: Aim to Decentralize AI Compute Power

The AI computing market is becoming increasingly dominated by a few major players in the cloud infrastructure space. 

Companies like Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud hold commanding positions, creating a concentrated ecosystem that stifles competition and makes it difficult for startups and smaller companies to thrive.

“When a few giants control the supply, innovation becomes a privilege instead of a right,” says Mark Fidelman, Chief Strategy Officer at Exabits, a compute base-layer platform transforming GPU clusters into AI-ready compute, flipping the traditional model.

Exabits aims to level the playing field by eliminating the influence of centralized power structures and empowering the community to control compute resources. 

Rather than just offering an alternative to expensive cloud services, Exabits seeks to decentralize compute power itself, allowing both small and large businesses to directly invest in and manage AI infrastructure.

“DeFi gave people access to capital without a bank. We’re giving people access to AI infrastructure without a gatekeeper,” Fidelman explains. 

“Cloud computing today is a tollbooth—you pay the price they set, or you’re stuck in the slow lane. Our model lets you buy into the highway itself. As AI scales, compute becomes currency. And we’re minting the ecosystem for it.”

According to Fidelman, through tokenization, Exabits enables investors to buy into physical compute infrastructure—owning and staking access to distributed data center capacity, rather than speculating on project hype.

Bridging AI Infrastructure and DeFi

At the core of Exabits’ ecosystem is its native token, $EXA, which serves as an access key to the network and as an economic coordination tool. The tokens power governance and reward real demand, not artificial scarcity.

“Because usage is tied to real-world compute demand, the model naturally balances itself,” says Fidelman. “You can’t pump speculation when the token’s value is grounded in actual infrastructure performance.”

Users can stake $EXA tokens in exchange for compute access or rewards. Soon, Exabits plans to integrate with DeFi protocols, offering compute-backed loans and liquidity pools , further bridging the gap between decentralized finance and AI infrastructure.

Decentralization as a Defense Mechanism

AI-driven applications require vast amounts of compute power, and as reliance on these technologies grows, so do concerns about censorship and service denial. 

Exabits’ decentralized compute model addresses these issues by distributing compute resources across a global network of facilities.

“We don’t rely on a single gate to be open. Our compute lives across a global network of facilities. If one region falters, workloads shift,” Fidelman says. “And more importantly, ownership is in the hands of the network.”

This model makes it more challenging for any single entity to block access, ensuring future-proof freedom in the AI age by giving control back to the builders and users.

Built for Both Enterprises and Retail

While enterprises stand to benefit from scalable, on-demand compute for training AI models, Exabits is also opening up participation to retail investors. 

The platform’s tokenized compute economy caters to both markets. For businesses, Exabits provides scalable, high-performance compute resources without the constraints of traditional cloud services.

“Enterprises can access high-performance compute on demand. Retail investors can participate by holding and staking tokens tied to the infrastructure. It’s ownership, not rent,” says Fidelman. “We’re building for both.”

Exabits is also designed to integrate seamlessly with DeFi protocols, enabling features like staking, liquidity provision, and compute-backed lending. 

The platform is already in talks with Web3 marketplaces, AI startups, and enterprise platforms, positioning itself as more than just a compute base-layer. Its infrastructure is designed to be programmable and compatible with the broader Web3 ecosystem, creating a bridge between advanced computing and decentralized finance.

Prioritizes Regulatory Compliance for Tokenized Assets

With increasing regulatory scrutiny on crypto assets, Exabits is taking a proactive approach to compliance and regulatory oversight. The platform is working with legal teams familiar with financial regulations and the cryptocurrency landscape to ensure complete regulatory alignment.

The company emphasizes that its tokens are tied to tangible infrastructure, not speculative value, aiming to position them more as commodity derivatives than securities.

“The key is clarity, these tokens are tied to infrastructure, not hype,” Fidelman says. “Still, we’re preparing for everything from KYC to international licensing. We’re building the rails, not trying to dodge them.”

As regulatory frameworks for tokenized assets evolve, Exabits is preparing to implement comprehensive compliance measures, including Know Your Customer (KYC) procedures and international licensing.

Gears Up for Mainnet Launch

As Exabits prepares to launch its mainnet, several key milestones are on the horizon. The company is planning a token launch and has formed partnerships with AI agent platforms and Web3 compute marketplaces. These integrations aim to expand the reach of Exabits’ compute resources.

Additionally, the project is ramping up its public engagement efforts with plans to participate in AMAs, podcasts, and investor roundtables throughout the year.

Why This Matters

Exabits is betting that compute, like capital, should be decentralized. By transforming GPU infrastructure into a tokenized, tradable asset, the company is creating a new type of resource market, reshaping the economics of AI.