We looked into this and found 35 crypto companies have pivoted or expanded into AI inference and AI compute (either part time or full time) CEX: - @Gate: exchange → GateRouter, one API for 170+ AI models DePINs: - @akashnet: decentralized cloud → AkashML managed inference - @AethirCloud: GPU cloud → Aethir Mesh, its own LLM API - @ionet: GPU network → io. intelligence, 40+ hosted models - @Theta_Network: community GPUs → EdgeCloud LLM inference (beta) - @BitTorrent: file sharing → BTTInferGrid inference network - @Livepeer: video transcoding → AI subnet for generative inference - @rendernetwork: GPU rendering → Dispersed, an AI and general compute subnet - @nosana_ai: CI/CD compute → GPU marketplace for inference - @fluence_project: CPU cloud → GPUs plus Fluence Inference (private beta) - @spheron: compute network → managed LLM inference API - @aleph_im: Aleph Cloud → LibertAI confidential inference - @CUDOS_ (@ASI_Alliance): cloud compute → ASI:Cloud inference endpoints (beta) Restaking, L1s and privacy: - @eigenlabs: restaking → @darkbloomai by @gajesh, inference on idle Macs - @PhalaNetwork: TEE cloud → confidential inference API - @nillion: privacy network → nilAI private inference - @NEARFoundation: L1 → NEAR AI Cloud from @near_ai, 62 models, 16 verifiable in TEEs - @ton_blockchain: Telegram's chain → Cocoon, confidential inference paid in TON - @SecretNetwork: privacy L1 → SecretAI confidential inference - @OasisProtocol: privacy L1 → ROFL, verifiable AI in TEEs RPC: - @POKTnetwork: RPC relays → AI inference relays (still tiny) Bitcoin miners: - @TeraWulfInc: $27B+ in AI/HPC contracts - @Hut8Corp: $26.6B contracted, AI data centers - @Core_Scientific: $24B+ contracted, AI/HPC colocation - @CipherInc: $16.6B in AI/HPC leases - @IREN_Ltd: AI cloud, ~$15.9B contracted, $128.8M in FY26 AI cloud revenue - @RiotPlatforms: $9.8B contracted - @CleanSpark_Inc: $6.6B 20-year AI/HPC lease - @Cango_Group: new EcoHash AI inference arm - @Bitdeer: Bitdeer AI Cloud GPU neocloud - @CrusoeAI: sold its mining → AI cloud with Managed Inference - @SolunaHoldings: Soluna Cloud, hosted DeepSeek R1 inference - @HIVEDigitalTech: @BUZZHPC GPU cloud - @NorthernDataGrp: sold its mining unit → now Quake AI GPU cloud under Rumble - @BitDigital_BTBT: ex-miner, majority owner of @WhiteFiber_ GPU cloud 7 of these miners have signed ~$126B in AI/HPC contracts. The pivot and expansion make sense. Miners and DePIN operate on hardware. AI demand gave their existing infrastructure a better revenue source. Whoever already owns GPUs, power, or private compute is now selling inference or compute.