# Akash Network

> Akash Network is an open-source cloud computing marketplace where independent providers bid to run containerized workloads, including NVIDIA GPUs. Developers and AI agents deploy with a credit card or a crypto wallet and pay auction prices rather than list prices.

Deployments are auctions: publish a workload in SDL, providers bid within 30–60 seconds, accept a bid to open a lease. Funds sit in per-deployment escrow and unspent balance is returned on close. The minimum deposit is $0.50.

## Deploy

- [Agent setup playbook](https://akash.network/get-started.md): Executable onboarding for a coding agent — install the CLI, connect a credential, add the skill, register MCP, verify.
- [Akash for AI Agents](https://akash.network/docs/getting-started/ai-agents/): Install the Akash skill bundle in Claude Code, Codex, or OpenCode and deploy from natural-language prompts.
- [Console API](https://akash.network/docs/api-documentation/console-api/getting-started/): REST API with a managed wallet, authenticated by an `x-api-key` header. Full deployment lifecycle in five calls.
- [akt CLI](https://akash.network/docs/developers/deployment/akt/): Single binary for chain queries, deployments, provider operations, and monitoring.
- [MCP server](https://akash.network/docs/developers/deployment/akt/mcp/): Expose Akash chain and Console tools to AI assistants over stdio. Read-only by default.
- [SDL reference](https://akash.network/docs/developers/deployment/akash-sdl): Deployment configuration syntax — image, CPU, memory, storage, GPU, ports, placement, pricing.
- [Quick Start](https://akash.network/docs/getting-started/quick-start): First deployment in under ten minutes.

## Products

- [Akash Console](https://console.akash.network): Web interface and managed wallet, billed in USD by card. Create API keys under Settings, API Keys.
- [Console Air](https://akash.network/docs/getting-started/choosing-your-console): Self-custody deploy app. Bring a Keplr-compatible wallet, pay in AKT and ACT, self-host if you want.
- [AkashML](https://akashml.com): Managed inference on Akash compute. OpenAI-compatible API at api.akashml.com, Anthropic-compatible Messages endpoint at api.akashml.com/anthropic.

## Reference

- [Common questions](https://akash.network/faq.md): What Akash Network is, whether crypto is required, what GPUs are available, how deployment works.
- [Documentation](https://akash.network/docs/): Full docs for tenants, providers, and node operators.
- [Confidential Compute](https://akash.network/docs/learn/core-concepts/confidential-compute): Run workloads in an AMD SEV-SNP or Intel TDX enclave with one SDL field.
- [Compare](https://akash.network/explore/compare/): Akash Network against RunPod, Lambda Labs, AWS, and Heroku.
- [GPU pricing](https://akash.network/pricing/gpus): Current GPU availability and price by model.

## Optional

- [Source](https://github.com/akash-network): Node, provider, Console, CLI, and skill. Apache 2.0.
- [Blog](https://akash.network/blog/): Releases and network reports.