0G AI: Building the modular foundation for decentralized AI

Artificial intelligence, blockchain, and innovation are buzzwords characterized by transformative technologies challenging traditional systems. However, bottlenecks are limiting the transformation.

Current artificial intelligence interactions are mediated by corporations that restrict user access to how the artificial intelligence model works or limit modifiable parameters beyond those provided. Zero Gravity (0G) is a modular, AI-native L1 blockchain built to unify compute, storage, and data availability into a single verifiable operating system.

What is 0G? An overview

At its core, 0G is a decentralized AI Operating System (deAIOS) designed to make AI fully transparent, verifiable, and community-owned.

More specifically, 0G is a layer 1 blockchain providing an infinitely scalable decentralized artificial intelligence architecture. The blockchain uses a modular approach where each layer is responsible for a specific tech stack component essential to fully decentralized AI systems.

Current blockchain solutions lack the technical prowess to meet market-level artificial intelligence (AI) system requirements. Traditional solutions are also limited because the AI model and training data are held behind corporate walls.

0G’s approach provides a transparent decision-making and AI modeling process, ensuring fairness and accountability. It is also open source and therefore provides developers with a level of control unseen in traditional AI models.

0G architecture explained 

0G has a modular architecture comprising multiple components or layers, each optimized for a specific purpose. This design separates storage, compute, and data availability into specialized networks coordinated by the 0G Chain. 

More specifically, 0G’s modular architecture includes: 

• 0G chain: A layer 1 blockchain that supports smart contracts with AI compatibility for decentralized applications. Compared to competitors, it is cheap and has a multi-consensus validation mechanism ensuring a distributed, leaderless community of validators.
• 0G compute network: This layer provides a decentralized marketplace for compute. It currently supports inference and fine-tuning, with pre-training planned for future releases..
• 0G storage: A decentralized storage space for immutable archival data and low-latency key-value state, secured by Proof-of-Random-Access (PoRA).
• 0G data availability: A horizontally scalable layer that guarantees high speed and verifiable access to AI data. 

A major advantage of the modular architecture for developers is that it enables them to choose between using the entire 0G stack or a specific layer depending on their requirements. This allows for more strategic flexibility and incremental adoption as projects evolve. 

What’s in it for developers?

Decentralized AI for developers is an opportunity to create more appealing services and products for the end user. Decentralization promises infinite scaling, low costs, transparency, and control over the AI models.

Here is a detailed breakdown of the benefits.

Complete ownership of AI models and data

In centralized AI systems like OpenAI and AWS, developers relinquish control of model behavior, data privacy, and deployment options. With 0G, developers can host and manage their own AI models. Decentralization ensures data sovereignty, allowing you to enforce governance and privacy standards.

Monetization through open marketplaces

0G introduces a new monetization model using its native 0G token. Developers can act as network validators and earn 0G incentives for securing a network. At TGE, 28% of the 1 billion tokens were allocated for ecosystem growth, which included long-term development and expansion of the 0G ecosystem.

Developers can publish and monetize their models or services on the 0G decentralized marketplace.

Low-cost, scalable compute access

0G’s decentralized AI network offers access to GPU compute at a fraction of the cost of traditional solutions. The cost ranges between $5 and $11 per TB per month, which is 80% cheaper than AWS S3.

The network is also infinitely scalable and can run software or process data calculations remotely. 0G has achieved 11,000 transactions per second (TPS) across 50 distributed validators, with an average block time of just 500 milliseconds.

The validators are geographically located and run on the cloud, showcasing 0G’s resilience under real-world conditions. The architecture is modeled to scale linearly, so throughput is infinite, expanding as demand increases.

Interoperability and open standards

Decentralized applications thrive on open protocols. Open protocols are universal and can be used by anyone rather than one entity or company. All network information is published for anyone to see and use. 

0G’s open standards offer a higher degree of networking flexibility and more integration options. As a developer, you can easily integrate with the network’s decentralized services (storage, identity, compute, etc.).

Open standards are also immune to vendor lock-in, which occurs when a developer becomes dependent on a single service provider and finds it costly or difficult to switch to another vendor. Vendor lock-in is a common feature of centralized artificial intelligence service providers.

Build privacy-preserving AI applications

Data privacy is a growing concern. Current AI-driven products rely on data harvested, monetized, and controlled by corporations. Decentralized models have privacy-preserving features built into their architecture. 

These features include zero-knowledge proofs, encryption, and confidential compute, which help build applications that respect user privacy. Unlike centralized models, where models and processes are hidden behind corporate servers, all data-related processes are transparent and published on the blockchain.

Integration and automation opportunities

0G’s trustless model, transparency, and capacity perfectly fit the needs of developers and managed service providers (MSPs). Its architecture is easily integrated with existing DevOps and automation pipelines. It also creates monetizable opportunities to develop custom plugins or automated scaling on decentralized compute.

Tokenomics

The 0G token is the native utility token of 0G’s growing ecosystem. It is used to settle transaction fees, pays for AI computation and storage, and secures the network through its staking-based, Byzantine Fault Tolerant (BFT) consensus mechanism. 

At its token generation event (TGE), 0G distributed a total of 1 billion tokens to fund community rewards and ecosystem growth while incentivizing early investors, developers, and node operators.

56% of the 1 billion tokens were allocated to community rewards (13%), ecosystem growth (28%), and AI alignment nodes (15%). The “AI alignment nodes” allocation is for validator node owners and operators who help verify model integrity and network behavior, operating in parallel with network consensus validators.

Community rewards are for users who actively contribute to the 0G ecosystem, while ecosystem growth allocation focuses on the long-term expansion of the 0G network.

The remaining tokens, 44%, were set aside for team advisors, contributors, and backers. Backers account for half of the allocation, 22%. Tokens allocated to the team and backers include a 12-month lock-up period during which they cannot access or sell their tokens.

After lockup, the tokens will be released gradually, with the final allocation happening after 4 years post-TGE. The structured allocation prevents early investors from dumping their tokens in the market and cultivating loyalty with the project.

Mainnet status

In 2024-2025, 0G ran multiple testnets that enabled developers and users to experiment, test, and validate new features without risking real assets. The testnets saw significant early adopter traction, with millions of users and transactions recorded.

0G’s final testnet, Galileo, achieved a 50 Gbps data throughput (up to 50,000x faster than conventional blockchain networks).

The 0G mainnet, “Aristotle,” launched on September 22, 2025. The launch was accompanied by multiple 0G token listings across top-tier exchanges, including Binance and Bybit.

Storage costs on 0G are currently the lowest compared to conventional and Web3 solutions, with pricing at approximately $5/TB per month for HDD and $11/TB for SSD. Preliminary benchmarks suggest that custom model training may reduce costs by up to 95%. 

Partners and ecosystem

The 0G Foundation has committed an $88.88M ecosystem growth fund open to developers, startups, and researchers working at the intersection of AI and Web3. Those interested can begin by applying for the $8.88M Guild on 0G accelerator program. The program is helping early-stage builders take their AI-powered dApps from testnet to mainnet.

So far, the program has helped incubate, fund, and advise on dozens of projects.

0G provides the base AI layer on which other applications build their products. Following the mainnet launch, dozens of projects are building on the 0G layer to offer real-world solutions. Examples include Jaine, a decentralized exchange, and Gizmo, which provides liquid staking opportunities.

Nodes and validators play an essential role in protecting the network. These individuals ensure that all processes running on the network are valid, preventing bad actors or hackers from exploiting the network. 0G has multiple validators and storage, and data availability nodes spread across the globe.

Roadmap and what to watch next

Going forward, the 0G ecosystem has development milestones ahead that could result in new or more efficient AI applications from indie developers. There are also expectations of new partnerships projected to grow the 0G ecosystem.

There is also anticipation of more funding allocations from community rewards and ecosystem growth funds. These funds are expected to help develop more use cases through grants for the 0G AI blockchain while rewarding community members for their engagement and loyalty.

The $0G token launch saw high trading activity, with its highest price at $7.31, according to CoinMarketCap data. The $0G token is projected to trade higher as the project gains mass adoption and its market stabilizes post-launch.

Conclusion

Zero Gravity is building the ultimate hub for on-chain AI. Building in the ever-evolving AI landscape requires deliberate thinking and flexibility, permissible within 0G’s architecture. The platform has the runway to evolve to provide solutions requiring less human intervention as artificial intelligence takes over with data-driven intelligence. The future is innovative with 0G.