The convergence of AI, blockchain, and capital markets has entered a new phase. GAIB, the so‑called “economic layer for AI and compute,” today announced a $10 million strategic investment led by Amber Group (Nasdaq: AMBR), alongside participation from other Asia‑based investors. That brings GAIB’s total raised to $15 million across two rounds.
The capital raised in the latest funding round will be deposited into tokenized GPU assets on GAIB’s platform, significantly enhancing institutional access to on‑chain AI compute yields.
This funding round marks yet another milestone in the rising tide of institutional capital flowing into AI infrastructure via blockchain rails. As compute becomes the pivotal commodity driving AI innovation, GAIB and its backers are unlocking direct access to AI yields for both institutional and everyday participants.
Why does it matter?
AI development is fundamentally constrained by access to high‑performance GPUs. Demand continues to outpace supply, and traditional equity or debt mechanisms limit smaller players and infrastructure providers. GAIB’s on‑chain tokenization approach disrupts that model by converting GPU assets and their revenue into tradable, yield‑generating tokens.
Institutional interest—led by Amber Group—reflects growing confidence in this model. It signals that investors are no longer satisfied with equity exposure to AI (e.g. NVIDIA shares); they now want direct stakes in GPU compute flows and real‑world yield streams. This strategy could reshape infrastructure financing, democratize access, and fuel a virtuous cycle: more capital → more compute → more yield → broader participation.
What is GAIB’s Unique Proposition?
GAIB—short for GPU • AI • Blockchain—is engineered to become the financial bridge between cloud compute providers and on‑chain investors. Its core offerings include:
- Tokenized GPU ownership: GAIB partners with providers such as Aethir and Exabits to wrap enterprise‑grade GPU contracts into blockchain‑native tokens that represent future revenue streams.
- AID synthetic dollar: A GPU‑backed stablecoin collateralized by yield from compute contracts and a U.S. Treasury reserve. Users mint AID by depositing stablecoins, and backing is derived from GPU cash flow plus treasury holdings.
- sAID staking: The staked version of AID gives token holders passive income while retaining liquidity.
- DeFi integrations: GAIB supports lending, borrowing, structured products, and staking strategies built on AID and sAID.
- Asset transparency: Through its verification mechanisms, GAIB offers on‑chain traceability of GPU assets, yield flows, and contract performance.
This combination makes GAIB a pioneer in real‑world asset (RWA) tokenization for the AI era, enabling investors to gain exposure to returns from the infrastructure powering neural networks and large language models.
GAIB’s Prior Funding and Strategic Momentum
This $10 million injection builds on GAIB’s earlier capital base. In December 2024, GAIB raised $5 million in pre‑seed support from investors including Hack VC, Faction, Hashed, Animoca Brands and IDG Capital. Those funds were deployed to scale R&D, advance platform engineering, and launch initial partnerships.
Since then, GAIB has expanded rapidly:
- Their GPU tokenization pilot on BNB Chain with Aethir raised $100,000 in just ten minutes and confirmed strong early demand for GPU‑backed tokens.
- A partnership with Exabits, a major AI‑compute provider, enables tokenization of their GPU contracts and opens new funding channels for enterprise‑grade infrastructure.
- Integration with DeFi protocols and launch of GAIB’s AID Alpha: The Spice Harvest campaign has already drawn $28 million in deposits across AID vaults, signaling conversion of retail and institutional capital into GPU‑financed assets.
This new round led by Amber Group elevates GAIB into the institutional-grade infrastructure financing space it has long aimed for.
AI Infrastructure Market Is Growing Rapidly
The broader AI infrastructure market has rapidly accelerated this year. According to analysts at IDC, global AI infrastructure spending is projected to reach $150 billion by 2028, up from under $50 billion in 2024. Meanwhile, GPU demand for training and inference continues to double almost annually, fueling fierce competition for capacity.
Consulting firm McKinsey estimates that compute infrastructure will account for nearly one‑third of total AI investment costs by 2026. Without new financing paradigms, many smaller cloud/data center providers may find it difficult to scale or compete.
GAIB’s model mirrors trends in tokenized real‑world assets, which are expected to grow from under $5 billion in on‑chain token volume in 2024 to $100 billion-plus by 2030, according to Deloitte. Institutional appetite for RWA exposures is rising, and GAIB sits at the intersection of compute capital and DeFi adoption.
Furthermore, research by a blockchain analytics firm shows that yield products backed by real‑world infrastructure offer returns in the 10–20% range, and sometimes as high as 60–80% depending on contract terms and asset quality. That type of risk‑adjusted yield compares favorably to both traditional fixed‑income and equity-based exposure to AI.
What Amber Group Brings to the Table
Amber Group, a leading global digital asset company with over $1 trillion in trading volume processed, brings not just capital but institutional credibility and DeFi expertise. Its Nasdaq-listed subsidiary, Amber International, publicly affirmed its belief in the convergence of AI, blockchain, and capital markets.
By anchoring GAIB’s tokenization initiative, Amber helps ensure compliance, liquidity depth, and broader investor trust. As Wayne Huo, CEO of Amber International, noted, the partnership signals belief in redefining opportunities at the intersection of AI, blockchain and capital markets.
“The investment in GAIB reflects our belief in a future where AI, blockchain and capital markets converge to redefine opportunities,” Wayne said. “By powering the next wave of onchain compute infrastructure, we’re excited to fuel growth with the capital needed to enhance the infrastructure and build an inclusive AI economy for all.”
What this Means Going Forward
This investment has several implications for AI, DeFi, and institutional markets:
- Deepening institutional participation: GAIB now has the backing to present GPU tokenization as an investable infrastructure asset class to hedge funds, wealth managers, and capital allocators.
- Accelerating ecosystem integrations: With further DeFi integrations, AID and sAID can be deployed in lending pools, structured products, options, and leverage mechanisms.
- Scaling global AI infrastructure: Providers like Aethir and Exabits gain sizable on-chain capital, enabling expansion of GPU supply and lowering barriers to compute access.
- Paving the way for GPU to become “currency”: GAIB envisions compute as digital oil. This round solidifies momentum toward compute-backed assets becoming central to AI-era capital flows.
“Compute is the new oil. As such, it should be accessible, productive, and tradable onchain,” said Kony, CEO and Co-founder of GAIB.
The $10 million backing led by Amber Group is a definitive signal that compute‑backed finance is no longer theoretical. GAIB’s platform, with its tokenized GPUs, AI‑backed stablecoin (AID), and infrastructure financing model, occupies a unique spot at AI’s financial frontier.
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Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice.
