We just created this allegory to promote an interest in people connecting with each other horizontally to counter the domination of our society by a few at the top. This is our first take. Please send us suggestions.

Over the years we have used AWS in many projects. Recently, we have been investigating decentralized alternatives. In particular, with the rise of artificial intelligence and the need for more electricity, could decentralized data centers offer a better alternative?

Decentralized Data Centers

Community Management as a Service, CMaaS
From smart agriculture too smart apartment buildings

Organize your pod

Do you want to have your Data in your community or in Dubai?

Talk to us about going beyond “America first” to “Community first.” We will help you to prevent a few people from “holding all the cards” and assist you with keeping your cards close to your chest. Imagine the possibility of decentralized data centers keeping the data you need within your community. This could vary from smart agriculture having moisture sensors in the field to apartment buildings with Internet of things to ensure efficient heating and cooling that will save money or things like moisture detectors to warn you about possible flooding in the basement. The possibilities are endless!

Building a Smart Agri-economy

Here’s what we imagine in Western Michigan.

Here is what Perplexity had to say:

Akash Network vs AWS vs Azure: How They Work

Feature/Aspect	Akash Network	AWS (Amazon Web Services)	Azure (Microsoft Azure)
Model	Decentralized, open marketplace	Centralized, managed by Amazon	Centralized, managed by Microsoft
Resource Providers	Anyone with spare compute can offer resources	AWS-owned global data centers	Microsoft-owned global data centers
Market Mechanism	Reverse auction: clients propose price, providers bid	Fixed, usage-based pricing (pay-as-you-go)	Fixed, usage-based pricing (pay-as-you-go)
Orchestration	Kubernetes-based, YAML/SDL deployment	Proprietary orchestration, APIs, consoles	Proprietary orchestration, APIs, consoles
Deployment	Permissionless, open to all	Requires AWS account, subject to policies	Requires Azure account, subject to policies
Consensus/Security	Blockchain (Cosmos SDK, PoS)	Centralized security, AWS-managed	Centralized security, Microsoft-managed
Pricing	Market-driven, often up to 85% lower	Set by AWS, variable by region/service	Set by Microsoft, variable by region/service
Interoperability	Cross-chain, open APIs, IBC-enabled	AWS ecosystem, some cross-cloud tools	Azure ecosystem, hybrid options
Use Cases	Web hosting, ML, blockchain, custom compute	General enterprise, AI/ML, IoT, databases	General enterprise, AI/ML, IoT, databases
Governance	Community-driven, token holders vote	Corporate, AWS-controlled	Corporate, Microsoft-controlled

How Akash Network Works

Decentralized Marketplace: Akash is a peer-to-peer, blockchain-based marketplace where anyone can lease out spare computing resources or rent compute from others. Providers compete for workloads in a reverse auction, driving prices down and maximizing resource utilization[2][3][14][16].
Deployment & Orchestration: Users define their infrastructure needs in a YAML-based Stack Definition Language (SDL), then deploy workloads using Kubernetes, ensuring compatibility with modern cloud-native applications[3][14][16].
Blockchain Security: All transactions and deployments are recorded on the Akash blockchain (Cosmos SDK, Proof-of-Stake), ensuring transparency, immutability, and decentralized governance[2][8][16].
Key Features:
- Lower costs (up to 85% less than traditional clouds)[3][11]
- Permissionless, censorship-resistant deployments
- Persistent storage, dedicated IP leasing, and global reach
- Community governance and incentivization via AKT token[2][8][16]

How AWS Works

Centralized Cloud Platform: AWS owns and operates massive, secure data centers worldwide. Customers rent resources (compute, storage, databases, etc.) on demand, paying only for what they use[4][5][9][12].
Managed Services: AWS handles all hardware, networking, and much of the software stack, including security, patching, scaling, and disaster recovery. Users access resources via web consoles, APIs, or SDKs[4][5][9].
Orchestration: AWS provides proprietary orchestration and automation tools (e.g., CloudFormation, Elastic Beanstalk) for deploying and managing workloads[5][12].
Pricing: Usage-based, with a wide range of instance types and services, but prices are set by AWS and can be higher than decentralized alternatives[9][12].
Features:
- Over 200+ services, including advanced AI/ML, IoT, analytics, and more[5][9]
- Enterprise-grade security, compliance, and global support
- Deep integration and ecosystem for enterprise and startups

How Azure Works

Centralized Cloud Platform: Azure, like AWS, operates global data centers managed by Microsoft. It offers IaaS, PaaS, SaaS, and serverless options, all centrally managed[6][7][10][13][15].
Virtualization & Orchestration: Azure uses virtualization to run workloads on shared hardware, orchestrated by Microsoft’s fabric controller and proprietary management tools[6][7][10].
Service Access: Users access and manage resources through the Azure Portal, APIs, and SDKs. Azure supports hybrid deployments and integration with on-premises systems[7][13][15].
Pricing: Pay-as-you-go, with prices set by Microsoft. Offers a wide array of services, but less price flexibility compared to Akash[13][15].
Features:
- 200+ services, including AI, analytics, IoT, databases, and DevOps[13][15]
- Enterprise security, compliance, and support
- Hybrid and open-source compatibility

Key Differences & Summary

Decentralization: Akash is fundamentally decentralized—anyone can provide or consume resources, and governance is community-driven. AWS and Azure are centralized, corporate-controlled platforms.
Pricing Model: Akash uses a reverse auction marketplace, often resulting in much lower costs. AWS and Azure use fixed, usage-based pricing set by the provider.
Resource Providers: Akash allows any individual or company to become a provider, increasing competition and resource diversity. AWS and Azure provision resources from their own global infrastructure.
Security & Trust: Akash relies on blockchain for trust, transparency, and governance. AWS and Azure offer enterprise-grade security but require trust in the provider.
Use Cases: Akash excels for workloads that benefit from decentralization, cost savings, and censorship resistance. AWS and Azure are preferred for enterprise, regulated, or highly integrated solutions needing advanced managed services.

In essence, Akash Network provides a decentralized, open, and cost-efficient alternative to the traditional, centralized cloud models of AWS and Azure, with unique benefits in transparency, flexibility, and community governance[2][3][16].

Sources [1] Your Guide to Decentralized Cloud – Akash Network https://akash.network/docs/getting-started/intro-to-akash/akash-network/ [2] Akash Network Review 2025: The Ultimate “Supercloud”? https://coinbureau.com/review/akash-network-review/ [3] Akash: The First Decentralized Open Source Cloud Solution https://atomicwallet.io/academy/articles/what-is-akash-network [4] What is Cloud Computing? – Cloud Computing Services … – AWS https://aws.amazon.com/what-is-cloud-computing/ [5] Overview of Amazon Web Services – AWS Documentation https://docs.aws.amazon.com/whitepapers/latest/aws-overview/introduction.html [6] How does Azure work? – Cloud Adoption Framework | Microsoft Learn https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cloud-adoption-framework/get-started/what-is-azure [7] Azure Architecture Explained For Beginners – ScholarHat https://www.scholarhat.com/tutorial/azure/azure-architecture-for-beginners [8] What is Akash? | AKT Explained – Kraken https://www.kraken.com/learn/what-is-akash-akt [9] What is AWS? – Cloud Computing with AWS – Amazon Web Services https://aws.amazon.com/what-is-aws/ [10] What Is Microsoft Azure? How Does It Work? – Unitrends https://www.unitrends.com/blog/what-is-microsoft-azure-and-how-does-it-work/ [11] Akash Network – Decentralized Compute Marketplace https://akash.network [12] What is AWS: An Ultimate Guide to Amazon Web Services https://www.simplilearn.com/tutorials/aws-tutorial/what-is-aws [13] What is Microsoft Azure and How Does It Work [Updated] | Simplilearn https://www.simplilearn.com/tutorials/azure-tutorial/what-is-azure [14] What is Akash Network (AKT) & How does it Work? – Phemex https://phemex.com/academy/cryptocurrency-glossary/akash-network [15] What is Microsoft Azure and How Does It Work? – TechTarget https://www.techtarget.com/searchcloudcomputing/definition/Windows-Azure [16] What is Akash Network (AKT) – A Comprehensive Overview https://www.imperator.co/resources/blog/what-is-akash-network-blockchain-presentation [17] What Is Akash Network? Introduction to the Decentralized Cloud … https://www.gate.io/learn/articles/what-is-akash-network-introduction-to-the-decentralized-cloud-service-platform/8086 [18] Akash Network – The Decentralized Compute Marketplace https://bravenewcoin.com/insights/akash-network-the-decentralized-compute-marketplace [19] Overview Of Amazon Web Services: Your Guide To AWS [2023] https://sam-solutions.us/insights/a-complete-overview-of-amazon-web-services-aws/ [20] Amazon Web Services Basic Architecture – Tutorialspoint https://www.tutorialspoint.com/amazon_web_services/amazon_web_services_basic_architecture.htm [21] Cloud Services – Deploy Cloud Apps & APIs – Microsoft Azure https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/products/cloud-services [22] Azure Cloud Architecture: Guide & Diagramming with Miro https://miro.com/diagramming/what-is-azure-architecture/ [23] What is Akash Network? – The Big Whale https://www.thebigwhale.io/tokens/akash-network [24] Cloud Computing Explained: AWS Overview https://aws.amazon.com/awstv/watch/d33fa5c7646/ [25] What Is Amazon AWS? How Does Aws Work?-Everything Explained https://www.tekkiwebsolutions.com/blog/how-does-aws-work/ [26] AWS Architecture: End-to-End Design and Working – K21Academy https://k21academy.com/amazon-web-services/architecture/ [27] What is cloud computing? – Overview of Amazon Web Services https://docs.aws.amazon.com/whitepapers/latest/aws-overview/what-is-cloud-computing.html [28] What is Azure? | Microsoft Azure https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/resources/cloud-computing-dictionary/what-is-azure [29] Azure Services: The Complete Guide | Splunk https://www.splunk.com/en_us/blog/learn/microsoft-azure-services.html [30] How Does Azure Work? – YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y7g516y7zDQ