Key Highlights
- Acurast will officially launch its mainnet and native ACU token this Tuesday.
- The launch includes an airdrop for community participants and a public exchange listing.
- Current users have a 90-day window to migrate assets from the canary net to the live network.
The Acurast Association is set to launch its mainnet and introduce its native token, ACU, through a Token Generation Event (TGE) and an airdrop on Tuesday.
This switch from the canary testnet to a live decentralized compute network comes after funding rounds totaling more than $15 million. The project aims to create a serverless, decentralized cloud infrastructure by using the processing power of regular smartphones.
Mainnet launch and token generation
The network transition starts on Tuesday with the official release of the ACU token and the opening of the Acurast Mainnet. Beginning at 10:00 UTC, the token will be available for trading on platforms like Binance Alpha, paired with USDT.
At the same time, an airdrop portal will open for participants in the Cloud Rebellion loyalty program and eligible traders on partner platforms. Existing users running processors on the canary network will have 90 days to move their devices and funds to the mainnet.
According to Acurast’s documentation, this process requires users to unstake their assets on the canary net before starting the transition through the Acurast Hub. After completing the migration, the ACU token will be the main currency for network fees, staking, and rewards for computer providers.
Background and development context
Acurast started with the goal of tackling compute centralization by using the Trusted Execution Environments (TEEs) available in modern mobile hardware. Before reaching this mainnet step, the project operated an incentivized canary network that onboarded over 150,000 compute units and handled hundreds of millions of on-chain transactions, as claimed by the firm.
In late 2025, Acurast raised $11 million in a funding round supported by industry leaders like Gavin Wood and Michael van de Poppe. Although a launch was initially planned for November 2024, the team decided to delay it to align with favorable market conditions and finalize technical integrations. Alessandro De Carli, co-founder of Acurast, previously said that ACU represents a significant step forward as demand for decentralized compute grows rapidly.
Network mechanics
The live network introduces a dual-purpose function for the ACU token. In addition to being a medium of exchange for compute power, it includes a staked compute mechanism to ensure provider reliability.
Providers must stake tokens to show their commitment to the network, while a 30% burn mechanism on settlement transactions will help manage the long-term token supply and prevent manipulation of reputation. This launch positions Acurast as a competitor in the Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Network (DePIN) sector.
However, such mechanisms can also raise barriers for smaller providers and reduce net earnings if compute demand fails to grow fast enough to offset token burns, a dynamic that has weakened several earlier DePIN networks.
Future implications
Acurast plans to scale its “multichain token” approach by keeping bridges to Ethereum, Base, and Binance Smart Chain. This interoperability will enable developers in various ecosystems to access smartphone-based computing for tasks ranging from AI inference to secure off-chain data processing.
The activation of the Acurast Mainnet signals the end of the project’s testing phase and the start of its effort to demonstrate the potential of mobile-based decentralized clouds. With the TGE and airdrop set for Tuesday, the community’s focus now shifts to the 90-day migration period and the integration of the ACU token into the wider Web3 economy.
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