What is Golem?
Golem is a network where people rent out unused computing power and others pay to run tasks on it, from rendering to AI inference. GLM is the Ethereum-based token requestors use to pay providers for that work.
Utility Lens
What Golem actually does
Connects people who need computing power with people who have spare CPUs and GPUs, and settles payment between them in GLM.
- Real-world usage
- earlyThe marketplace works and has run for years, but publicly visible paid demand remains small for a project of its age.
- Token necessity
- integralPayments between requestors and providers are made in GLM, though nothing in principle stops the network from settling in another token.
- Decentralization
- moderateAnyone can join as a provider or requestor without permission, but development is led by Golem Factory and payments rely on Ethereum and Polygon.
- Track record
- longThe token sale was in 2016 and the first mainnet release came in April 2018, with no widely reported protocol hack.
What it’s used for
Providers install Golem software and set prices for their machines; requestors write tasks with Golem's developer tools and pay providers in GLM, usually on Polygon to keep fees low. Recent efforts focus on GPU workloads for AI, including a partnership that brings GamerHash users' gaming GPUs onto the network.
Role of the GLM token:
Evidence of real use
- Golem's 2016 crowdfunding raised 820,000 ETH and hit its cap in 29 minutes. Source
- GNT holders can migrate to GLM at a 1:1 ratio, converging on a maximum supply of 1 billion tokens. Source
- To run on mainnet, a requestor funds its Golem (Yagna) wallet with GLM plus gas tokens, for example GLM and POL on Polygon. Source
The AI angle
- AI role
- compute marketplace
- What actually happens
- Golem lets requestors rent providers' CPUs and GPUs, and its recent push targets AI inference on idle consumer graphics cards, for example through GamerHash. GLM is how requestors pay providers, so it is used directly when work happens. Public evidence of large-scale paid AI jobs on Golem is limited, so the AI role is real but small.
How Golem works
Golem is a peer-to-peer network rather than its own blockchain. Every participant runs a client called Yagna. Providers advertise what their machine can offer, such as CPU cores, memory or a GPU, and at what price. Requestors describe the job they need done, and the software negotiates matches between the two sides automatically. Tasks run inside isolated virtual machines or containers on the provider's computer, which protects the provider's system from the code it runs.
Payments happen on Ethereum-compatible chains rather than on a Golem blockchain. Requestors hold GLM and a little gas token in their Yagna wallet, and the software pays providers automatically as work is completed and accepted. Most activity uses Polygon because Ethereum mainnet fees are too high for frequent small payments, and Golem was among the first projects to adopt layer-2 payments in 2021.
The project has shifted focus over time. Early versions concentrated on 3D rendering, later releases opened the network to general-purpose computing, and the current push is GPU workloads for AI. Partnerships such as GamerHash AI aim to tap idle consumer graphics cards for AI inference, which is cheaper than data-center hardware but less predictable. Golem Factory, the company behind the project, leads development of the Yagna client and developer tools, while providers and requestors join the network without needing anyone's permission.
Key moments
- 2016Golem's crowdfunding raises 820,000 ETH on November 11, hitting its cap in 29 minutes.
- 2018Brass Golem, the first mainnet version focused on rendering, launches in beta in April.
- 2020The original GNT token begins migrating 1:1 to the new ERC-20 GLM token in November.
- 2021Golem adds payments on Polygon to cut transaction costs.
- 2024Golem partners with GamerHash to bring gamers' GPUs to AI workloads.
Supply
GLM has a maximum supply of 1 billion tokens, the same as the original GNT, and there is no ongoing inflation or staking reward. All tokens were created at the 2016 sale, so supply changes only as remaining GNT holders migrate.
Risks to understand
- After a decade, real paid usage is still modest, and demand for the token depends on that changing.
- Competition is intense from newer GPU networks such as Akash, io.net and Aethir, as well as centralized clouds.
- Consumer hardware is less reliable than data-center GPUs, which limits which AI customers will use it.
- Development depends heavily on Golem Factory and the funds raised in 2016.
Golem FAQ
What is the difference between GNT and GLM?
GNT was Golem's original 2016 token. GLM replaced it in November 2020 at a 1:1 ratio with the same 1 billion maximum supply.
Can I earn GLM with my computer?
Yes, by running Golem's provider software and selling your machine's capacity. How much you earn depends on demand, your hardware and your prices.
Does Golem have its own blockchain?
No. Golem is a peer-to-peer network that settles payments on Ethereum and Polygon.
Sources
- What is GLM? — Golem Network
- Testnet / Mainnet, Addresses and Wallets — Golem Docs
- Golem, the 'Airbnb for Computers,' Launches on Ethereum Mainnet in Beta — Bitcoin Magazine
- Golem Network and Gamerhash AI Join Forces — Golem Network
- Blockchain for CPU? Analyzing Golem's Ethereum Token Sale — CoinDesk
Last reviewed October 4, 2026 by The Crypto Guide editorial team. Utility Lens ratings are editorial judgments, not investment advice. Market data from CoinGecko. Spot an error? Request a correction.