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Gonka vs Flux: Two Approaches to Useful Mining

Flux is one of the first projects to declare Proof of Useful Work. Gonka is a new contender with a focus on AI inference. Both projects promise “useful mining” but implement it fundamentally differently. Let's analyze the key differences.

What Flux Does

Flux is a decentralized cloud platform operating since 2018 in 67 countries. Initially, Flux used GPU mining, but in 2025, it switched to PoUW v2: instead of GPUs, CPU nodes (FluxNodes) now operate. Useful work = hosting containerized applications (Docker). Nodes are divided into 3 tiers: Cumulus (~1K FLUX stake), Nimbus (~10K), Stratus (~40K). Market cap: ~$23M. Block time: 30 seconds.

Key Difference: GPUs Turned Off

The main difference: Flux **abandoned GPU mining** in favor of CPU nodes. Gonka, conversely, **built its entire consensus around GPUs**: each GPU processes real AI requests, and this computation simultaneously confirms a block. In Flux, “useful work” = hosting applications on a CPU. In Gonka, “useful work” = AI inference on a GPU. These are fundamentally different approaches: Flux — decentralized cloud (Akash competitor), Gonka — AI inference network (OpenAI price competitor).

Comparison by Parameters

Comparison of useful mining approaches:

ParameterGonkaFlux
CapitalizationEarly stage ($80M)~$23M (#744)
GPU MiningYes (consensus basis)No (abandoned in 2025)
Node TypeGPU (40–640 GB VRAM)CPU (FluxNodes)
Useful WorkAI inference (Qwen3-235B)Hosting Docker containers
Cost of entryfrom ~$35K (GPU)from ~$57 (1K FLUX stake)
InvestorsCoatue, Bitfury ($80M)Historical project

When to Choose Gonka, When to Choose Flux

Choose Gonka if you want to earn on GPUs through AI inference, believe in the growth of the AI computing market, and are willing to invest in hardware. Gonka is a bet on the convergence of crypto + AI. Choose Flux if you need decentralized hosting without GPUs, with a low entry threshold and CPU nodes. Flux is a bet on decentralized cloud. The projects are not competitors – they solve different problems. Flux abandoned GPUs, Gonka built its entire consensus around them.
Flux abandoned GPU mining in 2025 and switched to CPU nodes for cloud hosting. Gonka, on the other hand, made GPU computing the basis of its consensus. Different niches: Flux = cloud, Gonka = AI inference.

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