Arbitrum withdraws from Nvidia accelerator program over crypto association dispute
Arbitrum exits Nvidia’s AI accelerator
The Arbitrum Foundation, the organization behind the prominent Ethereum Layer 2 network, has announced its withdrawal from Nvidia’s Ignition AI Accelerator program.
According to a statement issued this week, Arbitrum decided to exit after Nvidia requested that its brand not be mentioned in any public-facing announcements tied to crypto projects, reports The Block.
The partnership initially aimed to position Arbitrum as the exclusive Ethereum partner for the program, which would have offered AI development support and cloud resources. However, Arbitrum cited Nvidia’s brand restrictions as an indication of a “lack of long-term commitment,” prompting the Foundation to reconsider its involvement.
Clarifying the narrative
Earlier reports had suggested that Nvidia had rejected Arbitrum’s bid outright. However, the Foundation clarified that the decision to disengage was mutual and proactive. "Arbitrum was not removed from the AI Ignition Accelerator — the team made the decision to disengage," an Arbitrum spokesperson said.
The Ignition Accelerator, co-backed by Nvidia and Tribe, also stated that information about Nvidia excluding all crypto projects was incorrect. Other crypto projects, such as the Aptos Foundation, continue to participate in the accelerator without similar restrictions.
Broader implications
Arbitrum emphasized that its decision reflects a broader commitment to partnering with organizations fully aligned with its mission to advance blockchain innovation. Despite the split, Arbitrum’s native token (ARB) has remained resilient, posting a 1.8% increase over the past 24 hours.
Nvidia has declined to comment on the situation. Moving forward, Arbitrum appears poised to seek collaborations that embrace both blockchain and AI without brand visibility constraints.
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