# ATH Token’s Utility & Purpose

The ATH token, native to Aethir, plays a multifunctional role in the ecosystem:

* **Transactional Utility**:
  * Primarily, ATH acts as the standard medium of exchange within Aethir. Demand-side participants looking to purchase processing power engage with node operators, compensating them in ATH for their computing power. This reflects within Aethir’s three main business models: AI applications, cloud compute, and virtualized compute.
* **Diversified Application**:
  * Beyond its application in AI applications, virtualized compute, and cloud gaming, ATH finds use as the ecosystem grows. With the introduction of merge mining and integrated marketplaces, the ATH token will continue to grow in use case as the preferred means of transaction, showcasing its adaptability, relevance and future integrations, potentially giving way to a plethora of different use cases that ATH can be incorporated into.
* **Governance and Participation**:
  * Furthermore, as Aethir moves towards establishing its DAO, the ATH token takes on an additional role in governance. Token holders are empowered to propose, discuss, and vote on platform changes, ensuring that Aethir maintains its decentralized ethos.
* **Staking:**
  * Staking is a core feature of the Aethir network, there's a few staking functions: 
    * For all ATH holders, ATH staking on <https://stake.aethir.com/> allows holders to actively participate in the network's operations and earn rewards. By staking your ATH tokens, you contribute to the network's security and decentralization while earning ATH.
  * Edge and IDC operators are required to stake ATH to contribute compute to the network. This stake requirement incentivizes high quality of service, as those Edge and IDC node operators are providing compute. And as the compute is a live service to paying clients, the stake is needed as a deposit to slash in case SLAs are not fulfilled.
  * Checker node holders are not required to stake ATH


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