Althea

Althea is a blockchain built specifically for network infrastructure and connectivity, aiming to make internet access more open and affordable. Its core business is a physical infrastructure network where users purchase routers to join a mesh network, and bandwidth is automatically bought and sold between routers via smart contracts. This creates a decentralized internet service provider model, allowing anyone to become an ISP or share their connection.

Its core narrative is the tokenization of physical network infrastructure, turning bandwidth into a tradeable commodity. The market pain point it addresses is the high cost and lack of competition in traditional telecom, especially in rural or underserved areas. By automating payments and reducing overhead, Althea lowers the barrier to entry for building and maintaining network infrastructure.

In the past six months (2026-02-28 to 2026-08-29), Althea has focused on improving its Layer 1 blockchain. According to its official blog, the upcoming "Cardinal" upgrade will enhance the decentralized exchange (DEX) and machine-to-machine payment flows, including a stablecoin-only fee path for unwrapping tokens from the EVM. The project also reflected on 2025 as a pivotal year, highlighting progress in its ecosystem despite broader market volatility. No significant negative events were reported in the available public information.