US-based checkout, identity and payments specialist Bolt has forged a partnership with Aethir, the world's largest distributed GPU cloud infrastructure provider, to power open-web checkout for games distributed beyond traditional app stores, the company said.

Under the agreement, Bolt is the payments provider of choice for studios building on Aethir's decentralized GPU cloud platform.

The partnership enables game developers to sell digital items directly to players across browser-based environments and social platforms, including Telegram, TikTok, WhatsApp and WeChat, using Bolt's one-click checkout.

Through the integration, studios hosted on Aethir's decentralized GPU cloud infrastructure can use Bolt's browser-based checkout for in-game purchases, bypassing app store payment flows and associated platform fees.

Purchases are completed in a secure browser pop-up and confirmed in real time, with transactions passed back into the game without interrupting play.

Aethir's gaming ecosystem includes established publishers and studios such as Animoca Brands, Mythical Games, Immutable, and Parallel, underscoring the scale and credibility of developers positioned to benefit from open-web monetization enabled by the partnership.

The agreement with Aethir builds on Bolt's recent entry into gaming through its Playfinity partnership, marking continued momentum as the company expands its commerce infrastructure into interactive and creator-driven environments.

Aethir recently launched a USD 100m ecosystem fund to support studios building on its platform.

As part of the partnership, funding from the program may be used to support user acquisition, player incentives, and go-to-market activities for games that adopt Bolt's browser-based checkout.

In-game spending continues to grow. According to Sensor Tower's State of Gaming 2025 report, players spent USD 82bn on in-app purchases in 2024, underscoring the demand for alternative payment models as distribution expands beyond app stores.

The partnership follows recent regulatory and legal developments that require app stores to permit third-party payment options, further accelerating adoption of browser-based checkout across gaming platforms.

Bolt is the checkout, identity and payments leader powering faster, smarter commerce. Its B2B and B2C offerings form a complementary ecosystem.

Merchants like Revolve, Kendra Scott and Lilly Pulitzer use Bolt to boost conversion and loyalty, while more than 80 m shoppers benefit from one-click checkout and a secure, cross-site identity.

Bolt's core product suite, CheckoutOS, and the SuperApp, a new all-in-one finance and crypto hub, help merchants grow while giving consumers convenience and control.

From high-risk processing to one-click subscriptions, Bolt replaces fragmented tools with future-ready infrastructure that scales. The result is a trusted journey for shoppers and durable growth for businesses of all sizes.

Aethir is the world's largest distributed cloud GPU network, with over 439,000 enterprise-grade GPU containers across 94 countries.

The platform provides scalable, cost-efficient cloud GPU services for AI, machine learning, gaming, and rendering applications, connecting users to distributed resources through a Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Network (DePIN).