Pearl, a Layer-1 blockchain developed by Pearl Research Labs, utilizes a Proof-of-Useful-Work consensus mechanism. This system allows miners to perform matrix multiplications for AI inference while simultaneously securing the network using NVIDIA GPUs.
The mainnet launched on April 27, 2026, with a target block interval of 194 seconds. The native token, PRL, has a total supply cap of 2.1 billion. Rewards for miners include newly minted tokens and transaction fees.
The project partnered with Together AI to offer inference services at rates more than 25% below market standards. These discounts are subsidized by PRL emissions. On September 14, 2026, the team introduced an FP8 floating-point scheme to increase throughput.
In late September 2026, the PRL token reached an all-time high above $1.60 following a 67% price increase within 24 hours. However, analysis indicates that a significant portion of the network's computational power currently handles unpaid workloads.
