A practical risk checklist for compute platforms

Before sending money to any private platform that links AI infrastructure with potential returns, separate the attractive industry story from the specific offer.

Check the legal entity

Verify the company name, registration number, jurisdiction, physical address and whether the information is consistent across the website and legal documents.

Understand the product

Ask whether you own hardware, rent capacity, purchase a contractual product or simply fund the platform. These are materially different arrangements.

Understand the source of returns

Look for evidence of paying customers, utilization, fees, operating costs and how distributions are calculated.

Review withdrawals and custody

Understand payment methods, lockups, withdrawal conditions, account restrictions and what happens if the platform fails.

Be skeptical of certainty

High or fixed returns should be treated as high risk unless supported by transparent, independently verifiable economics.