Theta Labs Expands US Presence with GMU Collaboration for AI Security Research

Theta Labs, a pioneer in decentralized cloud infrastructure for AI, media, and entertainment, has announced a significant expansion of its US presence. The Security of Emerging Computer Systems And Technologies (SECSAT) Lab at George Mason University (GMU), led by Assistant Professor Xiaokuan Zhang, has chosen Theta EdgeCloud Hybrid to enhance its research in system security and privacy. This collaboration underscores the growing adoption of decentralized cloud solutions in academic and research settings.

Prof. Zhang, a tenure-track assistant professor in the Department of Computer Science at GMU, leads the SECSAT Lab, which focuses on security issues in emerging systems and technologies. The lab's recent projects include eXtended Reality (XR), Decentralized Finance (DeFi/Web3), and memory-safe languages like Rust. Prof. Zhang's research has been recognized with numerous awards, including the ACM CCS Distinguished Paper Award and the Springer Cybersecurity Award. His work has also been selected as a Top 10 Finalist for the NYU Cyber Security Awareness Week Best Applied Security Paper in 2016, 2018, and 2022. He has received grants from the Ethereum Foundation and the NortonLifeLock Research Group.

Prof. Zhang highlighted the unique advantages of Theta’s hybrid GPU platform, which allows for scalable security research. The combination of cost-effective NVIDIA 3000- and 4000-series GPUs and high-performance A100s and H100s enables advanced projects in AI-driven security testing and blockchain infrastructure analysis without significant incremental costs. This collaboration will accelerate research in Web3 analysis, XR systems, and memory-safe computing at GMU’s SECSAT Lab.

GMU joins a global network of 22 universities and prominent sports organizations that have adopted Theta EdgeCloud Hybrid. This network includes institutions like Stanford, KAIST, Seoul National University, and NTU Singapore, as well as sports teams like the NBA’s Houston Rockets, NHL’s Vegas Golden Knights, and top esports organizations such as Gen.G and Cloud9. Theta EdgeCloud Hybrid is the world’s first decentralized hybrid GPU platform, offering a cost-effective and scalable solution for AI and blockchain research.

The SECSAT Lab at GMU will leverage Theta EdgeCloud Hybrid to explore various research areas, including XR security, DeFi and Web3 security, and Rust security. The lab will investigate vulnerabilities in extended reality environments, analyze cross-chain bridge behavior and authentication protocols, and enhance memory safety in Rust-based systems. Additionally, the lab will address privacy and data leakage risks in mobile and trusted environments through its research on side channels and confidential computing.

Mitch Liu, CEO and Co-Founder of Theta Labs, emphasized the advantages of Theta’s decentralized infrastructure over centralized cloud providers. Theta’s network of tens of thousands of community-run GPUs offers a more cost-effective and efficient solution for AI productivity. This decentralized approach positions Theta EdgeCloud Hybrid as a leading player in the decentralized cloud infrastructure market, challenging traditional providers like Microsoft, Amazon, and Google.

George Mason University is Virginia’s largest public research university and is recognized for its world-class faculty in computer science, cybersecurity, and systems engineering. The university’s Arlington campus hosts significant national security events, including the NSF Workshop on Networking and Systems Challenges in Immersive Computing. Theta Labs, backed by industry leaders such as Samsung, Sony, and Bertelsmann Digital Media Investments, continues to expand its presence in the decentralized cloud infrastructure market, offering innovative solutions for AI, media, and entertainment.