AWS's new Random Node Grouping topology replaces decades-old fat-tree networks and could reshape the economics of cloud-dependent crypto infrastructure.
Amazon Web Services just flipped the script on how data centers talk to themselves. The cloud giant has deployed a new networking architecture called Random Node Grouping, or RNG, that uses quasi-random graph theory to route traffic across its massive server farms. It’s now the default network topology for most AWS workloads.
The system replaces the fat-tree network design that has been the industry standard for years. According to an arXiv paper published in May 2026, RNG matches or exceeds the performance of those legacy architectures while cutting costs by 9-45% through simpler cabling and fewer switches. For an operation spending roughly $200 billion on data center and AI infrastructure in 2026 alone, those percentage savings translate into real money.
How RNG actually works #
Think of a traditional fat-tree network like a corporate org chart. Data flows up through layers of switches, hits the top, then flows back down to its destination. RNG takes a fundamentally different approach. Instead of a hierarchical structure, it connects nodes in quasi-random patterns, creating a “flat” topology that lets data take more direct paths between servers.
The result is a network that needs fewer physical switches and dramatically less cabling. AWS has separately noted that its new modular components are designed to deliver up to 46% lower mechanical energy usage for cooling needs, without increasing water consumption per megawatt.
AWS reported a global Power Usage Effectiveness of 1.15 in 2024. PUE measures total facility energy divided by IT equipment energy. A perfect score is 1.0, meaning zero energy wasted on non-computing functions. The industry average hovers closer to 1.5-1.6.
The $200 billion bet on infrastructure #
Amazon plans to invest approximately $200 billion in 2026, with the bulk directed toward AWS data centers and artificial intelligence infrastructure. AWS already offers dedicated Web3 services, including managed blockchain support for Bitcoin and Ethereum.
Why crypto builders should pay attention #
A meaningful portion of the crypto ecosystem runs on centralized cloud providers. Ethereum validators, Solana RPC nodes, indexing services, oracle networks, and countless DeFi backends sit on AWS, Google Cloud, or Azure. A 9-45% reduction in networking costs affects the operational economics of every node operator, every data indexer, and every exchange running on AWS.
For investors evaluating crypto projects, the question is whether projects dependent on AWS infrastructure are pricing in the benefits of lower operating costs, and whether the market is adequately discounting the concentration risk that comes with it. Projects that diversify their infrastructure across multiple providers and bare-metal deployments carry a different risk profile than those running entirely on a single cloud platform. Disclosure: This article was edited by Editorial Team. For more information on how we create and review content, see our