IoTeX

IoTeX, the decentralized network bridging the physical and digital worlds, announced a significant expansion into artificial intelligence. This move introduces a unified ecosystem for Physical AI, a new category of intelligence powered by real-world data from machines, devices, and decentralized infrastructure. The transition of AI systems from digital environments to real-world applications emphasizes the importance of access to live, trustworthy data from the physical surroundings. IoTeX aims to enable a new class of AI grounded in reality by creating a shared infrastructure where machines and AI agents can coordinate via verified, real-time data, transforming decentralized networks into a foundation for responsive, real-world AI systems. Since its establishment in 2017, IoTeX has been at the forefront of technologies bridging physical devices with blockchain networks. The company's latest AI expansion aligns with its vision of linking the demand for real-time, verifiable data from AI developers with the supply of connected devices and DePIN participants on IoTeX. The AI infrastructure is powered by IoTeX Layer 1 Blockchain for secure coordination, the ioID Protocol for decentralized machine authentication, Quicksilver AI framework for transforming raw machine signals, and the IOTX Token for governance and incentives. Central to IoTeX's AI architecture are Realms, evolving knowledge bases of real-time, real-world data that synthesize insights from machines, people, and sensors to generate actionable intelligence in various sectors like mobility, health, energy, and robotics. Realms serve the dual purpose of providing real-time situational awareness for AI agents and offering dynamic environments for training the next generation of Physical AI models. As data flows into a Realm from connected devices and DePIN nodes, its intelligence becomes more precise, adaptive, and valuable, evolving into living knowledge bases that scale with participation. IoTeX's vision is to build dynamic economies of intelligence where machines, people, and AI collaborate to generate continuously evolving knowledge, forming a global constellation of verified environments where physical intelligence becomes a scalable and monetizable resource for real-world AI applications.

Exclusive Interview with Raullen Chai, Co-Founder and CEO of IoTeX Raullen Chai, a Ph.D. in cryptography from the University of Waterloo and with prior engineering roles at Google, Uber, and Oracle, leads IoTeX. He envisions DePIN—decentralized physical infrastructure networks—connecting IoT devices and blockchain to empower users with data ownership. IoTeX 2.0 aims to cater to developers, enterprises, and consumers, bridging the gap with modular tools like W3bstream and token primitives. Raullen discusses IoTeX's goal of onboarding 100 million devices in the next 3–5 years. The strategy involves partnerships with hardware manufacturers, community-led DePINs like DIMO and GEODNET, and empowering grassroots adoption. By expanding developer onboarding and scaling middleware, IoTeX plans to achieve this ambitious target. Raullen highlights the importance of the 'Identity' layer in the DePIN reference architecture. He emphasizes the need for secure and interoperable machine identities to establish trust in decentralized physical systems. IoTeX's ioID provides devices with programmable identities, revolutionizing trust in DePINs. W3bstream, a specialized solution for DePINs, focuses on verifiable real-world data ingestion. Unlike general-purpose off-chain compute solutions, W3bstream is tailored for handling physical-world inputs like sensor data and geolocation, bridging the gap between the physical and digital realms. With ioID's NFT-bound smart contract wallets for machines, IoTeX addresses lifecycle events like hardware replacement and identity migration. By combining secure hardware enclaves and on-chain NFTs, IoTeX ensures auditable continuity and composable trust in device identities.

IoTeX, the Layer-1 blockchain designed for real-world decentralized applications, has successfully implemented its v2.2 hard fork at block height 36,893,881 on June 19. This upgrade introduces sub-three-second transaction finality, catering to latency-sensitive use cases such as on-chain AI agents, real-time DePIN networks, and event-driven DeFi. The reduction in block time to 2.5 seconds enhances user experience, enabling AI agents to trigger actions instantly, DePIN apps to sync with real-world events, and DeFi users to settle trades responsively. This low-latency experience is now available on a decentralized Layer 1, showcasing IoTeX's commitment to scalability without compromising security. IIP-42: Optimistic Consensus for Enhanced Throughput The v2.2 upgrade includes deep enhancements to IoTeX's Roll-DPoS consensus, featuring Optimistic Block Minting introduced via IIP-42. This mechanism allows block proposers to prepare the next block concurrently, boosting throughput and resilience. Innovations like proactive block preparation, fast fallback logic, and strict time-bound minting ensure smooth network operation under high loads while maintaining decentralization. Additionally, IoTeX introduces a timestamp-based staking contract (v3) for improved accuracy and adaptability, encouraging users to migrate for a smarter staking experience.

On June 19, 2025, IoTeX successfully activated its major upgrade, IoTeX Core v2.2, marking a significant advancement in decentralized infrastructure designed for real-world applications. The upgrade features a remarkable reduction in block time from 5 seconds to just 2.5 seconds, allowing transactions to finalize almost instantaneously. This enhancement is particularly beneficial for latency-sensitive use cases, such as AI agents that can now execute actions with minimal delay, decentralized physical infrastructure networks (DePIN) that can respond to real-world events in real-time, and DeFi users who can settle trades and react to market changes almost immediately. The network maintains its commitment to security while optimizing for performance, ensuring it is prepared for future scaling to 2,000 transactions per second (TPS). The upgrade also introduces the Optimistic Block Minting mechanism, which allows block proposers to prepare future blocks proactively, thus maintaining speed and stability even during high demand. This innovative approach ensures that if consensus fails in the initial round, nodes can quickly initiate a new round without losing time. Additionally, IoTeX v2.2 features a new timestamp-based staking mechanism that enhances accuracy and flexibility, allowing users to manage their staking periods more effectively. This shift is expected to improve the overall user experience while ensuring compatibility with future network improvements. IoTeX Core v2.2's enhancements position the platform for significant growth in various blockchain applications, including on-chain AI interactions, real-time decentralized networks, and consumer-grade decentralized applications (dApps) that rival centralized services. With its focus on maintaining a stable and secure network while preparing for further reductions in block time, IoTeX is poised to lead in the blockchain space, offering solutions that leverage the benefits of decentralization without compromising on performance or user experience.

IoTeX is set to host an exciting event titled "R3al World" on June 24th, from 21:00 to 23:00 UTC, as part of the Permissionless conference in New York. This networking session will focus on Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Networks (DePIN) and Artificial Intelligence (AI), bringing together builders and innovators who are working on Physical AI, real-world assets, and decentralized infrastructure. Attendees can expect a vibrant atmosphere where they can engage with industry leaders and discuss the latest advancements in these fields while enjoying refreshments during the official DePIN x AI happy hour. The IoTeX platform, known for its open-source blockchain tailored for the Internet of Things (IoT), aims to tackle the prevalent challenges in existing IoT ecosystems, such as security vulnerabilities, high maintenance costs, and scalability issues. By developing a unique blockchain architecture that supports a multitude of IoT devices, IoTeX is paving the way for a more secure and efficient IoT landscape. The core concept revolves around a "blockchain within a blockchain" structure, where the main network manages security and operations, while sub-blockchains handle specific IoT devices and transactions. At the heart of the IoTeX ecosystem is its native token, IOTX, which facilitates various operations, including transaction fee payments and governance participation. This innovative approach not only enhances the scalability and privacy of IoT applications but also fosters the development of decentralized applications and ecosystems. As the event approaches, the excitement within the community is palpable, with many looking forward to the insights and collaborations that will emerge from the R3al World session at Permissionless.

IoTeX is revolutionizing the way everyday machines, such as solar panels and GPS trackers, can generate passive income by turning them into valuable assets. Co-founder Jing Sun emphasizes that their platform is at the forefront of a new machine economy, where real-world devices connect to Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Networks (DePINs) to yield real financial returns. The vision for IoTeX was inspired by the Ethereum whitepaper, leading to the creation of a Layer 1 blockchain that links device data with AI models and traditional businesses. This innovative approach allows communities to contribute data from devices and earn rewards from AI firms, effectively merging the physical and digital worlds. The concept of DePIN, which stands for Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Networks, is emerging as a promising real-world application of cryptocurrency. Sun describes it as "MachineFi," which refers to the financialization of machine data and resources. DePIN projects aim to crowdsource infrastructure that has traditionally been managed by governments or large corporations, providing coverage to underserved regions. Existing projects on IoTeX, such as GEODNET for GPS, Glow for solar energy, and Wingbits for flight tracking, are already operational and generating revenue, demonstrating the societal benefits of this model. IoTeX's machine economy is accessible to everyone, allowing individuals to purchase and operate devices that collect data and sell it to networks in exchange for tokens. This model offers a form of basic income, empowering users to become operators of a diverse machine network. Traditional investors are also taking note, as DePIN's clear business model and revenue structures make it an attractive opportunity. With over 100 DePIN projects and a total locked value of $2.7 billion, IoTeX is poised to attract traditional investment into the crypto space. Looking ahead, the company aims to support the next generation of AI agents and smart devices, positioning itself as a leader in the integration of blockchain technology with everyday machines.