IoTeX and Nodle Partner to Enhance DePIN Ecosystem

The Hivemapper Network has introduced a new proposal for region-based staking, allowing participants to stake HONEY tokens in specific geographic areas to earn weekly rewards based on the activity in those regions. This innovative approach encourages stakers to commit to particular areas, rewarding them when those regions achieve significant mapping progress and real-world data consumption. Each week, 10% of global emissions, reallocated from MIP-22, will fund the staking pool rewards, which are distributed exclusively to regions with active stakes. The rewards are divided into two categories: 70% based on regional mapping progress and 30% based on actual network consumption, ensuring that resources are directed to areas generating genuine activity. The mechanics of region-based staking involve a soft cap for each region, preventing excessive concentration of stakes. The mapping progress pool rewards regions based on how much of their soft cap is filled, while the consumption pool allocates rewards based on actual HONEY burns from network usage. This dual approach not only incentivizes mapping contributions but also aligns the interests of stakers and mappers, fostering a sustainable ecosystem. Unclaimed rewards from inactive regions will be permanently burned, further promoting active participation and fair competition across all regions. Overall, region-based staking is designed to transform HONEY into a tool for active network participation, driving growth and sustainability within the Hivemapper ecosystem. By directing capital to high-potential regions and linking token value to real-world utility, this initiative aims to create a decentralized mapping network with committed participants. The community is encouraged to engage in discussions about this proposal on Hivemapper's Discord server, with feedback being collected until November 2, 2025, to refine the network's design and ensure its long-term success.

LunarCrush, an AI-driven platform that analyzes digital assets, has unveiled its ranking of the Top 10 Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Network (DEPIN) Projects based on social activity. This ranking considers metrics such as Engaged Posts and Interactions to gauge the popularity of various cryptocurrencies. Leading the list is Chainlink ($LINK), which boasts an impressive 8.7K Engaged Posts and 2.9 million Interactions, showcasing its dominance in the DEPIN space. Following closely is Bittensor ($TAO) with 8.4K Engaged Posts and 1.1 million Interactions, indicating a strong demand for both projects in the crypto market. In the third and fourth positions are Internet Computer ($ICP) and Zebec Network ($ZBCN), with 2.3K and 1.8K Engaged Posts, respectively. However, the difference in Interactions is significant, with Zebec Network outperforming Internet Computer by a margin of 244.6K, achieving 558.4K Interactions compared to Internet Computer's 313.8K. Additionally, XPIN Network ($XPIN) and Boundless ($ZKC) also made the list, with 1.6K and 1.4K Engaged Posts, and 202.7K and 56.0K Interactions, respectively, further illustrating the competitive landscape of DEPIN projects. Render ($RENDER) and Siacoin ($SC) are noted for their close engagement levels, with 1.4K and 1.2K Engaged Posts. However, Render significantly outshines Siacoin in Interactions, achieving 235.4K compared to Siacoin's 41.7K. Lastly, Walrus ($WAL) and Grass ($GRASS) secured the bottom two spots, each with 1.1K Engaged Posts, but differing in Interactions at 122.3K and 81.1K, respectively. This ranking highlights the dynamic nature of social engagement in the cryptocurrency sector, reflecting the ongoing interest and activity within these DEPIN projects.

Theta Labs has achieved a significant milestone by officially joining the Blockchain Association (BA), a leading nonprofit organization in the United States dedicated to promoting a pro-innovation policy environment for the digital asset economy. This partnership aligns with Theta's vision to influence the future of blockchain technology both in the US and globally. The Blockchain Association plays a crucial role in educating policymakers about the potential of blockchain and advocating for regulatory frameworks that support innovation rather than hinder it. By joining the Blockchain Association, Theta Labs gains a strategic advantage in shaping policy discussions that affect the blockchain sector. This membership provides Theta with a platform to influence legislation and regulation, ensuring that the evolving landscape of blockchain and digital assets is conducive to growth. The benefits extend beyond Theta itself, as a favorable regulatory environment will also positively impact the broader Theta ecosystem, including token holders, partners, developers, and users. Looking ahead, Theta Labs is eager to engage in working groups within the Blockchain Association, particularly in areas related to AI and decentralized physical infrastructure networks (DePIN). This collaboration will enable Theta to stay informed about industry developments, share insights, and work alongside other members to promote a more open and innovative digital future. Joining the Blockchain Association underscores Theta's commitment to contributing to the development of policies and standards that will shape the future of blockchain technology in the United States and beyond.

In a significant announcement to the Streamr Network community, Mark Little has been appointed as the new CEO, marking a crucial phase in the project’s journey towards mainstream adoption. Over the past two years, Streamr has made notable progress, including the launch of its 1.0 Mainnet and the establishment of strategic partnerships aimed at enhancing protocol adoption. However, Little acknowledges that the network has not yet achieved the desired volume of data flow, a challenge faced by many Web3 infrastructure projects. To address this, the focus will shift to the application layer, aiming to attract a larger user base and enhance the overall utility of the technology. Little highlighted the potential of live video streaming, referencing previous explorations through the Subcast project, which were ultimately set aside due to commercial challenges. However, with the MVP1 of StreamrTV now live and receiving positive feedback, the Streamr Council believes that prioritizing live video streaming could lead to significant adoption. Current market players like X Spaces, Zoom, and Twitch are criticized for their suboptimal user experiences, particularly in terms of security, privacy, and censorship resistance—areas where decentralized technology excels. Streamr aims to leverage its core technology to create superior solutions while addressing the Web3 user experience problem. To accelerate progress, Little has announced the appointment of Petri Savolainen as CTO, who brings extensive expertise in peer-to-peer and video streaming technologies. This leadership change is part of a broader initiative to foster a leaner, more focused start-up culture within the team. Little expressed gratitude towards former team members Matthew Fontana and Eric Andrews for their contributions, wishing them well in their future endeavors. He invites the community to engage with the team during the fortnightly Build in Public sessions, emphasizing the importance of collaboration in achieving product-market fit and driving the project forward.

The Grass Foundation is an innovative project that operates as a Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Network (DePIN) on the Solana blockchain. It enables users to earn passive income by sharing their extra bandwidth, which is utilized for the development of artificial intelligence tools. With over 2 million active users, the platform has garnered attention, but it has also faced skepticism due to various scams impersonating the project. This article aims to clarify the legitimacy of the Grass airdrop and provide a comprehensive guide for interested participants. The Grass airdrop functions similarly to other DePIN projects, rewarding users for their contributions of bandwidth. Participants can earn Grass Points by installing the Grass App or a web extension, which can later be converted into GRASS tokens. To be eligible for the airdrop, users must have a compatible device and a legitimate wallet address. However, the system is vigilant against fraudulent activities, and any detected misconduct may result in penalties, including the withholding of tokens. Despite the project's rapid growth and backing from reputable investment firms, users are advised to ensure they are accessing the official Grass website to avoid scams. The Grass Foundation has successfully conducted multiple airdrop campaigns, distributing a total of 100 million GRASS tokens to eligible participants. With the recent launch of its mainnet, the airdrop remains active, and the process for claiming Grass Points has been simplified. Users can easily withdraw their earnings by directing the system to transfer GRASS tokens to their wallets. While the Grass Foundation appears to be a legitimate project, potential participants should conduct their own research to verify its authenticity and understand the risks involved in the airdrop process.

The recent 48-hour internet shutdown in Afghanistan has raised significant concerns regarding the vulnerability of decentralized technologies, particularly blockchain. This blackout, which affected approximately 13 million people, revealed a critical weakness: the reliance of blockchain networks on centralized internet service providers. While blockchain is designed to facilitate secure and censorship-resistant transactions, the outage highlighted how interruptions in internet connectivity can severely impact its functionality. This situation underscores the urgent need for alternative internet infrastructure solutions that can support blockchain operations even when traditional providers are unavailable. On October 1, 2025, the Taliban administration ordered a near-total internet blackout, which was later attributed to technical issues with fiber optic cables. However, the timing and scale of the disruption raised alarms about potential censorship and government control over internet access. The event not only disconnected millions from the digital realm but also disrupted numerous blockchain activities, revealing a significant challenge for decentralized networks. The incident serves as a stark reminder that while blockchain technology holds the promise of censorship resistance, it remains vulnerable to external disruptions. In response to the Afghanistan blackout, advocates for decentralized connectivity are calling for solutions that ensure blockchain networks can operate independently of centralized internet providers. Projects like Roam Network are at the forefront of this movement, aiming to create decentralized wireless networks powered by user contributions. By leveraging crowdsourced data on mobile signal strength, Roam seeks to provide reliable internet access even during outages. Other initiatives, such as World Mobile and Helium, are also working to establish large-scale decentralized networks that reduce reliance on centralized infrastructure. The urgency of developing these solutions has never been clearer, as the potential of blockchain technology hinges on the availability of a decentralized internet backbone.