The Rise of Crypto + AI: A New Frontier in Web3 Investment

In recent times, millions have experienced power outages and internet disruptions, prompting a critical question: How can we maintain internet connectivity during such crises? The answer may lie in Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Networks (DePIN), which leverage blockchain technology to create community-owned systems that provide essential services like wireless internet, energy, and storage. Unlike traditional networks that rely on centralized servers, DePIN distributes responsibility across numerous independent nodes, enhancing resilience and reducing the risk of total system failure during outages. DePIN is gaining traction as a viable alternative to conventional infrastructure, especially highlighted by events such as the 2021 Texas winter blackout, where decentralized solutions helped maintain connectivity in some areas. In 2024 alone, investments in DePIN projects exceeded $850 million, indicating a growing recognition of their importance beyond mere connectivity. Projects like Helium, which utilizes user-operated hotspots, and others such as WiFi Map and Nodle are at the forefront of this movement, ensuring that networks remain operational even when traditional power lines fail. The momentum behind DePIN is accelerating, with leading networks experiencing steady growth and approaching all-time highs. These systems are designed to operate on low energy and can utilize alternative power sources, making them particularly effective in power-starved environments. When combined with satellite solutions like Starlink, DePIN has the potential to keep entire communities connected, even in the darkest of times. As the demand for decentralized infrastructure continues to rise, it is clear that DePIN is not just a passing trend but a necessary evolution in how we approach connectivity and energy distribution in our increasingly digital world.

In a significant development for the decentralized AI landscape, io.net, a DePIN for GPU compute, has announced a strategic partnership with Mira Network. This collaboration is set to tackle the pressing challenges of AI accuracy and reliability, aiming to create scalable and decentralized solutions for advanced AI applications. By leveraging io.net's decentralized GPU infrastructure, Mira Network intends to enhance its operations while simultaneously reducing costs and latency, thus paving the way for more efficient AI implementations. A key component of this partnership is the support for Mira Network's Node Delegator Program, which allows contributors to delegate GPU resources. This initiative lowers the technical barriers for individuals and organizations eager to engage in the decentralized AI ecosystem, enabling them to support Mira's consensus operations while earning network rewards. As AI technology continues to evolve, the partnership seeks to ensure that AI can deliver consistent, reliable, and unbiased insights, a sentiment echoed by Tausif Ahmed, Chief Business Development Officer at io.net. The urgency of addressing AI's accuracy challenges is underscored by the current error rates that can reach up to 30% in tasks requiring advanced reasoning. Mira Network aims to mitigate this issue through innovative developments that evaluate AI-generated outputs across various models. Their new integrations have reportedly reduced first-pass mistakes to below 5%, with aspirations to achieve error rates of less than 0.1% through ongoing research. Stone Gettings, Head of Growth at Mira Network, emphasizes that the partnership with io.net will be crucial in further decentralizing their network and providing users with access to reliable GPU resources, thereby accelerating AI adoption in various sectors.

In the first quarter of 2025, IoTeX made significant strides with the introduction of Quicksilver, a decentralized physical infrastructure network (DePIN) module that enables AI agents to interact with real-world data. This innovative framework aims to enhance the capabilities of AI by allowing it to process real-time data and respond adaptively to its environment. Partnerships with GEODNET and Nubila have been established to integrate their devices with the ioID module, facilitating machine verifiability and verified data uploads onto the IoTeX blockchain. Despite a decline in average daily active wallets and transactions, the network still shows impressive year-over-year growth, with active wallets up 850% and transactions up 2,250% compared to the previous year. The IoTeX Network operates on a modular infrastructure that combines an EVM-compatible Layer-1 blockchain with off-chain computing capabilities. Users can stake the native token, IOTX, to vote for delegates responsible for securing the network and validating transactions. In Q1, the total fees on the network decreased by 55% quarter-over-quarter to $201,000, primarily due to significant drops in gas and decentralized exchange (DEX) fees. However, the network's staking activity remained robust, with 120 active delegates securing 3.8 billion IOTX, representing 40% of the circulating supply. IoTeX's commitment to innovation is evident in its ongoing development of the Quicksilver framework, which integrates AI with decentralized networks. The introduction of BinoAI, an autonomous AI agent, further exemplifies this effort, as it shares insights about DePIN projects on social media. Additionally, the partnerships with GEODNET and Nubila highlight IoTeX's focus on verifiability and real-world data applications, paving the way for future collaborations aimed at enhancing the DePIN ecosystem. As IoTeX continues to evolve, its emphasis on integrating AI and decentralized technologies positions it as a leader in the blockchain space, driving demand for DePIN solutions.

In a significant advancement for distributed computing, CUDOS Intercloud has introduced one-click templates that simplify the deployment of AI applications. This innovative approach focuses on accessibility and usability, allowing developers to launch applications with minimal effort. By eliminating the traditional complexities associated with AI infrastructure, such as dependencies and vendor lock-ins, CUDOS Intercloud enables instant deployment without the need for KYC or sign-ups. Users can connect their digital wallets and get started in mere seconds, which is particularly beneficial for teams needing to iterate quickly in the fast-paced AI and Web3 landscapes. The CUDOS Intercloud platform now boasts a diverse catalog of ready-to-launch applications tailored for various users, including AI developers and educators. Key offerings include JupyterLab for solo experimentation, JupyterHub for collaborative environments, and vLLM for serving large language models at scale. Additionally, tools like Ollama provide user-friendly interfaces for newcomers, while OpenManus showcases the potential of agentic AI assistants. These applications collectively form a robust foundation for a distributed AI-ready stack, enhancing accessibility and scalability for underfunded teams and global researchers. Looking ahead, CUDOS Intercloud is committed to expanding its app catalog with more open-source tools and enterprise-ready solutions. The platform aims to deepen integrations with Web3 APIs and support smart contract-based resource provisioning. As the landscape of distributed applications evolves, the one-click templates will serve as a crucial interface between users and the underlying infrastructure, driving the growth of the AI economy. CUDOS Intercloud invites users to share ideas for future templates and features, fostering a collaborative environment for innovation in distributed computing.

Decentralized cloud computing platform Aethir has launched Batch 6 of its $100 million Ecosystem Fund, expanding its support to include real-world asset (RWA) startups alongside its existing focus on AI agents. This initiative, announced on April 23, aims to integrate promising RWA projects into Aethir's decentralized cloud ecosystem by providing grants in the form of decentralized GPU cloud computing power. The fund has already supported over 25 AI-focused grantees, and the latest batch includes innovative projects such as Zoo Finance, Upside OS, and PinLink, which are set to enhance the intersection of traditional finance and digital markets. The Ecosystem Fund operates by granting access to Aethir's extensive global GPU network, which boasts over 425,000 GPU containers and high-performance chips like NVIDIA H200s and GB200s. This model eliminates the need for expensive centralized infrastructure, allowing early-stage teams to scale applications that rely heavily on AI and RWAs. Aethir's aim with Batch 6 is to empower more founders to develop the next generation of applications that leverage decentralized computing, thereby fostering innovation in both the RWA and AI sectors. The RWA sector is experiencing rapid growth, with on-chain assets already surpassing $20 billion and projections suggesting it could reach $500 billion by 2025, and potentially $30 trillion by 2030. This surge has given rise to new segments like "RWAfi," which merges RWAs with decentralized finance. Aethir is collaborating with projects such as Plume and GAIB to explore these opportunities, supporting the tokenization of computing infrastructure through initiatives like the RWAI Initiative and its GPU Tokenization Pilot on the BNB Chain.

AT&T has announced its first foray into decentralized physical infrastructure (DePIN) through a partnership with Helium, enabling customers to access a network of user-powered WiFi hotspots. This collaboration, revealed on April 24, is seen as a significant advancement in Helium's mission to provide affordable and accessible connectivity. Helium operates a decentralized wireless network where individuals deploy low-power devices called Hotspots, functioning as miniature cell towers and offering wireless coverage in exchange for token-based rewards. Currently, Helium boasts over 93,500 active Hotspots, primarily in the United States. The partnership allows AT&T to leverage Helium's hotspot coverage via Passpoint integration, a WiFi authentication protocol that facilitates automatic and secure connections to participating hotspots. This integration enhances user connectivity, especially in areas with weak mobile signals, while allowing AT&T to expand its service footprint without the need for additional infrastructure. For Helium, this partnership increases the utility of its network and raises its profile among mainstream users. Additionally, AT&T gains access to real-time network quality metrics, providing valuable insights into performance across decentralized nodes, a level of transparency often lacking in traditional infrastructure models. This collaboration is a notable milestone for the DePIN movement, but it is not Helium's first engagement with the telecom sector. Previously, Helium partnered with Telefónica's Movistar in Mexico, integrating its network to support connectivity for over 2.3 million subscribers. Furthermore, Helium has been enhancing its technology stack to promote broader adoption, including a licensing program for hardware manufacturers. The launch of Helium Mobile's Zero Plan in February 2025, which offers free data and talk time by utilizing Helium's decentralized network alongside T-Mobile's 5G service, marks another significant step forward for the project.