DePIN Sector Sees Surge in Social Activity: $TAO Leads the Pack

On September 1st, 2025, IoTeX, a blockchain platform focused on Real-World AI, announced the launch of Season 2 of "Crypto's Got Talent" (CGT), a community-driven competition aimed at identifying and supporting promising DePIN projects. Sponsored by 0G Network, the largest Layer 1 blockchain designed for AI, this season aims to blend entertainment with ecosystem collaboration and funding to foster Web3 infrastructure adoption. Applications for the competition opened in August, with the live show set to begin on September 8. The event will consist of eight to nine episodes, culminating in a livestreamed finale where around 25 selected teams will compete for milestone-based grants, ultimately leading to six funded winners. The first season of CGT was a significant success, garnering nearly 200,000 impressions and close to 3,000 community votes. Five standout projects received grants and are now making strides in various sectors, including electric vehicle charging, 3D mapping, drone detection, environmental data, and on-chain finance. Jing Sun, co-founder of IoTeX, emphasized the program's goal of highlighting builders addressing real-world infrastructure challenges, and with the backing of 0G, Season 2 is expected to be even larger and more impactful. Season 2 will maintain the unique format of public pitch rounds, video demonstrations, and a final showcase to determine winners based on innovation, execution, and real-world impact. Michael Heinrich, Co-Founder and CEO of 0G, expressed pride in sponsoring CGT, aligning with their mission to empower builders in the AI and Web3 space. Together, IoTeX and 0G aim to support teams that are advancing decentralized infrastructure and real-world AI applications, paving the way for a democratized future of intelligence.

IoTeX has officially announced the launch of Crypto’s Got Talent (CGT) Season 2, a competition aimed at showcasing and funding high-potential decentralized physical infrastructure network (DePIN) projects. Sponsored by 0G Network, this season is set to kick off on September 8, featuring 25 teams competing across eight to nine episodes. The previous season garnered nearly 200,000 impressions and successfully supported five innovative projects spanning various sectors, including energy, mapping, drone technology, environmental data, and finance. The CGT competition is designed to blend entertainment with ecosystem collaboration and real funding opportunities to foster Web3 adoption. Applications for the competition opened in August, and the event will culminate in a live finale. The selected teams will compete for milestone-based grants, with six winners receiving funding. Additionally, the program will provide 4-6 months of post-competition support to help projects scale and achieve measurable outcomes. Jing Sun, co-founder of IoTeX, emphasized the need for innovative DePIN projects and expressed confidence that Season 2 will be larger and more impactful. Michael Heinrich, CEO of 0G Network, expressed pride in sponsoring the CGT competition, highlighting its alignment with their mission to empower AI and Web3 builders. IoTeX, founded in 2017, currently supports over 100 projects and 40 million devices across various sectors, including mobility, robotics, energy, and health. The platform's infrastructure enables access to verified real-time physical world data, which is crucial for AI systems and decentralized finance (DeFi) applications. Furthermore, IoTeX has been officially listed on CF Benchmarks, allowing banks and asset managers to create regulated products with IOTX.

Asset Chain has officially launched the USDT/WNT trading pair, marking a significant milestone for the first public layer-1 EVM chain from Africa, co-developed by the Wicrypt team. This new trading pair aims to enhance liquidity depth for WNT and increase the Total Value Locked (TVL) on Asset Chain. The decentralized exchange (DEX) operates as an automated market maker (AMM), similar to Uniswap V3, and is currently running a Liquidity Mining Campaign designed to incentivize liquidity providers and traders. Participants can earn points based on their trading activities, which will contribute to airdrops of the blockchain’s native token after the Token Generation Event (TGE). The more transactions users complete, the more points they accumulate, ultimately increasing their airdrop potential. To further engage the community, Asset Chain is launching a special Boost Campaign for the Liquidity Mining Program, specifically targeting the USDT/WNT pair. This campaign, commencing on August 27th, will offer enhanced rewards for liquidity provision, allowing participants to earn up to 200% Annual Percentage Rate (APR) on locked liquidity positions. Additionally, non-custodial wallets holding over 50,000 WNT will receive double points for liquidity provision transactions from September 9th to October 9th. This initiative is designed to maximize returns for liquidity providers and encourage more users to participate in the ecosystem. In conjunction with the liquidity provision campaign, a 30-day trading campaign will also begin on August 27th, providing users with double points for trading activities on the USDT/WNT pair. A reward pool of $3,000 USDT and $2,000 worth of WNT will be distributed among the top 10 traders based on their trading volumes during the campaign. To qualify, traders must maintain a minimum weekly trading volume of $50,000, totaling at least $200,000 over the 30 days. This dual approach aims to boost trading activity and liquidity on the Asset Chain DEX, driving the WNT token to new heights.

The decentralized physical infrastructure network (DePIN) sector has recently witnessed a surge in online discussions, highlighting several major projects that have dominated social media activity. Leading the charge is Chainlink ($LINK), which has solidified its presence in crypto conversations with an impressive 21,600 posts and a staggering 4.6 million interactions. This level of engagement underscores Chainlink's significance in the DePIN landscape, showcasing its ability to attract attention and foster community involvement. Following Chainlink, Bittensor ($TAO) has emerged as a strong contender, securing the second position with 15,500 engaged posts and 1.7 million interactions. The growing interest in Bittensor reflects its appeal within communities, particularly due to advancements in decentralized AI and infrastructure solutions. Internet Computer ($ICP) ranks third, generating 6,200 posts and 325,600 interactions, while Render ($RENDER) also made notable strides with 4,400 posts and 248,500 interactions. Meanwhile, Helium ($HNT) and Akash Network ($AKT) demonstrated solid community engagement, with HNT achieving 1,800 posts and 59,200 interactions, and AKT garnering 1,700 posts and 70,900 interactions. The data indicates that social engagement within DePIN projects is a crucial indicator of strength, as trust and participation hinge on the representation of social capital. Projects like Chainlink, Bittensor, and Internet Computer are not only driving interaction but also shaping the future of decentralized networks in connectivity and cloud services. As the industry continues to evolve, the ability of these projects to maintain high levels of engagement will likely play a pivotal role in determining their long-term impact and relevance in the blockchain ecosystem.

The conversation surrounding cryptocurrency in the United States has undergone a significant transformation, with industry leaders heralding it as a pivotal moment. After years of stringent regulatory actions, the atmosphere in Washington regarding digital assets has shifted notably, indicating a potential path towards mainstream acceptance. Ripple's CEO, Brad Garlinghouse, emphasized the stark contrast in how policymakers now engage with digital assets compared to the previous year. At the Wyoming Blockchain Symposium, he noted a more supportive tone, particularly highlighting the surprising endorsement of blockchain technology by several Federal Reserve governors, which he described as a new dawn for the industry. Legal voices in the crypto sector have also acknowledged this shift. Attorney John Deaton characterized the change as a complete turnaround, moving from a period of regulatory suffocation under what he termed "ChokePoint 2.0" to a landscape ripe for universal acceptance and mass adoption. His remarks underscore the rapid evolution in the regulatory environment, suggesting that the industry is now on a path toward broader acceptance rather than being stifled by enforcement actions. This sentiment reflects a growing optimism among crypto advocates about the future of digital assets in the U.S. Ripple's Chief Legal Officer, Stuart Alderoty, contributed to the dialogue by emphasizing the necessity for a coordinated regulatory approach in the post-GENIUS Act era. He participated in discussions with notable representatives from various organizations, advocating for clarity and support for innovation through collaboration between lawmakers and the executive branch. This evolving dialogue indicates a broader shift in how traditional policymakers perceive cryptocurrencies, moving from skepticism to a focus on collaboration and sustainable growth. If this momentum continues, the U.S. could not only clarify its own regulatory landscape but also play a crucial role in shaping the global future of digital assets.

From August 12 to September 2, 2025 (PDT), Roam is excited to announce a partnership with MemoLabs to host a unique giveaway event that promises valuable rewards for participants. This collaboration aims to leverage MEMO, an AI-driven data blockchain that empowers users with control over their data through a modular design. By joining forces, Roam and MemoLabs are set to provide users with seamless and secure digital experiences while exploring groundbreaking technologies within their communities. The event, titled "Roam X MemoLabs: Your Data, Your Gold," is exclusively available on the Roam App during the specified dates. Participants can look forward to receiving various rewards, including 1 GB of Roam Global eSIM data, which can be claimed directly within the Roam App. Additionally, MemoLabs is offering a chance to win a share of 200,000 $MEMO, along with Limited DIDs and MEMO Points. This initiative encourages engagement and interaction between the Roam and MemoLabs communities, enhancing the overall user experience. To participate, users must sign in or create an account on the latest version of the Roam App, tap the event banner, download the Memo App, and complete specific tasks to receive a reward code. This code can then be entered on the Roam App's event page to claim the rewards. It's important to note that MemoLabs rewards are subject to their own terms and distribution processes, and Roam's eSIM rewards are limited and distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. Early participation is highly encouraged to maximize the chances of receiving rewards.