Latest DePIN Product Launch News

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 Streamr Network has introduced the AutoStaker plugin, a significant advancement aimed at simplifying the staking process for operators. This new feature automates staking decisions, allowing operators to focus on managing their nodes rather than manually monitoring sponsorship opportunities. By automatically discovering and staking into new sponsorships, the AutoStaker enhances the efficiency of the network, ensuring that operators can capitalize on high-yield opportunities without the risk of overlooking them due to manual oversight. The plugin is available starting from Streamr Node version 103.1.0. The AutoStaker operates seamlessly within operator nodes, scanning for available sponsorships and allocating stakes based on configurable parameters. It prioritizes the DATA/day emission rate of sponsorships, which helps in minimizing gas costs and avoiding excessive competition among operators. The plugin also periodically rebalances stakes to maintain optimal allocations across various opportunities. Operators need to enable the AutoStaker, assign staking agent roles to their nodes, and configure the plugin according to their fleet's needs to get started. This streamlined approach allows for a more responsive network and better overall performance. Looking ahead, the AutoStaker is poised to become a foundational tool for dynamic and automated sponsorships within the Streamr Network. Future developments may include enhancements that support live video streams, taking into account bandwidth and CPU requirements before staking. As operators are incentivized to support these broadcasts, the AutoStaker will not only maximize APY but also contribute to the overall robustness of the network. By adopting the AutoStaker, operators can ensure their competitiveness and efficiency in the rapidly evolving landscape of decentralized data streaming.

In the third quarter of 2024, IoTeX has marked significant achievements within the rapidly growing DePIN sector, further establishing its leadership in the ecosystem. The launch of IoTeX 2.0 stands out as a pivotal moment, introducing a modular infrastructure that supports verifiable DePIN data. This upgrade is designed to facilitate the development of DePIN projects, making it easier for developers to build and scale their solutions. Alongside this, IoTeX has formed strategic partnerships with major industry players like OKX, Solana, and Polygon, enhancing its visibility and collaborative potential in the blockchain space. Following a successful $50 million funding round in Q2, the network has seen a surge in user engagement, with over 218 projects now built on the IoTeX platform, including 51 dedicated to DePIN. The IoTeX network's on-chain activity has also experienced remarkable growth, with daily transactions reaching 26,100, a 107% increase from the previous quarter. The ecosystem supports over 100 tokens and boasts more than 100,000 monthly active users. The rise in staking activity is notable, with over 3.8 billion $IOTX staked, representing approximately 41% of the circulating supply. Additionally, the DePINscan platform has registered over 280 DePIN projects and 18 million devices, solidifying its role as a key data aggregation tool in the industry. Looking ahead, IoTeX is set to launch several innovative products, including ioID and W3bstream, which aim to enhance the verifiability of DePIN devices and provide zero-knowledge proofs for developers. The upcoming Get GOATed Season 2 event is expected to attract even more community members, with substantial rewards on offer. As IoTeX continues to expand its ecosystem and partnerships, it is poised to play a crucial role in the future of decentralized infrastructure and real-world applications in the blockchain space.

Akash, a decentralized compute project founded by Greg Osuri, has announced plans to deprecate its current Cosmos SDK-based chain and migrate to a new network that can better secure its operations. This decision marks the beginning of a public evaluation process for potential candidates both within and outside the Cosmos ecosystem. While the specific destination chain has not yet been disclosed, Osuri emphasized the importance of strong security, a vibrant community, deep liquidity, and growth potential in selecting the new home for Akash, which will maintain IBC compatibility. Originally launched as a Cosmos appchain, Akash operates a decentralized marketplace that connects AI and cloud buyers with independent providers of GPU and compute capacity. The recent Mainnet 6 upgrade introduced Nvidia GPUs, allowing users to benefit from lower costs compared to traditional centralized cloud services. Osuri also reassured users regarding staking concerns, indicating that while staking may appear to be disappearing, it is actually evolving into a more advanced model. He mentioned that Solana is a strong contender for Akash's new network, but the team will be cautious in making their final decision. This shift to a new base-layer represents a significant architectural change for a decentralized physical infrastructure network (DePIN). Osuri's criteria for the migration reflect a broader search for scalable solutions as demand for AI compute rises. The Block's data indicates that DePIN is becoming a multi-billion-dollar asset class, with web3 cloud and AI compute identified as leading segments. However, challenges such as hardware access, network scalability, and regulatory uncertainties remain. The Akash team has not set a timeline for the migration, but they plan to engage the community in an open discussion about the trade-offs involved in the decision-making process.

Grayscale, a leading digital asset manager, has made a significant move in the cryptocurrency space by filing Form 10 with the SEC for its Bittensor Trust ($TAO). This filing marks the initial step toward becoming a reporting company under U.S. securities law, which could potentially reduce private placement holding periods from 12 months to 6 months. If successful, this would facilitate public trading on OTC markets and bolster institutional confidence in AI-driven crypto assets, paving the way for broader adoption of Bittensor’s decentralized AI network. The announcement was made via Grayscale's official X account, emphasizing the importance of increased accessibility, transparency, and regulatory standing. Should the SEC approve the Form 10, the Bittensor Trust will be required to file quarterly, annual, and current reports, similar to public companies. This level of transparency is expected to enhance investor trust in $TAO, the native token of Bittensor, which incentivizes AI model contributions through cryptocurrency. Grayscale's intent to seek public quotation of Bittensor Trust shares on OTC Markets further indicates its commitment to regulatory compliance and market legitimacy. The timing of this filing is particularly strategic, as AI-related tokens have seen significant growth, attracting both speculative and institutional interest. Bittensor operates as a decentralized AI marketplace, allowing developers to train models and earn $TAO based on performance. The trust provides institutional investors with a regulated investment vehicle to gain exposure to AI infrastructure without the complexities of managing data centers. Following the announcement, $TAO experienced a surge in trading volume, with analysts predicting continued bullish momentum as Grayscale's compliance efforts progress, potentially leading to increased liquidity and market activity for the token.

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.

The recent Token2049 conference in Singapore highlighted the emergence of Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Networks (DePIN) as a transformative force in the blockchain space. Initially met with skepticism, the concept of individuals contributing to decentralized networks through installations like weather stations has gained traction, with thousands of stations now operational worldwide. Participants at the conference expressed a strong desire to engage with and profit from the infrastructure that supports both online and offline activities. DePIN is no longer a niche topic; it has become a central theme of discussion, with many experts predicting that it will surpass Decentralized Finance (DeFi) in value and significance. DePIN represents a shift in the cryptocurrency narrative, moving from a focus on capital to capacity. Investors and creators at Token2049 emphasized the importance of building actual networks that have tangible impacts on the world. Unlike traditional infrastructure, which is often hindered by centralized processes and high upfront costs, DePIN allows users to become operators immediately, thus facilitating faster deployment and greater participation. This model not only enhances utility but also attracts consumers, creating a self-sustaining ecosystem. As the demand for real-time, verifiable data grows, particularly in the AI economy, DePIN is positioned to become the foundational layer for various applications, including climate intelligence and grid optimization. Looking ahead, the potential for DePIN is significant, especially as regulatory clarity begins to emerge. The transition from pilot projects to fully operational networks is underway, with companies like WeatherXM leading the way by providing hyperlocal meteorological data through decentralized means. As industries increasingly seek reliable weather data amid climate challenges, DePIN could redefine the landscape of decentralized infrastructure, potentially onboarding millions into the Web3 ecosystem. The momentum observed at Token2049 suggests that DePIN is not just an alternative to DeFi but may become a cornerstone of the decentralized economy, focusing on broader societal impacts beyond mere financial transactions.

Grass, the flagship product of Wynd Network, has successfully raised $10 million in a bridge funding round co-led by Polychain Capital and Tribe Capital. This funding, primarily structured as a token purchase, highlights the growing investor confidence in Grass's mission to decentralize internet connectivity and enhance AI data access. Previously, Grass had secured funding through Seed and Series A rounds, but this latest round was unplanned and comes at a crucial time as the project experiences rapid growth and adoption. Grass operates as a decentralized bandwidth network built on the Solana blockchain, allowing users to monetize their unused internet capacity by selling their 'view of the internet.' This innovative system enables companies and developers to access public web data at scale, which is essential for training and improving AI models. Users are rewarded with the native GRASS token, which serves as the primary vehicle for value accrual and governance. Co-founder Andrej Radonjic emphasized that Grass addresses the access challenges AI developers face when building or training models across the open web, thereby solving a significant bottleneck in data collection for AI. The recent funding round marks Polychain Capital's third investment in Grass, reflecting their strong belief in the company's potential. Grass has reported impressive growth, with 8.5 million monthly active users and collaborations with around 20 companies, including nonprofits and academic institutions. As the project continues to evolve, it aims to transition from providing training data to offering real-time inference data, which is crucial for generative AI systems. With its unique approach, Grass is positioned to redefine data pipelines for AI, shifting control from centralized tech companies to a decentralized global network, thus leading the charge in the intersection of AI and decentralized infrastructure.

Recent developments in the cryptocurrency and blockchain sectors highlight significant movements and investments. Notably, the UAE family office Kanoo Group has announced its decision to purchase Bitcoin, further solidifying its position in the digital asset space with assets under management totaling $20 billion. Additionally, SpaceX, the aerospace company founded by Elon Musk, reportedly holds $1 billion worth of Bitcoin, showcasing the growing acceptance of cryptocurrencies among major corporations. In the realm of blockchain technology, the DePIN project Grass has successfully completed $10 million in bridge financing, with participation from notable investors such as Polychain and Tribe Capital. This funding marks a continuation of support from Polychain, which has previously invested in Grass during its seed and Series A rounds. Furthermore, ZKsync has launched the Atlas upgrade for its ZK Stack, aimed at enhancing enterprise blockchain performance. This upgrade introduces a high-performance sequencer capable of processing up to 30,000 transactions per second, significantly improving efficiency for enterprise applications. On the regulatory front, the Federal Reserve's monetary policy remains a focal point, with a high probability of rate cuts anticipated in the coming months. Fed Governor Milan has expressed concerns regarding the decline in the neutral rate and its implications for policy tightening, while also maintaining an optimistic outlook on inflation. Meanwhile, Nakamoto plans to issue $250 million in convertible bonds to bolster its Bitcoin holdings, reflecting ongoing interest in cryptocurrency investments amid evolving market conditions.

Bee Maps, a decentralized mapping startup previously known as Hivemapper, has successfully raised $32 million to enhance its blockchain-based cartography network. The funding round was led by prominent investors including Pantera Capital, LDA Capital, Borderless Capital, and Ajna Capital, marking it as one of the largest in the Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Network (DePIN) sector. The platform incentivizes users with HONEY tokens for capturing real-world footage via Bee Dashcams, which is then processed by AI to identify roadwork, new signage, and infrastructure modifications. This decentralized approach aims to deliver more accurate and diverse geographical data compared to traditional centralized systems, as highlighted by a spokesperson from Pantera Capital. In its next phase, Bee Maps is focusing on accessibility by introducing a new $19 monthly Bee Membership Plan, which replaces the previous hardware fee of $589. This strategic move is expected to significantly increase user participation by lowering the barrier to entry for contributors. The platform has already secured data and integration partnerships with major players such as Volkswagen, Lyft, and Mapbox, allowing its live mapping feeds to be utilized in navigation tools and AI training models. As the DePIN sector continues to thrive, Bee Maps is positioned to capitalize on the growing demand for real-time, precise data in various industries. In a related development, the DePIN market is witnessing a surge, with a reported 28% increase in on-chain activity since July. Solana has emerged as the second most active blockchain for DePIN projects, following Ethereum. Meanwhile, the launch of Snorter, a new token and Telegram sniper bot, is gaining attention for its speed and efficiency in automating trades. Analysts from 99Bitcoins suggest that such utility bots could signal the next phase of the crypto bull market, particularly as they help users navigate the increasingly complex landscape of tokenized infrastructure projects. As the market evolves, both Bee Maps and Snorter are poised to play significant roles in shaping the future of decentralized applications and infrastructure.