Latest DePIN News

Seoul, South Korea, is set to host the AI DePIN RWA Day during the Korea Blockchain Week 2025 on September 25, 2025. This four-hour event, running from 10 AM to 2 PM, aims to unite builders, investors, and innovators who are at the forefront of decentralized technologies. The event is strategically aligned with KBW Asia's premier blockchain conference, focusing on three transformative verticals in Web3: Artificial Intelligence (AI), Decentralized Physical Infrastructure (DePIN), and Real-World Assets (RWA). This convergence promises to showcase the latest advancements and insights in these rapidly evolving fields. The event is hosted by prominent organizations including Io.net, FailSafe, and ForkOff. Io.net is recognized as a leading decentralized GPU network that provides scalable infrastructure for AI and blockchain applications. FailSafe, backed by Sequoia and Dragonfly Capital, specializes in security services for blockchain companies, offering audits and risk monitoring. ForkOff, a culture studio, focuses on amplifying narratives and creating impactful experiences within the blockchain ecosystem. Together, these hosts represent critical pillars of Web3, emphasizing security, infrastructure, and culture. Attendees can expect a rich agenda featuring keynotes and discussions that delve into how AI, DePIN, and RWA are reshaping infrastructure and finance. There will also be opportunities for networking among investors, developers, and operators, fostering a collaborative atmosphere. With strategic partnerships from Taiko, Tectonic, Sogni Protocol, and Camp Network, the AI DePIN RWA Day aims to promote mainstream adoption and cultural integration within the Web3 space, making it a highlight of the Korea Blockchain Week 2025.

Helium has emerged as a frontrunner in the Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Network (DePIN) sector, particularly following its recent partnership with the Solana Seeker mobile phone. This collaboration has significantly boosted Helium's fee generation, contributing to a remarkable increase in overall activity within the DePIN space. Over the past month, the sector has seen fees reach unprecedented levels, with Helium alone generating between $330,000 and $370,000 weekly, which constitutes approximately 60% of the average fee income across the market. In addition to Helium, other notable players in the DePIN sector include Geonet, Akash Network, and Hivemapper, which collectively account for about $181,000 in fees, representing 32% of the total fees produced in the last week. Despite this surge in activity and fee generation, the performance of DePIN project tokens has been disappointing. Leading tokens from projects such as Render, Filecoin, and Helium have experienced declines ranging from 40% to 70% over the past year, indicating a significant disconnect between the operational success of these projects and their market valuations. The contrasting trends in fee generation and token performance highlight the challenges faced by the DePIN sector. While the infrastructure and usage of decentralized networks are growing, the market sentiment surrounding these tokens remains bearish. This situation raises questions about the future of DePIN projects and their ability to translate operational success into positive market performance, as investors remain cautious amidst ongoing volatility in the cryptocurrency landscape.

Theta Network continues to set the standard in decentralized streaming with its innovative dual-token model. THETA serves as the governance and staking token, while TFUEL is utilized for content delivery. This system enables users to contribute their bandwidth and computing resources through Edge Nodes, earning rewards in return. By decentralizing infrastructure demands, Theta not only reduces costs for platforms but also enhances efficiency compared to traditional centralized Content Delivery Networks (CDNs). The project has garnered significant partnerships with major companies like Samsung and Sony, further solidifying its position as a leader in blockchain-based media infrastructure. By 2025, Theta's technology is expected to extend beyond video streaming, incorporating gaming, virtual reality, and artificial intelligence workloads. In contrast, XRP Tundra has introduced a presale model that emphasizes clarity and utility for investors. Buyers can purchase TUNDRA-S tokens on the Solana blockchain at a price of $0.01, receiving a complimentary allocation of TUNDRA-X tokens on the XRP Ledger, which serve as governance and reserve tokens. This presale is notable for its transparency, with fixed launch prices set at $2.50 for TUNDRA-S and $1.25 for TUNDRA-X. By dedicating 40% of the TUNDRA-S supply to presale buyers, participants can secure a substantial share of the ecosystem prior to secondary market listings, a rarity in the current presale landscape. Both Theta and XRP Tundra utilize dual-token systems, albeit for different purposes. Theta focuses on decentralized video delivery and partnerships with major media companies, while XRP Tundra is centered around presale economics and yield generation for XRP holders. Each project highlights the versatility of dual-token models, showcasing their application in distinct sectors—entertainment infrastructure versus financial utility. For investors, the choice between these two projects reflects a broader decision about sector engagement, illustrating how blockchain innovation can create new value in diverse markets.

Bittensor (TAO) and Ethereum (ETH) are at the forefront of discussions among market analysts, with both cryptocurrencies showing promising potential for growth. Bittensor has set ambitious targets, with predictions suggesting a possible rise to $1000, driven by its AI-focused blockchain framework. Analysts highlight the importance of decentralized intelligence markets and increasing adoption as key factors that could help TAO reach this milestone. Currently, TAO is consolidating around strong support levels, indicating steady accumulation, although volatility remains a concern. For Bittensor to realize its ambitious projections, broader adoption and participation from larger players will be crucial. Ethereum, on the other hand, continues to maintain its central role in the cryptocurrency market. Recent analysis indicates that ETH has remained stable at critical levels, with the potential for a bullish breakout if it surpasses the $4,600 mark. The increasing inflow of ETFs and a burgeoning DeFi sector are contributing to Ethereum's resilience. On-chain activity is also supportive, with a rise in active addresses and strong staking demand. However, analysts warn that a significant upward movement will require robust trading volumes, particularly above $4,700, to sustain momentum into 2025. Meanwhile, BlockDAG (BDAG) is making strides in the presale space, having raised nearly $410 million and demonstrating real adoption through the delivery of over 19,900 miner units. With a presale price fixed at $0.0013 until October 1, BlockDAG is positioning itself as a strong contender in the market. Its infrastructure and community support are evident, with features that enhance transparency and engagement. As the project prepares for its exchange launch, its focus on tangible progress sets it apart from more speculative ventures, making it a noteworthy option for investors looking to buy and mine in 2025.

CUDOS is launching an early access program that offers builders the chance to gain rewards, compute credits, and priority access to their new platform. With the deadline approaching on September 23rd, this initiative invites developers to be among the first to deploy on the platform. Participants can earn over $100,000 in rewards, including inference credits and FET token rewards based on their usage in the first three months after launch. The rewards structure is tiered, with the top 1,000 verified users on the leaderboard receiving varying amounts of credits, encouraging early adoption and engagement. The early access program is designed to provide users with significant benefits, including GPU inference from day one and the ability to climb the leaderboard through referrals. Users can earn FET tokens by spending on the platform, with additional bonuses for those already in the top 100. CUDOS is also incentivizing community involvement by offering a pool of $500 in FET to five winners who share their referral links on social media. This initiative aims to foster a sense of community and reward participation in the CUDOS ecosystem. To join the early access program, users need to verify their email and can boost their leaderboard position by referring others. The platform promises a seamless experience for early adopters, allowing them to deploy next-gen models without the usual bottlenecks. As the launch date approaches, CUDOS encourages interested parties to secure their spot and take advantage of the rewards available, emphasizing the importance of building a decentralized future for compute resources.

On September 18, 2025, Spheron Network, a decentralized compute infrastructure firm, announced a strategic partnership with Hivello, a leading DePIN management entity. This collaboration aims to merge Spheron's decentralized CPU and GPU infrastructure with Hivello's onboarding solutions, facilitating easier access for individuals to join the DePIN ecosystem and monetize their idle resources. The partnership is designed to create a community-led financial sector within DePIN, moving away from traditional corporate control and promoting a more decentralized approach. The focus of the Spheron and Hivello partnership is on scaling the DePIN supply while enhancing earning opportunities for users. By prioritizing scalability and accessibility, the collaboration seeks to attract a larger user base into the decentralized infrastructure realm. Hivello's consumer-friendly solutions are expected to lower the barriers to entry, allowing more individuals to participate. Meanwhile, Spheron provides robust CPU and GPU infrastructure tailored for Web3 and AI workloads, ensuring that the necessary resources are available to support this growing ecosystem. This partnership is anticipated to address significant bottlenecks in resource supply, which have hindered broader DePIN adoption. Hivello's onboarding solutions will facilitate the integration of new users, while Spheron guarantees the reliability of its infrastructure. Together, this synergy is poised to empower active contributors and expand the decentralized computing power available for Web3, AI, and various blockchain applications, ultimately strengthening the DePIN landscape.

Chainlink has recently joined the Aethir AI Unbundled Alliance, marking a significant milestone in the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) within the decentralized Web3 ecosystem. This partnership aims to leverage Chainlink's robust infrastructure and verifiable execution capabilities to enhance the development of decentralized AI applications. The Chainlink Runtime Environment (CRE) plays a pivotal role in this initiative, providing developers with early access to create secure cross-chain AI workflows. With Chainlink's network of oracles guaranteeing over $25 trillion in on-chain value, it serves as a foundational element for the burgeoning AI-based Web3 applications. The Aethir AI Unbundled Alliance consists of more than 20 partners focused on building the infrastructure necessary for decentralized AI. Chainlink's involvement introduces trust-minimized data and decentralized execution, which are critical for the successful deployment of AI technologies in Web3. The CRE supports various functionalities, including automation, programmable triggers, and off-chain data retrieval, enabling developers to construct verifiable workflows that span across multiple blockchains and legacy systems. This integration is essential for realizing the full potential of AI-powered applications in the decentralized landscape. As part of the alliance, developers will benefit from access to decentralized GPU computing resources, grants, and promotional opportunities. Chainlink's infrastructure complements Aethir's GPU backbone, facilitating efficient and secure execution of compute-intensive AI workloads. This collaboration not only enhances the scalability of AI implementations but also ensures that the outputs generated by AI agents are verifiable and trustworthy. With the increasing convergence of AI, decentralized finance (DeFi), and real-world asset tokenization, Chainlink is positioning itself at the forefront of this transformative movement, laying the groundwork for the future of decentralized intelligence in Web3.

Seoul National University of Science and Technology (SeoulTech) has recently joined Theta's academic partner network, adopting the Theta EdgeCloud Hybrid platform to enhance its research capabilities. The BrAIn Lab, led by Assistant Professor Seong-Eun Kim, focuses on pioneering research at the intersection of neuroscience, biomedical engineering, and artificial intelligence. Their work includes advanced signal processing, biometrics, and neural engineering, with applications in medical device development and AI techniques for detecting health anomalies. The lab's innovative approach has garnered international recognition, with recent publications accepted at prestigious conferences and awards for their contributions to the field. The Theta EdgeCloud Hybrid platform is described as the world's first decentralized hybrid GPU solution, integrating thousands of community-run NVIDIA GPUs alongside enterprise-grade A100 and H100 GPUs, as well as AWS's advanced AI chips. This unique combination allows researchers at SeoulTech to conduct a wide range of experiments, from lightweight anomaly detection to extensive deep learning models. Prof. Seong-Eun Kim emphasized that this flexibility accelerates their research in brain-inspired AI and medical diagnostics, while eliminating infrastructure bottlenecks that often hinder innovation. Mitch Liu, CEO and Co-Founder of Theta Labs, expressed excitement about the collaboration, highlighting that the hybrid GPU platform is the largest of its kind, capable of supporting both community and enterprise-level computing needs. This partnership not only enhances SeoulTech's research capabilities but also positions the institution as a leader in brain-inspired AI, neural signal processing, and biomedical innovation. Founded in 1910, SeoulTech has established itself as a premier institution in Korea, focusing on engineering and technology-driven research, with a strong emphasis on practical education and impactful scientific advancements.

In 2025, Solana has experienced a remarkable rebound, surging 132% after a tumultuous start to the year. Initially trading above $200, the token faced a steep decline of over 60% within four months, raising doubts about its recovery. However, the summer brought a turnaround, with SOL now trading around $236, despite a minor dip of under 4% recently. The bullish sentiment is supported by strong technical indicators, including favorable moving averages and capital inflows, highlighting a resurgence in investor confidence. The underlying fundamentals of Solana's network are equally impressive. Daily user activity remains robust, with monthly active addresses exceeding 90 million, indicating genuine adoption rather than mere speculation. The network has set a new record by processing over 2,300 transactions per second in 2025, showcasing its scalability. The DeFi sector has also thrived, with Total Value Locked (TVL) reaching an all-time high of $7.8 billion in May, reflecting a 105% year-over-year increase. This growth signifies that investors are increasingly willing to lock their capital within Solana's ecosystem. To address past reliability issues, the Firedancer upgrade is set to enhance Solana's stability and performance. This new validator client, developed by Jump Crypto, aims to eliminate single points of failure and can handle up to 100,000 transactions per second. Additionally, institutional interest is on the rise, with public companies holding approximately $600 million in SOL and several firms filing for a spot Solana ETF. While the SEC's decision on these applications is pending, optimism remains high, suggesting that a successful ETF launch could significantly boost institutional demand for Solana, similar to the impact seen with Bitcoin ETFs earlier this year.

Filecoin and Akave Cloud have announced the launch of an S3-compatible object storage service aimed at facilitating the migration of enterprises and decentralized physical infrastructure networks (DePIN) to blockchain-based storage solutions. This initiative addresses a significant hurdle for organizations, which is the high cost and complexity associated with transitioning from traditional centralized cloud providers like Amazon Web Services and Google Cloud. By ensuring compatibility with S3 application APIs, Akave Cloud enables businesses to adopt decentralized storage without the need for extensive system overhauls. The new platform integrates Filecoin’s Proof-of-Replication, which ensures the integrity of stored archives, with a novel Proof of Data Possession mechanism that guarantees immediate access to frequently used data. This dual-layer approach caters to both archival and active data needs, supporting regulated backups as well as real-time applications such as artificial intelligence training and analytics. Furthermore, all storage operations are recorded on-chain, enhancing auditability and compliance for organizations navigating regulatory landscapes. As decentralized storage networks strive to distinguish themselves from centralized hyperscalers, this development highlights the importance of cryptographic security and regulatory compliance. Akave identifies four key motivators for enterprises considering migration: reduced storage costs, seamless integration with existing cloud tools, on-chain audit trails, and data sovereignty. The system utilizes encrypted, erasure-coded storage designed to achieve exceptional durability, aiming for “11 nines” of reliability. This strategic move by Filecoin and Akave is expected to broaden institutional adoption of decentralized storage solutions, marking a significant step forward in the evolution of cloud services in the blockchain space.