Latest DePIN News

The Theta ecosystem is witnessing significant advancements as it gains traction across various sectors, including sports, media, academia, and AI startups. The September Roundup highlights a series of exciting developments, showcasing the platform's versatility and growing adoption. Notably, Major League Soccer's Philadelphia Union has launched a new app that features an EdgeCloud-powered RAG chatbot, enhancing fan engagement through innovative technology. Additionally, academic institutions such as SeoulTech and Emory University have signed on to utilize Theta EdgeCloud, further expanding its reach in educational settings. The Theta community recently gathered in Berlin for the annual ThetaEuroCon and BlockJam hackathon, fostering collaboration and innovation among developers and enthusiasts. The platform was also prominently featured at Korea Blockchain Week, where events like Aethir deAI Day and the IoTeX DePin + Real-World AI event showcased its capabilities in integrating blockchain with real-world applications. Furthermore, the development of EdgeCloud continues to progress, with new integrations of advanced AI technologies such as Google Gemini 2.5 Pro and xAI Grok4, indicating a commitment to staying at the forefront of technological advancements. In addition to these developments, the Theta team has released Version 1.2 of the Theta Edge Node for Android and upgraded the Theta Android Wallet to v5.3.0. A notable partnership has been initiated with Olympique de Marseille at the Orange Velodrome stadium, signaling the platform's entry into the sports arena. As Q4 approaches, the Theta Network is poised for more exciting announcements and developments, making it a key player in the blockchain space.

In a groundbreaking collaboration, the Berkeley Environmental Air Quality and CO₂ Network (BEACO2N) has partnered with WeatherXM to enhance urban emissions monitoring in the San Francisco Bay Area. Urban areas are significant contributors to global greenhouse gas emissions, yet understanding their variability remains a challenge. BEACO2N has been at the forefront of providing dense, low-cost air quality monitoring, but the lack of high-resolution weather data has hindered the interpretation of emissions dispersion at the neighborhood level. This partnership aims to fill that gap, offering researchers and policymakers a clearer view of urban emissions, air quality, and environmental justice issues. The challenge lies in the absence of fine-grained meteorological data that complements BEACO2N's continuous monitoring of pollutants like CO₂, CO, O₃, and NOₓ. Conventional weather networks often overlook vulnerable neighborhoods, leading to a lack of crucial data for emissions inventories and public health alerts. In cities like San Francisco, where complex wind flows and microclimates interact with traffic and industrial zones, understanding pollution patterns without weather context is nearly impossible. WeatherXM addresses this issue by deploying a decentralized network of community-powered weather stations, providing real-time data on temperature, humidity, and wind conditions, which are essential for interpreting pollutant behavior. The integration of WeatherXM’s meteorological data with BEACO2N’s air quality monitoring creates a multidimensional perspective on urban emissions. This synergy allows researchers to analyze how pollutants accumulate or disperse due to various factors, including local heat islands and traffic patterns. The decentralized nature of WeatherXM also facilitates rapid data transmission, enabling public health officials to respond swiftly to transient pollution events, such as wildfire smoke. This collaboration not only enhances scientific understanding and public health responses but also empowers local governments and communities with actionable data, paving the way for smarter, more equitable urban planning and climate policies. As cities worldwide face climate and air quality challenges, this case study serves as a blueprint for integrating community-level meteorological and atmospheric data to foster resilience and justice in urban environments.

In a recent analysis by Phoenix Group and LunarCrush, Chainlink (LINK) has emerged as the leader in social engagement among decentralized physical infrastructure network (DePIN) projects. With a remarkable 15,200 engaged posts and 3.6 million interactions within a 24-hour period, Chainlink significantly outperformed its competitors, showcasing a vibrant community discussion around its protocol. This high level of engagement not only cements Chainlink's position at the top but also reflects the growing interest in decentralized infrastructure solutions. Following Chainlink, Bittensor (TAO) secured the second position with 9,700 posts and 876,800 interactions, indicating strong community momentum despite being far behind Chainlink. The Internet Computer Protocol (ICP) rounded out the top three with 4,200 posts and 300,600 interactions, demonstrating steady traction among its user base. Other notable projects like Arthera (ATH), which recorded 3,000 posts and 475,700 interactions, also showed significant community response, highlighting the diverse engagement levels across the DePIN landscape. The rankings also featured smaller projects such as Grass and Dione, which, despite lower posting activity, managed to attract considerable interactions, indicating a growing interest in emerging networks. The data underscores a trend where social metrics are becoming essential indicators of project momentum, as they reflect how well these projects resonate with their communities. As the DePIN sector continues to evolve, the increasing engagement from both established and emerging tokens suggests a vibrant future for decentralized infrastructure initiatives.

At the recent Token2049 Singapore event, a significant milestone was achieved in the realm of artificial intelligence with the launch of the Real-World AI Foundry. This initiative, spearheaded by IoTeX and a coalition of leading partners, aims to create an open ecosystem dedicated to developing Real-World Models (RWMs). Unlike traditional AI systems that rely on static historical data, RWMs are designed to utilize live, verified data from various sources such as machines, sensors, and people. This innovative approach promises AI that not only predicts outcomes but also perceives, adapts, and acts responsibly in real-world scenarios. The Real-World AI Foundry is supported by a diverse group of Alignment Partners, including notable names like Vodafone, Blockchain Association, and Filecoin, among others. These partners are committed to establishing shared standards for Real-World AI, focusing on governance, data standards, and deployment frameworks. The initiative is guided by three core principles: grounded in verified data, open to contributions from anyone, and human-centered to ensure accountability and societal benefits. This collaborative effort aims to create RWMs that evolve continuously with real-time data, making them essential for industries where accuracy and adaptability are crucial. As AI technology increasingly integrates into critical sectors, the need for dynamic and trustworthy systems has never been more pressing. Raullen Chai, Co-Founder and CEO of IoTeX, emphasized that AI must transition from static predictions to dynamic actions that are rooted in reality. The Real-World AI Foundry represents a collective endeavor to bridge this gap, fostering collaboration among data providers, infrastructure operators, and researchers. By doing so, it aims to accelerate innovation and create universally trusted AI solutions that align with human values and needs, marking the dawn of a new era in artificial intelligence.

In the latest update from Titan, significant progress has been made across various initiatives, including the completion of Phases 1 and 2 of the IP Leasing incentive campaign, which distributed a total of $28,000 USDC to legitimate contributors. The campaign has undergone rigorous audits to eliminate fraudulent activities, ensuring transparency and fairness. Phase 3 commenced on September 26, featuring a $15,000 USDC challenge with two tracks aimed at Promoters and Node Operators, further incentivizing community engagement. Additionally, Titan secured $150,000 from Filecoin ProPGF to advance the SP Bandwidth project, reinforcing its commitment to innovation and growth in the blockchain space. On the product development front, Titan has made strides in its testnet and tokenomics, implementing immediate fixes on August 28 to stabilize the market. These adjustments include a temporary reduction in staking APR and a new revenue split model that benefits operators. The team is also in the final stages of testnet development, focusing on sustainability and real revenue generation before the mainnet launch. The decision to migrate to a major Ethereum Layer 2 solution is strategic, aimed at enhancing interoperability and liquidity while ensuring thorough end-to-end testing of the platform. Partnerships have also been a focal point, with a new collaboration with Cloudflare announced at the #CloudflareImmerse event in Guangzhou. This partnership aims to optimize resource orchestration and enhance service delivery across the APAC region. Furthermore, Titan has upgraded its customer service with the introduction of the Titan AI Assistant, ensuring prompt support for users. As the team prepares for the mainnet launch, they are committed to maintaining transparency and community engagement, with several upcoming events and initiatives designed to foster growth and innovation in the blockchain ecosystem.

On October 2nd, the crypto landscape witnessed a significant event with the launch of DoubleZero's mainnet beta version and the simultaneous listing of its native token, 2Z, on major exchanges such as Binance, Bybit, and Upbit. This unprecedented speed in listing led to a remarkable market response, with 2Z's trading volume surpassing $1.4 billion within 24 hours and its market capitalization soaring to over $2 billion, placing it among the top 100 crypto assets. The project received notable backing from the Solana ecosystem, including a historic "No-Action Letter" from the U.S. SEC, which confirmed that the distribution of 2Z did not require registration as a security, alleviating compliance concerns for exchanges. DoubleZero's founding team is composed of industry veterans, including Austin Federa, co-founder and CEO, who previously played a pivotal role at the Solana Foundation. This strong leadership, combined with a unique narrative that introduces a new protocol category called "N1" (Network 1), positions DoubleZero strategically within the blockchain space. The N1 protocol aims to create a dedicated high-speed network for existing blockchain networks, avoiding competition with traditional Layer 1 and Layer 2 protocols. This innovative approach not only targets the crypto sector but also has potential applications in various fields requiring distributed networks, such as content delivery and real-time gaming. Despite its promising launch, DoubleZero faces challenges in maintaining market momentum. The token's price has struggled to sustain growth post-launch, partly due to its high initial valuation and the absence of a community airdrop, which has led to criticism regarding its perceived disconnect from retail investors. The project's focus on institutional-level infrastructure may limit broader consumer engagement, making it more appealing to businesses rather than individual users. As DoubleZero continues to develop its B2B operations, its long-term success will hinge on its ability to bridge the gap between institutional and consumer markets, ensuring that it can maintain relevance in the evolving crypto landscape.

In the evolving landscape of cryptocurrency, regulatory frameworks play a pivotal role in determining the success of various projects. As the U.S. moves towards clearer regulations under the leadership of Donald Trump in 2025, decentralized finance (DeFi) and tokenization initiatives are gaining traction, particularly through the GENIUS Act. A notable development in this space is the rise of decentralized physical infrastructure networks (DePin), which have amassed over $16.9 billion in assets, with projects like Bittensor, Render, and Filecoin emerging as frontrunners. Solana, in particular, is becoming a hub for many DePin projects, which could significantly shape the future of the sector due to recent regulatory advancements. At the forefront of these developments is DoubleZero, a DePin platform focused on enhancing Solana's scalability by optimizing data transfer between validators. The platform aims to achieve an impressive throughput of 1 million transactions per second (TPS) by leveraging underutilized private fiber-optic links. DoubleZero's commitment to regulatory compliance was underscored when the SEC issued a no-action letter on September 29, 2025, effectively approving the programmatic distribution of its 2Z tokens. This letter indicates that the SEC will not pursue enforcement actions against DoubleZero, provided the token functions solely as a utility and does not qualify as a security under the Howey Test. The SEC's no-action letter has been met with enthusiasm within the crypto community, as it sets a precedent for future projects seeking regulatory clarity. Legal experts view this as a significant milestone that could facilitate compliant token distributions in the U.S. Crypto-friendly SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce has expressed optimism about this guidance, suggesting it allows for further innovation in the sector. The positive reception of this ruling is echoed by Helium, a decentralized wireless network, which sees it as a victory for DePin initiatives. As the regulatory landscape continues to evolve, the implications of these developments for platforms like DoubleZero and Helium could foster a new wave of innovation in the crypto space.

In a significant advancement for weather monitoring and disaster preparedness, WeatherXM, a decentralized weather network, has partnered with DePIN South Africa to deploy 320 hyperlocal weather stations across various regions in South Africa within just 90 days. This initiative aims to provide municipalities, utilities, and businesses with accurate, audited street-level weather observations, transforming unpredictable weather patterns into actionable data. The deployment is particularly crucial given South Africa's climate challenges, which include flash floods, heatwaves, and droughts that strain essential services and infrastructure. The WeatherXM and DePIN SA collaboration focuses on integrating weather stations into a grassroots network that spans rooftops, masts, and community locations, especially in flood-prone and agricultural areas. Local teams conducted thorough assessments to ensure optimal placement and functionality of the stations, which utilize WeatherXM’s Proof-of-Quality method for calibration and telemetry. Once operational, the data collected is routed to WeatherXM’s APIs and Pro dashboards, allowing real-time monitoring by municipal teams, logistics operators, and insurers to enhance their operational readiness and response strategies. As the network transitions to daily use, the impact of these hyperlocal observations is already evident. Public sector teams are leveraging local rainfall and heat data to improve planning and coordination for flood and heat events. Energy and utility operators are using the information to anticipate outages and maintain grid stability, while insurers are incorporating these observations into parametric triggers, streamlining claims processes. This innovative approach underscores the importance of ground-truth data in decision-making, with WeatherXM's CEO emphasizing the need for rapid rollouts and measurable results to enhance resilience in the face of climate unpredictability.

Aethir, a leading provider of decentralized AI compute, has announced a significant partnership with Predictive Oncology, a pioneer in AI-driven drug discovery. This collaboration will see Predictive Oncology amass a strategic compute reserve of $344.4 million, specifically designed to acquire and stake ATH, Aethir's network token. The initiative, led by DNA Fund and supported by BTIG, marks a groundbreaking moment as it is the first instance of a Nasdaq-listed company actively managing tokens from a decentralized physical infrastructure network. This move aims to address the GPU shortage that has been hampering scientific advancements across various fields, including pharmaceutical research and climate modeling. The partnership is expected to enhance Predictive Oncology's capabilities in training AI models that analyze extensive genomic and patient datasets. The high costs and limited availability of centralized cloud providers have made it difficult for companies in oncology to access the necessary high-performance compute resources. Raymond Vennare, CEO of Predictive Oncology, emphasized that this partnership not only solidifies their core business but also opens up new growth opportunities through their digital asset treasury strategy. DNA Holdings Venture, Inc. will act as the strategic advisor for this initiative, connecting institutional capital with Aethir's GPU infrastructure. Aethir's decentralized marketplace is designed to source and manage enterprise-grade GPU supply, offering significant cost savings compared to traditional providers. With over $150 million in verifiable annual recurring revenue, Aethir has already delivered 1.16 billion compute hours, demonstrating its capacity to drive faster AI innovation and democratize access to GPU resources. By accumulating and staking ATH, Predictive Oncology aims to bolster the security and decentralization of the Aethir network, allowing institutional investors to engage in its growth without direct token custody. This partnership not only highlights the potential of decentralized infrastructure in AI but also sets a precedent for future collaborations in the field.

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has issued a significant "no action" letter regarding the DEPIN (decentralized physical infrastructure networks) sector, specifically addressing the distribution of Double Zero's 2Z token. This letter indicates that the SEC will not pursue enforcement actions against the token's distribution, affirming that the programmatic transfers described do not fall under the registration requirements of Section 5 of the Securities Act. This clarity is expected to encourage participation in DEPIN networks without the looming concern of regulatory repercussions. Double Zero operates a low-latency DEPIN that utilizes underutilized physical fiber to enhance blockchain performance by mitigating traditional network frictions. In exchange for their contributions, participants in the network will receive the 2Z token. SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce emphasized that DEPIN tokens should be viewed as incentives rather than investment contracts, suggesting that classifying them as securities could hinder the growth of decentralized service networks. This perspective aligns with the SEC's recent trend of categorizing certain crypto tokens as non-securities, which has positively impacted market sentiment. Following the SEC's announcement, the DEPIN sector experienced a notable surge, with the overall market size increasing by 3% to reach $34 billion. Several projects, including Zebec Network, Helium IOT, and Dynex, saw significant gains, reflecting the optimism surrounding regulatory clarity. This marks the third instance where the SEC has classified a category of crypto tokens as non-securities, following similar decisions for proof-of-work and proof-of-stake systems earlier this year. As Double Zero prepares to transition from testnet to mainnet, the regulatory environment appears increasingly favorable for DEPIN initiatives.