Latest DePIN News

The decentralized physical infrastructure network (DePIN) sector has faced significant challenges in scaling adoption due to high hardware costs and technical complexities. Helium Plus, the latest innovation from the Helium Network, addresses these issues by allowing users to participate using existing Wi-Fi routers, eliminating the need for additional hardware. This approach not only reduces upfront costs for businesses and public Wi-Fi providers but also simplifies the onboarding process, making it accessible to a broader audience. With Helium Plus, any location with Wi-Fi can become a Helium access point, significantly enhancing the utility of its native token, HNT, and accelerating network growth. Traditional DePIN models, like those used by Filecoin or Arweave, require participants to invest in specialized hardware and technical expertise, creating barriers that limit participation. Helium Plus disrupts this paradigm by monetizing excess bandwidth through a zero-hardware approach. The implications are substantial, as evidenced by the Helium Network's impressive data transfer statistics, which saw a 138.6% quarter-over-quarter increase in offloaded data. With access to 2.3 billion Wi-Fi hotspots globally, Helium Plus is set to further accelerate this growth trajectory, increasing the demand for HNT tokens and enhancing their liquidity. Strategic partnerships with telecom giants such as AT&T and Telefónica's Movistar in Mexico lend institutional credibility to Helium's community-driven model, improving connectivity in underserved regions. For investors, Helium Plus presents a compelling opportunity, as it lowers barriers to entry and taps into underutilized infrastructure. The HNT token's role in governance and its alignment with network usage positions it as a long-term store of value. As the DePIN sector evolves, Helium Plus stands out as a blueprint for future accessibility and scalability, making it an attractive investment for those looking to engage with a project that is redefining industry standards.

Theta Network is making significant strides in expanding its presence in the U.S. by partnering with Syracuse University, which has adopted the Theta EdgeCloud Hybrid platform for AI research. This collaboration is spearheaded by Assistant Professor Junzhe Zhang, who specializes in causal inference theory and its applications in artificial intelligence, reinforcement learning, and machine learning. The partnership comes shortly after Theta's strategic alliance with Crypto.com, which has staked 15 million THETA tokens to Theta's Enterprise Validator Node, enhancing secure asset management and institutional access to THETA and TFUEL tokens. Professor Zhang, a Tenure-Track Assistant Professor at Syracuse University, has a distinguished background, having previously worked at Columbia University's Causal AI Lab. His research focuses on developing robust decision-making systems that can handle biased or incomplete data. The Theta EdgeCloud Hybrid platform, which combines community-run GPUs with high-performance options, provides the necessary infrastructure for his lab to conduct large-scale experiments efficiently. Professor Zhang emphasized that Theta's unique decentralized hybrid GPU infrastructure allows for flexibility and scalability in their AI research, which is crucial for advancing their work in causal reinforcement learning. With Syracuse University becoming the 24th academic institution to integrate Theta EdgeCloud Hybrid, Theta Network is solidifying its position in the U.S. AI research ecosystem. Other notable institutions include Stanford University and the University of Oregon. The hybrid GPU platform enables researchers to perform various AI tasks, including training large language models and conducting simulations, all while reducing costs and setup times compared to traditional cloud providers. Mitch Liu, CEO of Theta Labs, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership with Syracuse University and Crypto.com, highlighting the importance of these collaborations in expanding Theta's footprint in both AI research and institutional infrastructure across the United States.

The artificial intelligence cryptocurrency sector is witnessing significant growth as various blockchain projects increasingly integrate machine learning technologies into their platforms. A notable development in this space is the formation of the Artificial Superintelligence Alliance, resulting from the merger of three established platforms: Fetch.ai, SingularityNET, and Ocean Protocol. This alliance aims to create the most powerful decentralized AI network, focusing on AI services, data marketplaces, and autonomous agents. By combining their resources, the three projects intend to enhance their ecosystem presence and develop a comprehensive roadmap for future advancements. Bittensor is another key player in this sector, operating a decentralized neural network that rewards users for training AI models. This innovative approach creates data science marketplaces and facilitates collaborative model training, allowing users to contribute to decentralized decision-making processes. Unlike traditional centralized AI training methods, Bittensor distributes computational work across multiple participants, fostering growth in the decentralized machine learning sector. Additionally, Near Protocol offers a developer-friendly blockchain with advanced consensus mechanisms, supporting real-time transaction speeds essential for AI applications and enabling developers to build scalable smart contracts and AI-powered decentralized applications. In the financial domain, Numeraire powers Numerai, a hedge fund utilizing AI for stock market predictions, employing global data scientists to create predictive models. These scientists stake NMR tokens and receive rewards for their accuracy, merging crowd-sourced intelligence with financial incentives. Render Network addresses the computational demands of AI processing by leveraging idle GPU power worldwide, supporting distributed rendering for AI graphics and deep learning applications. As the AI cryptocurrency market continues to grow, new projects emerge, focusing on various applications, from gaming to cloud computing, while also facing typical cryptocurrency volatility and regulatory uncertainties.

Helium, a prominent player in the Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Networks (DePIN) space on Solana, has announced the launch of a new service called Helium Plus. This innovative service is designed to transform how businesses contribute to the Helium Network by allowing public Wi-Fi providers and enterprises to join the network using their existing Wi-Fi routers. This eliminates the need for additional hardware, thus making it easier for users and businesses to earn the network's native token, HNT, by supporting wireless connectivity and participating in a community-driven mobile infrastructure. DePIN systems leverage blockchain technology to incentivize individuals and organizations to deploy and maintain real-world infrastructure, such as wireless networks, by rewarding them with cryptocurrency tokens. Helium's focus is on decentralized wireless connectivity, where users can provide network coverage through their own deployed “Hotspots.” Participants earn HNT tokens by facilitating mobile data transfer and enhancing network availability. Traditionally, joining the Helium ecosystem required users to invest in physical Hotspot devices, which involved both upfront costs and technical setup. Helium Plus simplifies this process significantly. According to Mario Di Dio, Network General Manager at Helium, Helium Plus marks a significant advancement in how businesses can engage with the Helium Network. The service offers instant and low-cost wireless integration, which reduces infrastructure expenses while simultaneously creating new revenue opportunities and enhancing connectivity. The ease of integrating existing Wi-Fi routers into the Helium Network is crucial for unlocking the full potential of this expansion, making it more accessible for users who wish to participate in the decentralized network model.

Pipe Network, a decentralized infrastructure project built on the Solana blockchain, has launched its Firestarter Storage protocol, aiming to compete with centralized cloud storage and content delivery networks (CDNs) like Cloudflare’s R2. This innovative protocol utilizes a global network of nodes to deliver content with remarkably low latency, reportedly as low as 5 milliseconds. The internal use of Firestarter Storage for hosting Solana’s Proof-of-History archival datasets and regular network snapshots demonstrates its technical viability and sets the stage for a broader application in decentralized data storage. Central to the Firestarter Storage model is its native token, $PIPE. Users must burn $PIPE tokens to access the network and earn data credits, creating a unique incentive mechanism that mirrors those found in other decentralized infrastructure projects within the Solana ecosystem, such as Helium and Hivemapper. The pricing for storage in the Firestarter protocol starts at 1 $PIPE per gigabyte, although the timeline for the token genesis event (TGE) has yet to be announced. The $PIPE token will be launched through the Metaplex Genesis protocol, which has been successfully utilized by other projects in the past. In a significant development, a recent token sale on Coinlist raised $300 million worth of $PIPE, accounting for 3% of the total supply. This sale offered two vesting schedules, with immediate unlocks at a fully diluted valuation (FDV) of $250 million and a one-year vesting option at an FDV of $200 million. As interest in decentralized infrastructure solutions grows, particularly those leveraging the Solana ecosystem, the upcoming public launch of Firestarter Storage could significantly impact the demand for $PIPE among traders and investors. Additionally, Cboe's new listing requirements for cryptocurrency ETFs may further enhance the regulatory landscape, potentially allowing for a Solana ETF approval as early as September 17, signaling a maturing blockchain service environment.

HashKey Exchange, the licensed virtual asset exchange in Hong Kong, is thrilled to introduce the IOTX/HKD trading pair to its clients. The listing information and schedule are as follows: - Deposits & Withdrawals: Opened now - Trading: Starts at 16:00 on July 30, 2025 (UTC+8) - Trading Pair: IOTX/HKD - Supported User Type: Professional Investors Only About IoTeX (IOTX) IoTeX is a modular Web3 infrastructure platform that connects smart devices and real-world data to blockchains. The middleware solution, W3bstream, by IoTeX enables the computation and verification of real-world data on-chain, providing modularity and customizability for builders to drive mass adoption. Management of Voting Rights for Virtual Assets HashKey Exchange clarifies its policies regarding voting rights associated with virtual assets traded on the platform. The key points include: - Non-Exercise of Voting Rights: The exchange does not exercise voting rights on behalf of users. - Users' Exercise of Voting Rights: Users must withdraw assets to exercise any associated voting rights. HashKey Exchange emphasizes the importance of users understanding the rights linked to their virtual assets.

xTAO Inc. has made headlines with its recent announcement regarding a substantial expansion of its holdings in the Bittensor token (TAO), positioning itself as a key player in the intersection of AI and blockchain technology. As of July 30, xTAO revealed that it is now the largest corporate holder of TAO, boasting a total of 41,538 tokens. This strategic investment is aimed at enhancing its validator operations and increasing its influence within the Bittensor network infrastructure. The company anticipates earning an annual yield of 10 percent on its staked TAO, although the actual dollar yield will be contingent on the token's market performance. The CEO of xTAO, Karia Samaroo, emphasized the significance of the TAO treasury, stating, "The TAO treasury gives us immediate economic exposure to Bittensor and the fuel to stand up validators that generate reliable revenue." This initiative reflects xTAO's commitment to building essential infrastructure while generating sustainable cash flow that aligns with the growth of the Bittensor network. Currently, TAO is trading at $371.90, having experienced a correction from its monthly high of $459.73, and is down 51% from its all-time high recorded in April 2024. In addition to its holdings, xTAO has also disclosed that it possesses substantial cash reserves, allowing for further expansion of its TAO investments. The company went public on July 22 on the TSX Venture Exchange under the ticker XTAO.U, with trading conducted in US dollars. xTAO's focus remains exclusively on the Bittensor ecosystem and its decentralized AI infrastructure. The firm has successfully secured $22.8 million in subscription-receipt financing from notable investors, including Digital Currency Group and Animoca Brands, further solidifying its position in the rapidly evolving AI and blockchain landscape.

WeatherXM is on a mission to establish a community-driven weather network in Africa, aimed at providing hyperlocal weather data where it is most needed. At the DePIN Summit 2025 held in Kenya and Zanzibar, the WeatherXM team engaged with founders and innovators in the Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Networks (DePIN) space. This summit was not merely a conference; it was an opportunity to witness how community-owned weather data can significantly improve the lives of local populations. The deployment of a single weather station has already shown the potential to empower entire regions, enabling them to make informed decisions regarding agriculture, safety, and climate resilience. In many rural areas, traditional weather forecasting methods are inadequate, leaving billions without reliable information. WeatherXM's approach is centered around community involvement, where each weather station is owned and operated by local individuals. This model not only provides essential weather insights but also fosters a sense of ownership and responsibility within the community. The collaboration with local partners, such as BLCK-IoT, has already seen over 170 weather stations deployed in Kenya, illustrating the growing impact of this initiative. WeatherXM believes that the future of weather forecasting should be built by the people, for the people. The journey to build this network has been deeply personal for the WeatherXM team. They have connected with farmers, community leaders, and educators who are eager to leverage real-time weather data for better decision-making. The team is committed to empowering local innovators by providing financial and operational support to launch sustainable projects that benefit their communities. As they prepare to unveil new initiatives, WeatherXM emphasizes the importance of strengthening community-driven infrastructure to uplift the entire DePIN ecosystem. Their heartfelt gratitude extends to the organizers of the DePIN Summit, fellow builders, and the welcoming communities of Kenya and Tanzania, who have inspired their mission to create a future that is truly community-owned and driven.

In the second quarter of 2025, Streamr made significant strides with the launch of StreamrTV, a decentralized broadcasting application that showcases the potential of real-time data transport. This transition marks a pivotal shift from infrastructure development to practical applications, aiming to foster user adoption and product-led growth. The launch received positive feedback from content creators, highlighting features such as one-click streaming, ultra-low latency broadcasting, and live end-to-end encryption. Streamr's commitment to transparency and collaboration is evident as they have adopted a public building approach, inviting community feedback to refine their offerings and align with their decentralized ethos. Financially, Streamr faced challenges due to a tough macro environment, prompting necessary salary reductions across various teams to maintain operational efficiency. The project expects to reduce expenses by approximately 30%, reallocating savings towards external marketing efforts. In Q2, approximately 7.5 million DATA tokens were minted and distributed to community Node Operators, while the strategic reserve remained healthy at around $740,000. Despite the overall market pressures, the project aims to maintain a stable reserve to avoid unnecessary token sales, ensuring continued development and growth. Looking ahead, Streamr is focused on strengthening its protocol layer and building industry relationships, particularly in sectors like DePIN and video streaming. However, the closure of the Subcast project reflects the challenges faced in the OTT live video streaming market, prompting a sharper focus on StreamrTV. The development of the Autostaker tool, designed to streamline operator participation in sponsorships, presents technical challenges that the team is actively addressing. Overall, Streamr is navigating a complex landscape with a clear vision for the future, emphasizing innovation, community engagement, and strategic partnerships.

The recent passage of the GENIUS Act marks a significant milestone in the regulation of cryptocurrency in the United States, particularly focusing on stablecoins. This legislation establishes essential reserve rules, audits, and authorized issuers, setting a precedent for future regulatory frameworks. However, as the crypto landscape evolves, lawmakers must not stop here, especially with the burgeoning sector of decentralized physical infrastructure networks (DePINs) still lacking a legal framework. DePINs are not merely speculative ventures; they involve the construction of real-world infrastructure through community-owned hardware, enabling users to earn token rewards by contributing resources like antennas and sensors. DePIN projects are already operational and scaling rapidly, generating impressive revenues. For instance, projects like Glow have exceeded $15 million in revenue, while Geodnet reports over $1 million in annual recurring revenue. Collectively, DePIN protocols are generating over $250 million in revenue, demonstrating their viability and value to users. However, unlike stablecoins, which now operate under defined federal rules, DePIN projects find themselves in a regulatory gray area. This lack of clarity exposes users, developers, and investors to potential risks, as existing laws do not adequately address the unique characteristics of DePINs, which rely on real-world data and infrastructure. To foster the growth of DePINs, a tailored regulatory framework is essential. The GENIUS Act has shown that crypto regulation can support innovation without being restrictive. DePINs, existing at the intersection of hardware, software, and services, require specific definitions and standards regarding data ownership, privacy, and governance. Clear guidelines will not only build trust among users but also encourage investment and community participation. As DePIN continues to grow, it is crucial for Congress and regulators to recognize its potential to enhance infrastructure in underserved areas and to create a policy framework that prioritizes transparency, innovation, and user protection. The time for DePIN to be included in the regulatory conversation is now.