DePin Supercycle: The Next Big Thing in Blockchain

io.net, a leading decentralized physical infrastructure network (DePIN) protocol, has recently achieved Service Organization Control 2 (SOC 2) compliance, marking a significant milestone in its commitment to security and operational transparency. This certification indicates that io.net has undergone rigorous audits to ensure its systems are secure and that it adheres to high standards of data integrity. Gaurav Sharma, the technology chief of io.net, emphasized that this achievement not only benefits all users but is particularly appealing to enterprises that require partnerships with organizations maintaining top-tier data protection standards. Achieving SOC 2 compliance is often regarded as the gold standard in data security, providing io.net with a competitive edge in the market. The certification validates the protocol's robust security controls and standardized processes, which are crucial for defending against potential exploits and breaches. With a vision of offering decentralized GPU compute solutions, this certification lays a solid foundation for the protocol's future growth and expansion, allowing it to operate on a global scale while competing with industry-leading security standards. The DePIN sector, valued at approximately $27.9 billion, has seen significant trading activity, with io.net's native token, IO, ranking among the top 20 protocols in this space. With a market cap of $389 million, IO has demonstrated resilience and growth potential despite recent market fluctuations. Furthermore, io.net's collaborations with AI protocols, such as Injective and Alpha Network, aim to explore the intersection of blockchain and AI, positioning the protocol for potential leadership in the DePIN market in the near future.

DeepLink has signed a strategic cooperation with SoonChain, an AI Layer-2 blockchain gaming platform that aims at changing the landscape of Web3. The partnership integrates SoonChain’s state-of-the-art AI-Generated Gaming (AIGG) solution, which helps game developers design engaging blockchain games. The use of AIGG technology erases conventional programming elegance and brings Web3 gaming to the mass market. This toolset is designed to create opportunities to work more efficiently in producing a captivating game while at the same time opening doors for more creativity within the video game market. In this integration, both companies aim to share equal opportunities and early access to the gaming industry since there are few middlemen. Accessibility Initiative for Developers and Gamers SoonChain is a single platform that connects Artificial intelligence, decentralization physical infrastructure networks (DePIN), and massive GPU computations with AAA games standards. The integration with DeepLink will allow developers to create games and the platform will be designed in such a way to not need profound technical skills to create the game, thus making the industry available for everybody and definitely indie teams. Also, it encourages the decentralization of gaming opportunities as part of the strategy to increase their availability. This approach is in line with the Web3 worldview of handling as many intermediaries as possible and providing users with control and ownership over their gaming. DeepLink and SoonChain Offering a Decentralized Framework for Innovation DeepLink and SoonChain provide a vision of an open and decentralized space aiming at attracting developers and gamers for cooperation and creation of new opportunities without typical limitations. Developed on DeepBrainChain architecture, the cooperation integrates AI cloud gaming protocols that are based on decentralization, which is beneficial for growing and optimizing games. This partnership involves the integration of AI powers with blockchain, which emphasizes the concern with the separation of a new frontier in game development. It symbolizes a quantum leap in the use of artificial intelligence and decentralized applications to deliver unique gaming solutions for a global clientele. * [https://blockchainreporter.net/deeplink-and-soonchain-join-forces-to-revolutionize-web3-gaming/ ](https://blockchainreporter.net/deeplink-and-soonchain-join-forces-to-revolutionize-web3-gaming/)

Chirp, a decentralized physical infrastructure network (DePIN) built on the Sui blockchain, has officially launched its $CHIRP token on three prominent centralized exchanges: KuCoin, Gate.io, and MEXC Exchange. This launch comes after the successful Initial DEX Offering (IDO) for the Sui DePIN infrastructure layer, which aims to support the development and operation of decentralized physical infrastructure networks. With nearly 1 million users, Chirp is positioning itself as a leader in the rapidly growing DePIN space, connecting various Internet of Things (IoT) devices through blockchain technology. Tim Kravchunovsky, the CEO and founder of Chirp, expressed pride in the project’s progress, highlighting the choice of Sui as the foundational blockchain even before its testnet launch. He emphasized that the newly launched Sui DePIN infrastructure layer is ideal for a decentralized IoT and telecommunications project like Chirp. The $CHIRP token is integral to Chirp's ecosystem, incentivizing Keepers—operators of Chirp's antennas—to maintain their devices and support the network. Additionally, the token serves as a payment method for network usage and functions as a governance token within Chirp's voting system. Furthermore, the $CHIRP token is utilized in Kage, a play-to-earn (P2E) game launched by Chirp that encourages players to detect wireless networks using their smartphones. Since its debut in November 2024, Kage has attracted nearly 1 million players who have scanned over 850 million wireless networks worldwide. The geolocation data collected through this game is valuable across various industries, enabling applications such as indoor navigation and low-power geopositioning in challenging environments. Chirp's dual approach—combining a DePIN with a robust IoT platform—aims to create a sustainable ecosystem that empowers communities while delivering advanced IoT solutions.

Michigan State University (MSU) has officially adopted the EdgeCloud platform for AI research, making it the second academic institution in the United States to join this initiative, following the University of Oregon. The SEIT Lab, led by Associate Professor Qiben Yan, will utilize Theta's decentralized GPU infrastructure to foster advancements in AI, cybersecurity, and distributed systems. As a prominent Tier 1 research institution, MSU's collaboration adds significant value to Theta's academic partnerships in the U.S. Furthermore, EdgeCloud plans to enhance its cloud-based GPU infrastructure across various locations, including California, Texas, and the Midwest, with a beta release of its hybrid cloud-edge computing platform scheduled for June 2025. Professor Qiben Yan is a distinguished expert in IoT security, AI privacy, blockchain resilience, and cybersecurity. His SEIT Lab is at the forefront of research aimed at protecting connected devices and networks from sophisticated cyber threats. Yan's work has been recognized at prestigious conferences and has received notable funding from the National Science Foundation (NSF). He expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration with Theta, emphasizing that the EdgeCloud platform will facilitate the scaling of AI projects that demand high-performance computing while also pushing the boundaries of decentralized technology in secure and intelligent systems for IoT and AI applications. The SEIT Lab is dedicated to creating secure, intelligent systems with a focus on distributed systems, federated learning, and blockchain technologies. Recent projects include NSF-funded research on adversarially robust AI for speech recognition and innovative frameworks for secure smart contracts. By adopting Theta EdgeCloud, the SEIT Lab will benefit from a decentralized cloud platform that significantly accelerates the training and deployment of AI models, reducing GPU resource setup time by up to five times compared to traditional providers. This partnership not only strengthens Theta's academic network but also highlights its commitment to addressing complex challenges across various fields, including media, healthcare, bioinformatics, and finance.

In the ever-evolving landscape of cryptocurrency, certain projects are demonstrating remarkable resilience and growth, while others struggle to maintain relevance. Recent updates highlight Cardano's impressive price growth, which surged by 12% over the past week, despite a slight dip to $1.064. This upward momentum is attributed to the network's innovative upgrades, particularly in on-chain governance, which enhance its scalability and utility. Furthermore, the addition of Cardano to Robinhood Markets has broadened its accessibility for U.S. traders, reinforcing its position as a significant player in the blockchain ecosystem. Analysts are optimistic, projecting that if current trends continue, ADA could reach as high as $6, making it a key asset to monitor in 2025. On another front, Filecoin is solidifying its dominance in the decentralized physical infrastructure networks (DePIN) sector with strategic advancements in decentralized storage solutions. The recent "nv23" upgrade, dubbed Waffle, has significantly improved performance and interoperability with Ethereum, paving the way for new cross-chain integrations. Additionally, Filecoin's collaboration with SingularityNET aims to revolutionize AI model training by utilizing secure and decentralized storage. These developments not only enhance Filecoin's utility within the Web3 infrastructure but also attract developers and enterprises, positioning it as a leader in the decentralized storage space. Amidst these established players, a new contender, Web3Bay, is emerging with the ambition to redefine the $5 trillion e-commerce industry through blockchain innovation. By eliminating intermediaries, Web3Bay promises a transparent and user-friendly shopping experience, rewarding participants with its 3BAY token. With $830,000 raised in its presale and features like NFT marketplaces and DeFi staking on the horizon, Web3Bay presents a compelling opportunity for investors seeking long-term growth in the Web3 space. As the presale progresses, early participants could see substantial returns, making this an exciting time for those looking to invest in the future of decentralized e-commerce.

Decentralized Edge AI Platform Network3 to Launch $N3 Token Trading on Bybit, Gate.io, and BingX According to official sources, the decentralized Edge AI infrastructure platform Network3 will simultaneously launch spot trading of the token $N3 on Bybit, Gate.io, and BingX exchanges on January 22, 2025, at 8:00 (UTC). This milestone event signifies a crucial step for Network3 in realizing the value of user Edge Data and computing power, injecting strong momentum into the ecosystem's development and expansion. Network3 is currently conducting a Pre-TGE airdrop activity, rewarding the community with 50 million tokens. Users simply need to log in to the official Network3 website and complete specified tasks to receive a free airdrop quota worth 40,000 points, which can be exchanged for $N3 after TGE. Additionally, the activity offers NFT acceleration cards to help users enhance node mining efficiency. In July 23, 2024, Network3 successfully completed a $5.5 million pre-seed & seed round of financing, with investors including Borderless, EV3 Labs, loTeX, SNZ, Bing Ventures, Waterdrip Capital, Web3Port Foundation, and other well-known venture capital institutions.