DePINs: The Future of Physical Infrastructure Powered by Blockchain

Roam has launched the Free eSIM Data Program tailored for businesses, aiming to provide reliable, high-speed, and cost-effective internet solutions globally. As a leader in the decentralized physical infrastructure network (DePIN) sector, Roam boasts over 3.4 million self-deployed nodes and more than 4.5 million OpenRoaming™ hotspots worldwide. This robust infrastructure enables Roam to deliver seamless connectivity for both business and individual users, making it a trusted option in the market. The Roam eSIM offers several benefits, particularly for modern professionals who frequently travel or work in environments requiring constant internet access. With the eSIM, users can avoid high roaming fees by gaining automatic network access in over 180 countries, connecting to local networks instantly upon arrival without any manual setup. Additionally, remote and hybrid workers can maintain connectivity from any location, ensuring access to essential platforms like Google, Gmail, and Web3 exchanges. The activation process is straightforward, as the Roam eSIM is compatible with all eSIM-enabled devices, allowing users to activate it online without needing a physical SIM card. Eligible users with verified corporate emails can claim a one-time eSIM benefit that includes no expiration on unused data, automatic accumulation of new monthly data, and exclusivity to verified business users. Users can easily activate the eSIM online, ensuring their devices are compatible and submitting necessary personal details. However, users should be aware that short service interruptions may occur due to network maintenance or other constraints. Roam reserves the right to modify or terminate the program at any time, and by claiming the benefit, users agree to the campaign policy terms.

The Theta ecosystem is witnessing significant growth and adoption across various sectors, including sports, media, academia, and AI startups. In the latest April roundup, Theta has made headlines with its collaboration with the NBA's Houston Rockets, launching an innovative AI-powered mascot named "ClutchBot." This initiative marks a pivotal moment for Theta as it expands its influence in professional sports, showcasing the potential of AI technology in enhancing fan engagement and experience. In addition to its partnership with the Houston Rockets, Theta is also making strides in Major League Soccer (MLS) by assisting the San Jose Earthquakes in launching the league's first interactive AI agent chatbot. This development highlights Theta's commitment to integrating AI solutions into sports, further establishing Theta EdgeCloud as a leading platform for AI applications in both professional sports and esports. The platform continues to attract a growing roster of team partners, solidifying its position in the market. Moreover, academic institutions are increasingly recognizing the value of Theta's technology. Stanford University's AI Lab, led by Professor Vitercik, has begun utilizing Theta EdgeCloud for AI research, demonstrating the platform's versatility beyond sports. Theta has also introduced the first decentralized On-demand AI Model API Service, which adds more AI models to EdgeCloud. This expansion is complemented by top esports teams like NRG and EvilGeniuses launching their own Agentic AI chatbots powered by EdgeCloud. As the Theta World Tour continues at events like Paris Blockchain Week and Token2049 in Dubai, the platform is gaining more press coverage and visibility in the blockchain space.

In the rapidly evolving landscape of Web3, DEPIN, or Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Networks, is gaining significant attention. This innovative concept leverages the principles of decentralization to transform fragmented resources into valuable services. Amira Valliani, head of DEPIN at the Solana Foundation, emphasizes that DEPIN enables individuals to contribute their idle resources, such as WiFi bandwidth or data collection capabilities, to create a collaborative infrastructure. Projects like HiveMapper and Helium exemplify this model, allowing users to earn tokens by sharing their resources, thereby democratizing access to essential services that were previously dominated by large corporations. The relationship between DEPIN and artificial intelligence (AI) is particularly noteworthy. As AI technology continues to advance, the demand for real-world data is skyrocketing. DEPIN serves as a vital data collection network that can provide the necessary information for AI applications, such as self-driving cars and delivery robots. By utilizing decentralized networks, DEPIN can gather data more efficiently and cost-effectively than traditional methods. This synergy between DEPIN and AI not only enhances the capabilities of AI systems but also opens new avenues for decentralized AI projects, challenging the dominance of major tech companies. Looking ahead, Valliani predicts that DEPIN could evolve into a trillion-dollar industry, driven by the maturation of development tools, the increasing demand for real-world data due to AI advancements, and the influx of practical entrepreneurs into the Web3 space. As DEPIN lowers the barriers to entry for individuals to participate in infrastructure development, it creates new job opportunities and empowers ordinary people to engage in the digital economy. For those who missed the early days of Bitcoin and Ethereum, DEPIN presents a promising opportunity to get involved in the next wave of technological innovation.

On April 10, 2025, Mike Horton, the project creator of GEODNET, delivered a significant testimony before the U.S. Congress, representing both GEODNET and the broader Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Networks (DePIN) ecosystem. His presentation highlighted the transformative potential of blockchain-powered DePINs, which are already making strides in providing scalable and cost-effective infrastructure solutions across critical sectors such as internet connectivity, precision navigation, and renewable energy. This testimony marks a pivotal moment in the recognition of decentralized technologies by U.S. policymakers. The growing acknowledgment from government officials underscores the increasing importance of decentralized technologies in addressing infrastructure challenges. Horton’s testimony not only showcased the achievements of GEODNET but also emphasized the broader implications for the DePIN ecosystem. The ability of these networks to deliver essential services efficiently and sustainably is a testament to the innovative capabilities of blockchain technology, which is gaining traction in various sectors. This event serves as a proud milestone for those involved in the development of decentralized infrastructure. It acts as a powerful motivator for stakeholders committed to building the future of infrastructure through decentralized solutions. As the momentum behind these technologies continues to build, it is clear that the integration of blockchain into physical infrastructure is set to play a crucial role in shaping a more connected and sustainable future.

The latest research report from Dune and Slice Analytics presents a comprehensive analysis of the Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Network (DePIN) projects on Solana, highlighting their development status, market performance, and on-chain data. DePIN is emerging as a transformative model that utilizes cryptocurrency incentives to operate real-world infrastructure, such as shared GPUs and telecommunications networks. Solana has positioned itself as a leading platform for these projects due to its high throughput and low transaction costs, making it an ideal environment for the growth of DePIN applications. As of April 2025, the total market value of DePIN projects on Solana reached $3.25 billion, surpassing other blockchain platforms significantly. The report categorizes DePIN projects into five main segments: Compute, Wireless, Sensor, Server, and AI, with the Compute category dominating the market at 71.2%. Projects like Render and Helium are leading the way, providing decentralized processing power and wireless connectivity, respectively. The growth of registered on-chain nodes for DePIN projects on Solana has also been notable, reaching 238,165 by April 2025. Helium, in particular, has seen rapid growth in its mobile user base and node deployment, while Render and Hivemapper continue to expand their contributions to the ecosystem. As the cryptocurrency industry matures, on-chain revenue has become a crucial metric for evaluating the sustainability of these projects. By April 2025, the total on-chain revenue for DePIN projects on Solana reached $5.98 million, indicating a strong product-market fit. Helium emerged as the top earner, while Render and Hivemapper also demonstrated significant revenue generation. The report underscores Solana's dominance in the DePIN space and emphasizes the importance of transparency in tracking on-chain activities, which remains a challenge due to the reliance on off-chain hardware and third-party integrations.

The Solana ecosystem is witnessing a surge in decentralized physical infrastructure networks (DePIN), particularly following the Solana Crossroads event in Istanbul. Developers are leveraging blockchain technology to build innovative infrastructure, including wireless networks and AI capabilities. One standout project is the Render Network, which is creating a decentralized platform for 3D creators and AI developers to access global GPU power without relying on centralized servers. Recent on-chain data reveals that Render Network has achieved peak revenues of $300,000 per week, with over 121 million RNDR tokens burned, indicating strong user engagement. The platform integrates with popular industry tools like Blender and Arnold, and contributors have earned more than 2.4 million RNDR tokens in rewards, showcasing the potential of decentralized computing. Another notable player in the DePIN space is Nosana, which is revolutionizing AI task processing by decentralizing inference. Instead of depending on major cloud providers like AWS, Nosana enables node operators to handle AI workloads. Since its mainnet launch in January 2025, the number of daily active nodes has more than doubled to over 600, with a total of 4,200 nodes operating across more than 60 countries. This global reach highlights how Nosana is meeting the increasing demand for AI processing in a community-driven manner, further solidifying the role of DePIN in the evolving tech landscape. Lastly, UpRock is tapping into the potential of mobile devices by allowing users to share bandwidth and computing power in exchange for crypto rewards. Users are reportedly earning over $1,500 weekly, with a focus on mobile-first DePIN solutions. UpRock employs on-chain buybacks to sustain contributor rewards, emphasizing its commitment to advancing the DePIN movement. Overall, Solana's DePIN ecosystem is not only thriving but also demonstrating that the future of crypto lies in building essential tools that enhance everyday life, rather than merely trading assets.