Exciting Updates: Enhanced Security Features and Marketing Campaigns

IoTeX, a leader in Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Networks (DePIN), has announced that its Head of Ecosystem, Larry Pang, has been elected as co-chair of the DePIN Working Group within the Blockchain Association. This group, co-chaired by Jacob Hample from Filecoin, is part of a new initiative comprising 23 working groups aimed at fostering collaboration and addressing policy priorities in the rapidly evolving U.S. crypto and blockchain landscape. The Blockchain Association serves as a prominent nonprofit organization advocating for a pro-innovation policy environment for the digital asset economy, with over 100 members including key investors and companies in the sector. Larry Pang's appointment as co-chair underscores IoTeX's commitment to actively participating in the Blockchain Association since its entry last December. His leadership role is expected to enhance the company's influence in shaping regulatory frameworks that will support the growth of DePIN projects in the U.S. market. Pang expressed his honor in being elected and emphasized the importance of fostering industry standards to accelerate the real-world adoption of DePIN technologies, ensuring that the United States remains a leader in this innovative field. Raullen Chai, Co-Founder and CEO of IoTeX, praised Pang's appointment, highlighting its significance in connecting the physical and digital realms through blockchain technology. As the industry continues to mature, having strong advocates for regulatory frameworks governing decentralized infrastructure is crucial. This development marks a pivotal moment for both IoTeX and the broader blockchain ecosystem, as they work towards advancing policies that will facilitate the success of decentralized physical infrastructure networks in the U.S.

In a significant move to enhance decentralized cloud gaming, YOM and Diamante have announced a partnership that aims to leverage the strengths of both companies. YOM is recognized for its advanced decentralized pixel-streaming network, which offers a range of solutions tailored for cloud gaming, including voice chat, multiplayer capabilities, and cross-device controls. On the other hand, Diamante stands out as a next-generation hybrid blockchain designed to integrate both private and public networks, emphasizing quantum-resistant security and scalability. This collaboration promises to provide a robust foundation for decentralized applications and in-game transactions, utilizing advanced consensus mechanisms such as Delegated Proof of Stake (DPoS), Proof of History (PoH), and Asynchronous Byzantine Fault Tolerance (aBFT). The integration of Diamante’s blockchain infrastructure with YOM’s pixel-streaming network is set to revolutionize gaming experiences. By allowing games built on Diamante to launch on YOM’s platform, players globally will enjoy instant accessibility and low-latency gameplay. A standout feature of this partnership is the incorporation of Diamante’s native wallet functionality, which facilitates seamless in-game transactions for NFTs and digital assets. This integration not only enhances user experience but also ensures that both players and developers benefit from the security measures provided by Diamante’s blockchain. The ongoing joint research and development efforts will further explore how this innovative technology can enhance YOM’s decentralized gaming platform. The partnership between YOM and Diamante is poised to create a compelling bridge between their respective ecosystems, enabling unprecedented gaming experiences characterized by security, scalability, and accessibility. Joint marketing initiatives will be launched to showcase the combined capabilities of their technologies, fostering engagement and growth within both communities. As the web3 gaming space increasingly incorporates financial transactions, the integration of Diamante’s secure blockchain into the YOM ecosystem will empower developers to create games that prioritize player protection while taking advantage of the expansive decentralized gaming network. This collaboration sets a new standard for the future of gaming and beyond.

Beamable has successfully raised $13.5 million in a Series A funding round led by BITKRAFT Ventures, aimed at advancing the Beamable Network, a Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Network (DePIN) specifically designed for gaming. This significant investment is poised to transform the backend infrastructure for games, moving away from centralized hyperscalers towards a decentralized, community-driven model. The funding will enable Beamable to redefine how developers approach infrastructure, providing them with the tools needed to build more efficient and scalable gaming experiences. The Beamable Network is anticipated to rank among the top 10 DePIN projects globally upon its launch, fueled by the increasing demand from games that are already utilizing Beamable's innovative technology. By decentralizing essential resources such as computing power, storage, and network bandwidth, the network promises developers enhanced scalability, cost efficiency, and resilience. Furthermore, the establishment of the Beamable Foundation will facilitate open-source development and the creation of a tokenized protocol, offering developers a robust alternative to conventional cloud service providers. The funding round attracted notable investors including Arca, Advancit Capital, 2Punks, P2 Ventures, Solana Foundation, Scytale Digital, defy.vc, GrandBanks Capital, and Permit Ventures. Carlos Pereira, General Partner at BITKRAFT Ventures, highlighted the potential of Beamable to set a new standard for decentralized infrastructure in gaming. He noted that the combination of proven technology and the disruptive nature of DePIN presents a unique opportunity for game developers in both Web2 and Web3 environments. This funding will empower Beamable to continue delivering cutting-edge infrastructure solutions, paving the way for a new era in decentralized gaming.

In January, the AO Distribution Protocol opened for community testing, marking significant progress on various Q1 releases, including staking and applications. The development team has shown remarkable improvement month over month, showcasing their ability to work on multiple fronts simultaneously. A dedicated group of testers provided valuable feedback, leading to enhancements in the dashboard's user flow, such as automatic state refreshing after locking and claiming tokens. Additionally, a bug in the operator registry restart process was identified and patched, ensuring smoother operations for users. The team also developed their own Arweave Bundler to facilitate seamless dashboard deployment and enhance censorship-resistant utilities. The protocol team is advancing the staking system for token holders, with new repositories emerging on GitHub that include features for auto-compounding rewards or directing them to register relays without withdrawal. This initiative aims to strengthen community engagement and reward participation. Furthermore, a closer collaboration with Arweave has been established, signaling a commitment to integrating DePIN technologies. On the hardware front, the team is finalizing the router mode and improving user pathways, with plans for expedited hardware shipments to meet Q1 estimates for buyers who faced delays. In terms of network and applications, the team has efficiently delivered updates across mobile and desktop platforms. January saw the introduction of a new hidden service footer, the completion of the first Android APK for testing, and significant progress on the Anyone Browser for iOS. The development of an NPM proxy for app anonymization and a comprehensive Python SDK further illustrates the team's commitment to enhancing user experience. With a focus on integrating key partnerships, such as with Carbon Browser, the team is poised for substantial growth in user adoption throughout 2025 and beyond, tackling significant challenges in the digital landscape.

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.

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.