Solana Rivals Ethereum as Economic Metrics Surge in 2024

On May 21, 2025, IoTeX, a prominent Layer 1 blockchain designed for decentralized physical infrastructure networks (DePIN), officially launched its Staking Program on DePINscan. This unified staking interface aims to empower users by providing a simplified and trusted gateway to support and earn from innovative DePIN ecosystems. The program initially offers native staking support for Hivello and Functionland, both of which are incubated by IoTeX, along with integrated staking for other projects like Filecoin, Fluence, Swan, and Aethir, in partnership with technical collaborator Parasail. The launch of the staking program is a significant milestone as it aligns with the maturation of DePIN from a nascent concept to a fully developed industry. Qevan Guo, CTO and Co-Founder of IoTeX, emphasized that this initiative facilitates scalable user participation in real-world infrastructure projects. DePINscan is not merely a dashboard; it represents a gateway to the future of Web3 utility, providing visibility into over 100 projects and an ecosystem value exceeding $1 billion. With the introduction of native and cross-chain staking, token holders can now easily delegate to real-world networks, track rewards, and support aligned DePIN projects. The integration of high-profile projects like Filecoin and Aethir highlights IoTeX's commitment to fostering open collaboration and chain-agnostic support. All staking operations are secured by Parasail’s robust infrastructure, ensuring reliability and scalability for future partners. Dom Carosa, co-founder of Hivello, expressed enthusiasm about the staking program, noting it as a significant opportunity for users to engage with decentralized infrastructure intuitively and rewarding. IoTeX plans to continue onboarding new projects and providing extensive support through marketing, infrastructure tools, and cross-chain integrations, inviting developers and builders to join their staking program.

Alpha Liquid Fund has announced a significant investment in the $XNET token ecosystem, reinforcing its commitment to innovative projects in the decentralized wireless (DeWi) sector. The XNET Foundation is at the forefront of transforming mobile connectivity by addressing the limitations of traditional network infrastructure. By utilizing blockchain technology on the Solana network, Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) spectrum, and Wi-Fi 6+, XNET empowers local builders to deploy LTE/5G or carrier-grade Wi-Fi in underserved areas. This community-driven approach not only reduces costs but also enhances scalability, offering resilient connectivity solutions that challenge conventional Mobile Network Operator (MNO) models. Recently, XNET Mobile was recognized as an International Data Corporation (IDC) Innovator in DePIN for 2025. In April, the project achieved a notable milestone with a 16% increase in average daily data offload, showcasing its ongoing momentum. Wes Levitt, the Chief Investment Officer of Alpha Liquid Fund, emphasized the tangible impact of XNET, highlighting the consistent growth in data offload and the strong community support that fuels the network's progress. Alpha Liquid Fund specializes in liquid digital assets, maintaining a 90-day liquidity threshold. The fund employs a rigorous fundamental research approach, investing in digital assets both on the open market and through OTC deals directly from crypto projects. By utilizing institutional hedging tools and diversifying across sectors and market caps, Alpha Liquid Fund aims to deliver strong returns with reduced volatility and risk compared to direct digital asset holdings. Meanwhile, the XNET Foundation continues to drive innovation in decentralized wireless networks, striving to create scalable and cost-effective mobile connectivity solutions globally.

DeCloud Labs has announced a significant shift in its focus from StackOS to StackAI, marking the end of support for the former and the beginning of a new chapter aimed at enhancing AI agents. After extensive discussions within the community, the company has decided to permanently close the migration process from StackOS to the new STKAI token on Solana. This decision comes in light of ongoing security concerns related to cross-chain bridges, particularly following the PolyNetwork hack, which prompted a reevaluation of their operational strategies. The migration period has provided StackOS token holders ample opportunity to convert their tokens, but the time has come to finalize this transition. The proposal outlines the closure of bridge-based migrations and the establishment of a fixed supply of STKAI tokens, which aims to eliminate confusion surrounding token mintability. As of May 30, 2025, any unconverted STACKAI tokens will be airdropped as STKAI on Solana for those who opened support tickets prior to this date. However, any unclaimed tokens will be considered burned, thereby permanently removing them from circulation. This final step is intended to secure the integrity of the token supply and enhance clarity for both new and existing investors regarding the tokenomics of STKAI. In conclusion, the DAO proposal emphasizes the importance of community engagement, allowing token holders to choose between remaining with StackOS or transitioning fully to StackAI. DeCloud Labs is committed to the development of StackAI moving forward, while also offering support to those interested in continuing the StackOS project. The final voting will take place across three instances to ensure all community members have the opportunity to participate, with the results communicated transparently to the community. This strategic move not only secures the future of STKAI but also addresses the pressing security risks associated with bridge infrastructures.

Hivello, a decentralized physical infrastructure network (DePIN) aggregator, has announced the listing of its token $HVLO on DePINscan, a prominent analytics platform for DePINs on IoTeX. This strategic move is set to enhance Hivello's visibility within the DePIN and IoTeX ecosystems, allowing users to access information about Hivello and participate in staking directly on IoTeX's Layer 1 blockchain. With the DePIN market projected to grow significantly, this listing positions Hivello at the forefront of a rapidly evolving sector, catering to both crypto enthusiasts and newcomers interested in decentralized infrastructure. The partnership with IoTeX is a pivotal development for Hivello, as it not only increases the accessibility of $HVLO but also provides users with essential tools and incentives to engage with decentralized networks. Domenic Carosa, Chairman of Hivello, emphasized the importance of this collaboration, stating that it aligns with their mission to onboard Web2 users into the Web3 space. The integration with DePINscan is expected to facilitate a smoother transition for users looking to explore and participate in the DePIN ecosystem, which boasts over 13 million active devices contributing daily. As DePIN adoption accelerates globally, the collaboration between Hivello and IoTeX signifies a major step toward expanding participation in decentralized infrastructure. Qevan Guo, CTO and Co-Founder of IoTeX, highlighted that this launch represents a convergence of technical innovation and strategic partnerships, ultimately making DePIN more accessible to a broader audience. With the market anticipated to soar from $50 billion in 2024 to $3.5 trillion by 2028, Hivello is well-positioned to capitalize on this growth, fostering a new wave of participation in decentralized technologies.

Amsterdam-based Theta Capital Management has successfully raised over $175 million for its latest fund-of-funds, Theta Blockchain Ventures IV, which is designed to support early-stage blockchain startups through specialized venture capital (VC) firms. Ruud Smets, managing partner and chief investment officer at Theta, emphasized that the new fund will invest in crypto-native VC firms known for their ability to back blockchain innovation. Smets highlighted the importance of specialization in the VC space, stating that dedicated crypto VCs have developed a competitive edge over generalist investors, particularly in the initial funding rounds. Since shifting its focus to digital assets in 2018, Theta has managed approximately $1.2 billion and has invested in prominent firms like Polychain Capital and CoinFund. The launch of Theta Blockchain Ventures IV coincides with a resurgence in crypto venture capital, as reported by Galaxy Digital, which noted a 54% increase in VC investment in digital assets during the first quarter of 2025, totaling $4.8 billion. This uptick signals a renewed confidence in the crypto sector following a period of downturn. Despite a decline in the number of deals—405 completed in Q1 2025 compared to 670 in the same period last year—total funding more than doubled year-over-year, reaching $6 billion, up from $2.6 billion in Q1 2024. This indicates that while fewer deals are being made, the overall investment in the sector remains robust. Furthermore, PitchBook's analysis revealed that the majority of the funding, approximately $2.55 billion, was directed towards asset management, trading platforms, and crypto financial services. Infrastructure and development firms also attracted significant investment, raising nearly $955 million. Web3-focused companies followed, securing $231.2 million across 23 deals. Additionally, the anticipated IPO of Circle is expected to be a pivotal moment for the crypto equity market, potentially influencing valuation expectations across the payments and infrastructure sectors. With $1.18 billion in VC funding raised so far, PitchBook estimates a 64% likelihood that Circle will go public, which could further invigorate the market.

The Graph, a prominent indexing and query protocol, has recently integrated Chainlink’s interoperability standard, marking a significant advancement in the cross-chain transfer capabilities of its native token, GRT. This integration allows users to bridge GRT across multiple blockchains, including Solana, Arbitrum, and Base. The Graph team emphasized that this adoption is a crucial step towards enhancing the accessibility and utility of GRT, particularly highlighting the potential benefits for the Solana ecosystem and the broader blockchain landscape. The integration of Chainlink’s Cross-Chain Interoperability Protocol (CCIP) introduces a range of functionalities, including cross-chain staking, delegation, and query fee payments. This means that developers can now pay for queries on layer 2 chains using GRT, which is expected to streamline operations and enhance user experiences. However, the rollout of these features is contingent upon The Graph successfully launching the necessary bridging infrastructure, which is a critical aspect of this initiative. Chainlink has been actively expanding its technology across the crypto industry, with CCIP gaining notable traction. Recently, CCIP went live on the Solana mainnet, which is anticipated to significantly boost decentralized finance growth by providing access to over $18 billion worth of assets on the chain. Additionally, Lombard has also integrated CCIP, showcasing the versatility and demand for cross-chain solutions in the blockchain space. Since its launch in 2018, The Graph has been a vital platform for developers to build and deploy decentralized applications across various networks, including Ethereum, Solana, and Arbitrum.