IoTeX's Larry Pang Elected Co-Chair of Blockchain Association's DePIN Working Group

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.

DePIN Union has announced an exciting partnership with UpRock, marking a significant advancement for both platforms. This collaboration aims to create real-time, unbiased insights that are accessible to everyone, thereby redefining how users interact with information in the digital realm. UpRock's mission is to bridge the gap between centralized artificial intelligence (AI) and decentralized infrastructure, establishing a transparent and impartial data ecosystem that benefits all users. The partnership is set to pave the way for new industrial standards in the realm of data accessibility. DePIN, which operates on a blockchain-powered decentralized infrastructure, made the announcement via its official X account. UpRock is recognized for its innovative approach to AI-focused web crawling and data synthesis, which eliminates biases often found in traditional AI models. By leveraging advanced web crawling techniques, UpRock retrieves meaningful real-time insights while ensuring a streamlined access to data through its decentralized framework. Together, DePIN Union and UpRock are poised to redefine AI-powered intelligence. By integrating DePIN's decentralized infrastructure with UpRock's AI capabilities, the partnership aims to create a more inclusive and user-controlled digital landscape. This collaboration promises to deliver secure, transparent, and accessible data while mitigating the risks associated with centralized control. As both platforms evolve, they stand as beacons for a future characterized by decentralized, impartial, and user-centric insights, ultimately enhancing the knowledge-based environment for all users.

Wingbits Raises $5.6M to Revolutionize Rewards-Based Plane Tracking with DePIN Technology Wingbits, the Web 3.0 startup based in Stockholm, Sweden, has secured $5.6 million in funding led by Borderless Capital and Bullish Capital, with support from Spartan Group, Tribe Capital, Antler, SNZ, and Heartcore. This funding round brings Wingbits' total funding to $9.2 million as they introduce the first decentralized physical infrastructure network (DePIN) for aviation. The company aims to become the largest airplane tracking network globally by implementing well-designed incentives and execution strategies, as stated by Álvaro Gracia, Partner at Borderless Capital. This recent funding follows a $3.5 million seed round just six months ago, supported by investors like Borderless Capital, Tribe Capital, and Antler. Co-founded by Robin Wingardh and Alex Lungu, Wingbits has experienced rapid growth, expanding its network at a rate six times faster than any previous flight tracking system. Alasdair Foster, CEO of Bullish Capital, expressed excitement about partnering with Wingbits, highlighting their disruptive approach to the flight tracking industry by utilizing blockchain to incentivize high-quality data supply.

On January 24th at 6 PM (UTC+8), Roam will officially launch its "Pilot Burning Pool," allowing users to exchange $ROAM tokens by burning Roam Points. This initiative coincides with the Spring Festival and aims to familiarize users with the burning pool mechanism while maximizing the benefits of Roam Points. Users can contribute a minimum of 500 Roam Points and select a burning period. The burning pool features a dynamic conversion rate that varies based on the total burned points and the number of tokens generated during specific time frames, encouraging users to choose optimal burning timings for better returns. After the Token Generation Event (TGE), users can claim their generated $ROAM tokens in their personal Roam wallets. The burning pools consist of three distinct categories: the General "Burning" Pool, which is open to all Roam users for a straightforward participation experience; the Miner "Burning" Pool, tailored for Roam router holders, offering a higher exclusive conversion rate; and the Sticker "Burning" Pool, specifically for Roam Sticker holders, where the burnable points are determined by the number and rarity of their Stickers. Notably, burned Roam Points will be permanently destroyed, while users can earn points through various activities such as adding WiFi nodes, checking in, and inviting friends. Additionally, miner users can enhance their points through mining activities and deploying routers. Roam has seen significant growth, with over 2.5 million registered users across more than 200 countries and regions, and boasts over 1.5 million self-built WiFi nodes. According to the Messari 2024 DePIN report, Roam ranks among the top five DePIN projects globally, with over a million active nodes, maintaining its position as the leader in the DePINscan hardware node rankings. ChainCatcher advises readers to approach blockchain developments with a rational mindset, enhance their risk awareness, and exercise caution regarding virtual token issuances and speculative activities.