Surge in DePIN Investments and Web3 Gaming: A New Era for Blockchain

Aethir, a key player in the decentralized physical infrastructure networks (DePIN) sector, has recently achieved a significant milestone by ranking first in revenue among DePIN projects over the past 30 days. This achievement has garnered considerable attention within the blockchain and cryptocurrency communities. Previously, in the Messari 2024 DePIN Report, Aethir was noted as the second highest in annual revenue, and it also topped the revenue charts for February. This consistent performance positions Aethir as a frontrunner in the DePIN landscape, showcasing its potential for continued growth and success. Operating within the computing sub-sector of DePIN, Aethir is rapidly expanding its market presence. According to recent data from depinscan, it ranks as the second largest infrastructure project in this space, following its main competitor, Grass. Aethir boasts a decentralized cloud computing network comprising over 400,000 GPU containers, including more than 3,000 high-performance NVIDIA H100 and H200 GPUs designed for advanced AI workloads. This extensive infrastructure allows Aethir to meet the increasing demand for decentralized cloud computing services, particularly those requiring robust AI capabilities, and ensures a reliable user network across 95 global locations. Despite facing challenges, including a missed opportunity to capitalize on the integration of AI agents into its cloud network, Aethir remains competitive due to its diverse offerings and global infrastructure. The DePIN ecosystem is evolving, with growing interest in decentralized infrastructure, particularly in the Eastern United States. Aethir is well-positioned to benefit from this trend, although it must continue to innovate to maintain its leading position amid fierce competition. As the decentralized cloud computing market expands, Aethir's recent revenue success suggests it is on the right track, but the coming months will be crucial in proving the sustainability of its growth.

In recent weeks, the utility token of the Ankr project has experienced a significant price drop of approximately 24%. However, there are signs that the coin is beginning to recover. Ankr, established in 2017, is a Web3 platform that facilitates the creation of decentralized applications and networks. The platform has evolved from utilizing surplus server capacity to providing services such as liquid staking, RPC services, and tools for launching private blockchains. Ankr operates as a cloud computing marketplace, enabling users to rent out unused computing power, which benefits both suppliers and users seeking affordable cloud services. The platform's utility token, ANKR, is used for various purposes including payments, staking, and voting on project updates, with a total supply capped at 10 billion tokens. As of March 4, 2025, ANKR is trading at around $0.018, which is a staggering 91.4% decrease from its all-time high of $0.213 recorded in April 2021. Despite the recent downturn, many analysts believe that Ankr has the potential to rebound due to its solid foundation and the increasing demand for decentralized services. Short-term predictions from CoinCodex suggest that ANKR could rise to $0.0815 by March 28, although the overall investor sentiment remains bearish. Looking further ahead, projections for 2025 indicate that ANKR could trade between $0.0205 and $0.0846, with Wallet Investor estimating a more conservative average price of $0.0268. Looking towards 2030, forecasts vary significantly. CoinCodex anticipates a price range of $0.0175 to $0.1295, while DigitalCoinPrice predicts a minimum of $0.0976 and a maximum of $0.11. Wallet Investor offers an even more optimistic outlook, projecting an average price of around $0.0422 by early 2030, with a potential peak of $0.198. While these predictions suggest a potential for growth over the next five years, it is essential to remember that cryptocurrency investments are speculative and highly dependent on market conditions. Investors should conduct thorough research before making any decisions regarding ANKR investments.

The landscape of live service games is rapidly evolving, with developers increasingly seeking decentralized infrastructure to address the challenges posed by traditional centralized systems. At ETH Denver 2025, the demand for solutions like Beamable.Network was evident, as developers expressed their desire for open-source, community-owned networks that provide greater control and reduce the risks associated with shifting corporate strategies. Beamable.Network has emerged as a leading decentralized physical infrastructure (DePIN) project, recognized for its ability to facilitate faster, more cost-effective game development while mitigating the existential threats posed by centralized providers. Centralized infrastructure has long been a source of frustration for game developers, who face the risk of service shutdowns and unexpected pricing changes from providers like Amazon and Unity. The fragility of relying on a single provider for critical game infrastructure can lead to costly migrations and operational disruptions. Beamable.Network addresses these issues by offering a decentralized alternative that empowers studios to control their tech stack, reduce dependency on any one provider, and benefit from a competitive pricing model. With over 80 games already utilizing the platform, the shift towards decentralized infrastructure is not just a theoretical concept but a practical solution that is gaining traction in the gaming industry. The implications of Beamable.Network extend beyond gaming, as the DePIN concept is being embraced across various sectors, including cloud computing and AI workloads. By decentralizing physical infrastructure, Beamable.Network fosters a competitive environment where data centers vie for capacity, allowing studios to stake tokens for reliable compute access. This innovative approach not only lowers costs significantly but also accelerates development by providing a flexible and interoperable backend. As the gaming industry continues to lead the charge towards decentralized solutions, Beamable.Network exemplifies how open infrastructure can revolutionize the way developers build and sustain their games, ensuring they are well-equipped for the future.

Hivello, a prominent aggregator of decentralized physical infrastructure networks (DePINs), has announced its latest integration with Nosana, a decentralized compute network that specializes in powering AI and CI/CD workloads through GPU resources. This collaboration is poised to enhance earning opportunities for users with GPUs, as Nosana ranks among the most lucrative DePIN networks for GPU-based computing. The integration allows Hivello users to efficiently connect their idle GPU power, thereby maximizing their earnings while contributing to the decentralized ecosystem that supports AI model training and continuous software integration. The timing of this integration aligns with Hivello's rapid ecosystem expansion, particularly following the successful listing of its $HVLO token on major exchanges such as Gate.io, MEXC, and Raydium. This increased liquidity and accessibility for $HVLO positions Hivello to attract a larger number of new node operators, which is expected to further bolster the decentralized compute landscape. With Nosana now part of Hivello’s automated compute aggregation platform, the company anticipates a significant increase in GPU node participation, allowing more users to earn rewards, stake $HVLO, and contribute to the burgeoning field of DePIN-powered applications. Domenic Carosa, Co-Founder and Chairman of Hivello, emphasized the importance of decentralization in the future of infrastructure, stating, "Nosana’s integration is another step toward making GPU-powered compute more accessible, rewarding, and scalable." Hivello aims to simplify participation in various DePIN networks, enabling users to earn passive income by mobilizing their idle computing resources without requiring technical expertise. This initiative reflects Hivello's commitment to fostering a more open and distributed infrastructure, making advanced technologies accessible to a wider audience.

The first quarter of 2025 has proven to be a tumultuous period for the cryptocurrency market, characterized by extreme fluctuations in investor sentiment. Bitcoin (BTC) experienced a remarkable rally to all-time highs, followed by a significant correction, all while receiving notable support from political figures such as Donald Trump. Amidst this volatility, venture capital firms have been actively expanding their investments in blockchain and crypto startups, particularly in areas such as decentralized physical infrastructure networks (DePINs), Web3 gaming, real-world asset (RWA) tokenization, and derivatives exchange markets. The latest VC Roundup highlights seven significant funding announcements across the industry. Among the notable developments, Alchemy has launched a $5 million "Everyone Onchain Fund" aimed at promoting Web3 adoption on Ethereum. This initiative will provide developers with gas and computing credits to facilitate their projects. Alchemy's partnership with World, a biometric digital identity project, has already garnered over 23 million users. Additionally, Mavryk Dynamics secured $5 million in funding to develop a layer-1 RWA network, bridging traditional finance with decentralized finance (DeFi) through innovative non-custodial features. The RWA market has seen substantial growth, reaching $17.9 billion as of early March. Other significant funding rounds include Rho Labs, which raised $4 million for its decentralized rates exchange, and Teneo Protocol, which closed a $3 million round to democratize social media data. Furthermore, Fluent Labs raised $8 million to enhance its Ethereum layer-2 network, while The Game Company secured $10 million to develop a cloud gaming infrastructure. Lastly, ACID Labs, a Web3 gaming studio, received $8 million to scale its social gaming platform on Telegram. These investments reflect a growing confidence in the potential of blockchain technology across various sectors, particularly in gaming and decentralized finance.

The cryptocurrency market is witnessing significant activity as BlockDAG (BDAG) prepares for ten major exchange listings, which are expected to enhance liquidity and accessibility for investors. The presale of BDAG has been remarkably successful, raising over $200 million and showing a staggering 2380% increase in value. Currently priced at $0.0248, analysts predict that BDAG could reach $20 by 2027, presenting an enticing opportunity for early participants who could see returns of up to 800 times their initial investment. The anticipation surrounding these listings is high, as they are likely to propel BDAG towards wider adoption and increased market visibility. In addition to BlockDAG's promising outlook, Bittensor (TAO) has also made headlines with a 33% price increase this week, driven by robust buying activity. The asset has shown a 15.61% rise in just 24 hours and an 18.31% increase over the past week. Technical indicators suggest that the buying momentum may continue, potentially pushing Bittensor's price towards resistance levels of $500 and beyond. However, market fluctuations could lead to support levels around $437.5 or $326, making it crucial for investors to stay informed about market conditions. Filecoin (FIL) is another asset gaining traction, with a 2.57% increase over the past week. Analysts note that FIL is forming a bullish reversal pattern, which could lead to significant price increases if the upward trend continues. Predictions suggest that Filecoin could reach between $45 and $250, depending on market dynamics. As the cryptocurrency landscape evolves, both Bittensor and Filecoin are assets to watch, alongside BlockDAG, which is positioned as a leading investment opportunity for 2025.