Latest DePIN AI News

As the cryptocurrency market gears up for the anticipated 2025 bull run, investors are increasingly looking for projects that offer more than just speculative gains. The focus is shifting towards cryptocurrencies that demonstrate long-term utility and technological innovation. Among the frontrunners in this space are Unstaked, Bittensor, NEAR Protocol, and Filecoin, each showcasing unique strengths that contribute to their potential for significant growth. These projects are not only gaining traction but are also designed to deliver real-world value through their advanced functionalities. Unstaked stands out with its innovative approach to integrating AI into social platforms. By developing AI agents capable of operating across platforms like Telegram and X, Unstaked aims to enhance user engagement and support. Currently in its presale phase, Unstaked has raised $8.2 million, with a presale price of $0.01043 and a projected launch price of $0.1819, indicating a potential return of 2700%. This focus on AI automation positions Unstaked as a strong contender for the upcoming bull run. Bittensor, on the other hand, is redefining the AI landscape by creating an open network that rewards users for contributing computing power and AI models. With its token TAO experiencing notable price movements, Bittensor's model fosters collaboration rather than competition. NEAR Protocol simplifies Web3 development, making it accessible for developers to create user-friendly applications, while Filecoin addresses the growing demand for decentralized storage solutions. Together, these projects represent a shift towards cryptocurrencies that prioritize functionality and real-world applications, making them worthy of attention as the market evolves towards 2025.

Sungkyunkwan University’s AI & Media Lab (AIM Lab), led by Professor Sungeun Hong, has become the 32nd academic institution globally to adopt Theta EdgeCloud, a decentralized GPU infrastructure tailored for AI and machine learning research. This partnership will significantly enhance the AIM Lab's capabilities in areas such as multimodal learning, domain adaptation, and 3D vision. Notably, their recent work, supported by Samsung, titled "Question-Aware Gaussian Experts for Audio-Visual Question Answering," has been accepted as a Highlight Paper at CVPR 2025, one of the most prestigious AI conferences. The integration of Theta EdgeCloud will allow researchers to access high-performance GPU resources on demand, facilitating faster iterations while reducing costs. Professor Hong, an expert in multimodal AI and robotic perception, emphasizes the advantages of Theta EdgeCloud in providing the necessary computing flexibility to advance their research. The AIM Lab's focus on vision-language modeling and privacy-preserving domain transfer will benefit from the decentralized architecture, enabling rapid training and evaluation of models. The collaboration with Samsung further strengthens the lab's research output, showcasing a strategic relationship that enhances the development of impactful AI technologies. The AIM Lab's recent achievements, including the innovative QA-TIGER model for video question answering and a memory-efficient attention mechanism for image segmentation, highlight the lab's commitment to cutting-edge research. By joining a network of esteemed institutions leveraging Theta EdgeCloud, such as Stanford and KAIST, Sungkyunkwan University is poised to lead in the advancement of AI innovation. This partnership not only accelerates research but also positions the AIM Lab at the forefront of developing socially relevant AI applications, demonstrating the power of academic-corporate collaboration in the tech landscape.

In the latest quarterly report, io.net has demonstrated significant growth in revenue, achieving an impressive 82.6% increase, which brought its total revenue to $5.7 million. This surge in revenue is particularly noteworthy given the broader contraction in the cryptocurrency market, where the market cap of its IO token plummeted by 71.4% to $108 million, alongside a 74.9% drop in token price. Despite these challenges, io.net has successfully integrated with various AI and compute-focused platforms, including partnerships with Zerebro, KREA, and Injective, aimed at enhancing decentralized GPU compute capabilities for applications in AI and DeFi. The infrastructure of io.net, which is built on a decentralized network of GPUs and CPUs, allows for scalable access to compute resources, particularly for machine learning and AI applications. The platform supports a wide array of machine learning frameworks, ensuring flexibility and efficiency in resource allocation. However, the average daily verified compute resources have seen a decline, with verified GPUs and CPUs down 11.1% and 4.5% respectively. This reduction reflects ongoing supply-side challenges and a decrease in token incentives, which has impacted the overall activity within the network. Despite the mixed performance metrics, io.net has maintained a steady pace of development, with numerous collaborations aimed at expanding its ecosystem. The partnerships formed in Q1 2025, including those with Alpha Network and Mira Network, highlight io.net's commitment to enhancing decentralized AI infrastructure. As the project continues to refine its economic models and expand its network capabilities, it remains a key player in the evolving landscape of decentralized compute resources, even amid a challenging market environment.

Ben Goertzel, a pioneer in artificial intelligence, has been advocating for decentralized AI since he wrote his first line of code 30 years ago. As the world stands on the brink of achieving Artificial General Intelligence (AGI), Goertzel emphasizes the importance of decentralization in ensuring that this powerful technology benefits humanity rather than serving centralized powers. At the recent Consensus conference in Toronto, he expressed optimism that AGI could be launched within the next one to three years through his project, SingularityNET, which aims to create a global marketplace for AI services. The project has made significant strides, including partnerships with Mind Network and Filecoin Foundation, a $53 million investment in a modular supercomputer, and a token merger with Ocean Protocol and Fetch.ai. Goertzel's vision for decentralized AI is rooted in his early experiences with the internet, which he initially saw as a decentralized platform. However, he notes that the rise of tech giants like Google and Facebook has led to a more centralized internet, which undermines the foundational principles of decentralization. He argues that for AGI to be a force for good, it must be built on decentralized architecture from the outset. This philosophy is reflected in the design of SingularityNET, Hyperon, and the upcoming ASI Chain, which is tailored for decentralized AI applications. Goertzel believes that the trajectory of the post-AGI era will significantly differ based on the role of decentralized ecosystems in its development. In addition to his work in AI, Goertzel has a history of exploring decentralized money concepts dating back to the 90s. Although he and his peers initially dismissed the practicality of decentralized transactions due to concerns over speed and cost, the emergence of Bitcoin has validated some of his early ideas. He humorously reflects on the missed opportunities of that era, acknowledging that their lack of business acumen prevented them from envisioning the darker applications of decentralized money. Today, Goertzel's commitment to decentralized AI continues to gain traction, positioning him and his initiatives as key players in the evolving landscape of technology and governance.

Investors are currently focused on the GRASS and PI crypto tokens, which are making headlines due to their unique value propositions. The ongoing presale of Best Wallet has also garnered attention, raising over $12 million. In the past 24 hours, perpetual crypto exchanges like Binance, Bybit, and OKX have liquidated over $665 million in leveraged positions, affecting more than 153,000 traders. Despite this turmoil, many traders remain optimistic about GRASS and PI, viewing them as potential breakout tokens for Q2 2025. Notably, PI crypto has surged 80% since early April, while GRASS has increased by 140% since its all-time low in late October 2024. GRASS is a decentralized layer-2 platform built on Solana, supported by prominent venture capitalists such as Polychain Capital and Tribe Capital. It allows users to monetize idle internet bandwidth, which is crucial for AI model training. The platform has facilitated the scraping of an impressive 57 million GB of public web data in Q1 2025 alone. Participants earn GRASS points, convertible to GRASS tokens, and the platform has seen a significant increase in node operators, indicating growing interest and adoption. Analysts are ranking GRASS among the top cryptocurrencies to explore, highlighting its potential in the AI and decentralized physical infrastructure network (DePIN) sectors. On the other hand, Pi Network is making strides toward decentralization, having recently disabled its central node, thus empowering its community of over 60 million users. Despite facing skepticism regarding its legitimacy, Pi Network's mainnet launched in February 2025, and the price of PI crypto has fluctuated significantly since then. As both GRASS and PI continue to evolve, investors are advised to conduct thorough research before making investment decisions. Furthermore, the Best Wallet presale is generating excitement, with its features and security measures positioning it as a strong competitor in the crypto wallet space.

In a cooling crypto market, Amp (AMP) and Aethir (ATH) have emerged as standout performers, each experiencing a notable 16% increase in value. Amp is currently valued at $0.0051, buoyed by strong bullish momentum supported by key Exponential Moving Averages (EMAs) and favorable trading signals from indicators like MACD and RSI, despite warnings of overbought conditions. Meanwhile, Aethir, which focuses on AI-driven blockchain solutions, has surged to $0.052, breaking past significant resistance levels and maintaining bullish optimism, although the overbought RSI suggests that traders should remain vigilant. The divergence in the crypto market is evident as Helium (HNT) faces downward pressure, trading at $4.00 and struggling below the critical 200-day EMA. This situation poses a risk of further declines if it breaches the 100-day EMA support at $3.83. The contrasting trajectories of Amp and Aethir against Helium highlight the persistent volatility and innovation within the digital asset market, prompting traders to balance ambition with risk management strategies. As traders navigate these turbulent waters, the resilience of Amp and Aethir underscores the potential for growth even amid market stagnation. Investors are encouraged to monitor key technical indicators closely, particularly EMAs and RSI levels, to identify optimal entry points and manage risks effectively. The ongoing developments in these projects reflect the dynamic nature of the cryptocurrency landscape, where innovation continues to drive interest and investment opportunities.

Solana (SOL) has shown a remarkable recovery, bouncing back 90% from its lowest point this year, yet it remains constrained below the critical resistance level of $180. Analysts are optimistic, suggesting that the Solana price could be on the verge of a significant breakout, particularly as many SOL meme coins have recently surged. The current market sentiment is buoyed by strong fundamentals and an upward trajectory, with SOL hovering around the $170 mark. A decisive move above the $180 resistance could pave the way for a potential rise towards $200 and beyond, possibly reaching levels around $250. In the midst of this, Bittensor (TAO) has emerged as a notable player, maintaining a steady performance while other cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin (BTC), have struggled. The interest in Bittensor is largely driven by its innovative approach to decentralized AI, which has gained traction following high-profile events, such as Donald Trump's attendance at a crypto and AI innovators dinner. Currently trading around $457, Bittensor has demonstrated resilience, holding onto gains and reflecting a growing market confidence in projects that integrate blockchain technology with AI. Meanwhile, Unilabs (UNIL) is gaining momentum as a compelling alternative for investors looking to diversify from traditional layer-1 networks like Solana. With a focus on merging blockchain transparency with AI infrastructure, Unilabs is positioning itself as a leader in the DeFi and AI space. Its innovative model, which includes a token-based incentive system, aims to attract users and developers alike. As Solana's growth stalls, Unilabs presents a unique opportunity for traders, potentially redefining the standards for DeFi AI platforms in a rapidly evolving crypto landscape.

On the 9th, blockchain infrastructure corporation Xangle announced its entry into the global blockchain mainnet Theta Network as an enterprise validator. Theta Network is renowned for providing decentralized cloud infrastructure tailored for sectors such as artificial intelligence (AI), media, sports, and entertainment. It boasts a robust framework supported by over 30,000 distributed edge nodes worldwide, ensuring efficient operation and governance. The network has garnered strategic investments from notable entities including Samsung Next, Sony Innovation Fund, Bertelsmann Digital Media Investments, and Creative Artists Agency (CAA), with global giants like Google, Samsung, and Binance also participating as enterprise validators. As part of its commitment to the Theta ecosystem, Xangle will stake a total of 200,000 Theta (THETA) tokens, significantly enhancing network security and governance as a validator node. The company aims to actively contribute to the expansion of the decentralized physical infrastructure network (DePIN) and the AI ecosystem that Theta promotes. Founded in 2018, Xangle has established itself as a leading web3 infrastructure service provider and research platform in Korea, offering community hubs, blockchain explorers, and comprehensive web3 industry analysis reports. It has also served as a validator for various global projects, including Aptos, Babylon, 0G, and Initia. Lee Hyun-woo, co-CEO of Xangle, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership, stating, "We are very pleased to be listed as an enterprise validator alongside Google, Samsung, and CAA through our strategic partnership with Theta." He emphasized that staking in Theta's validator network aligns perfectly with Xangle's mission to enhance trust, decentralization, and transparency in layer 1 blockchains. Mitch Liu, co-founder and CEO of Theta Network, echoed this sentiment, highlighting Xangle's strengths in blockchain analysis and ecosystem development, and anticipating significant synergies in promoting Theta (THETA) and Theta Fuel (TFUEL), along with enhancing the overall security and scalability of the Theta blockchain.

Theta Network has announced a significant partnership with the Liu Lab at Brandeis University, led by Professor Hongfu Liu, to utilize Theta EdgeCloud for enhancing machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI) research. This collaboration marks a pivotal moment for Theta as it solidifies its position as a leader in decentralized GPU infrastructure for academic research. The Liu Lab joins a prestigious list of institutions, including Stanford University and Seoul National University, that are leveraging EdgeCloud’s hybrid GPU capabilities to boost productivity in AI research. By integrating these decentralized resources, the lab can access scalable and high-performance computing power, which is crucial for advancing their research initiatives in data-centric learning and clustering analysis. Professor Liu emphasized the benefits of this integration, stating that the flexibility and cost-effectiveness of Theta EdgeCloud allow their team to focus on innovative research projects without the burden of managing extensive computational resources. The lab's research primarily revolves around data-centric learning, which prioritizes the quality and diversity of training data over mere algorithm refinement. This approach is essential for developing reliable and fair machine learning models, as it ensures that the datasets used are well-annotated and representative of real-world scenarios. The Liu Lab's ongoing studies in this domain include various applications such as noisy label correction and active learning, showcasing the breadth of their research capabilities. Theta EdgeCloud’s decentralized infrastructure not only empowers the Liu Lab but also supports a wider academic community by providing on-demand, high-performance computing resources. This initiative allows researchers to dynamically allocate resources, optimizing both performance and cost for large-scale projects. As Theta Network continues to partner with leading institutions, it aims to facilitate groundbreaking research in AI and machine learning, ensuring that researchers can focus on their work without the constraints of traditional computing limitations. This collaboration represents a significant step forward in making advanced AI research more accessible and efficient for academic institutions worldwide.

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.