Latest DePIN News

Roam, a Web3 initiative in the WBA OpenRoaming™ program, offers a unique token incentive and community growth system, attracting over 390,000 app users and 310,000 nodes across 180 countries. It aims to provide a seamless, secure, and login-free Wi-Fi network experience, leveraging the OpenRoaming™ standard introduced by the Wireless Broadband Alliance (WBA) in 2019. The standard allows for automatic device connections to participating networks without repetitive logins, enhancing user convenience and security.

The crypto community has shown concern over privacy and surveillance issues, especially after the conviction of Tornado Cash developer Alexey Pertsev and the plea deal of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange. The community has come together to support legal fees for these cases. Nym, a privacy-focused project, offers a mixnet technology to counter AI surveillance, which is becoming easier due to AI's ability to create digital doubles for tracking and controlling behavior. Additionally, central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) are seen as a significant risk for surveillance and censorship, with most designs lacking privacy protections.

IoTeX has introduced a novel approach in decentralized physical infrastructure networks (DePins) called the Modular DePin Infrastructure, which aims to redefine the creation and functionality of Web3 technologies. This innovation is more efficient and cost-effective compared to traditional infrastructures. The Modular DePin Infrastructure addresses the challenges faced by DePin startups, such as limited funding and technical difficulties, by offering a flexible and community-driven framework. The infrastructure's modular design allows for the assembly of customized applications through various modules, such as hardware abstraction, connectivity, sequencer, data availability, long-term storage, off-chain computing, blockchain, identity, and governance. Developers can select and combine these modules based on their project's specific needs, providing unparalleled adaptability. The modular system's flexibility supports the development of a wide range of DePin applications, including sensor networks, connectivity networks, and computing networks. Significant DePin projects like DIMO, Hivemapper (HONEY), WeatherXM, Helium, Nodle (NODL), Wicrypt (WNT), Render Network (RNDR), and Akash Network (AKT) exemplify the successful application of this modular infrastructure. The connectivity module explores wireless communication techniques to enhance connections within Web3 networks, incorporating technologies like Bluetooth, LoRaWAN, WiFi, and 5G. The sequencer and data availability modules have been adapted from existing solutions to better suit DePin applications, while long-term storage solutions like Filecoin (FIL) and Arweave (AR) meet these applications' storage needs. Blockchain platforms such as Ethereum (ETH), IoTeX, and Solana (SOL) provide essential infrastructure for development.

CoralApp, a North American team of data scientists' brainchild, is revolutionizing the web3 domain with the Coral phone, an AI-driven device designed to enhance digital interactions and integrate seamlessly with the web3 ecosystem. The Coral phone is not just a smartphone; it's a platform that supports decentralized applications (dApps), offering users control over their digital lives. It also introduces the Coral AI-phone, featuring a privacy-first AI assistant with in-depth web3 knowledge, making navigation through the web3 ecosystem effortless. The device is equipped with features like decentralized AI inferencing and federated learning, setting a new standard for mobile technology in the digital age. Coral phone also supports DePIN services, DeFi, SocialFi, and GameFi, ushering in a new era of digital interaction that prioritizes user control, privacy, and rewards.

Roam, a pioneer in decentralized PIN technology, has made a significant advancement by integrating its services into Solana Mobile's Saga phone. This integration aims to enhance global WiFi access and security through the use of decentralized identifiers. The OpenRoaming network has experienced rapid expansion, now boasting over 3.5 million WiFi spots and more than 350,000 app users across more than 140 countries. Roam's ecosystem is built around Roam Points and the $ROAM token, which incentivizes users to contribute to the network's growth by adding WiFi spots, checking in, and referring friends. The app has seen impressive engagement with over 100,000 daily check-ins and the addition of 300,000 network nodes. The launch on the Saga phone's dApp store is expected to improve connectivity and user experience, bringing Web3 technology closer to everyday life. Roam's integration on the Saga phone is a step towards a more connected and secure global connectivity solution.

CoralApp, a project incubated by Binance Labs, is launching the Coral AI Phone, an AI-driven device designed to serve as a gateway to the Web3 lifestyle. The Coral Phone integrates with the Web3 ecosystem, supporting decentralized applications (dApps) and offering a suite of features for decentralized physical infrastructure networks (DePIN). It includes a privacy-first AI assistant with in-depth Web3 knowledge, enabling users to navigate the complexities of the Web3 ecosystem. The phone also supports DeFi services, allowing users to manage investments and trade cryptocurrencies with ease. Additionally, it promotes decentralized social networks with financial benefits and on-chain gaming experiences where users can earn rewards.

MetaGravity and Aethir have joined forces to revolutionize the gaming industry with their partnership. MetaGravity's HyperScale Engine provides developers with a massive compute budget, allowing for the creation of expansive, scalable game worlds. Aethir's decentralized cloud infrastructure locates underutilized GPUs and offers them as a service, enhancing accessibility and reducing costs. Together, they enable developers to scale backend simulation and front-end pixel streaming capabilities, fostering a new era of multiplayer online gaming. Their collaboration also includes an R&D roadmap to advance decentralized physical infrastructure (DePIN), marking a significant step towards the third-generation internet and a paradigm shift in computing infrastructure.

The DePIN Base Camp, a Web3 accelerator program, has chosen six startups to participate in its 12-week program. These startups are developing applications and products that leverage digital networks, decentralized infrastructures, and data services. The program, run by Outlier Ventures in partnership with peaq and supported by Borderless Capital, aims to advance the DePIN sector through enhanced connectivity, data security, and resource utilization. The selected teams are from diverse fields, including IoT hardware networks, AI, digital twins, cybersecurity, and cloud gaming. They will receive mentorship, workshops, and investment from Borderless Capital, a leading venture capital firm in the DePIN space.

Roam, a frontrunner in decentralized physical infrastructure, has made a significant stride by integrating its services into Solana Mobile's Saga phone, advancing its goal to establish a global WiFi roaming network. This integration is a first of its kind, offering secure WiFi through decentralized identifiers and verifiable credentials, thereby enhancing security and accessibility without the need for traditional login credentials. Roam's ecosystem, which incentivizes network development through its native token $ROAM, has rapidly expanded, now covering over 3.5 million WiFi spots and serving a user base spanning more than 140 countries. The Roam app recently reached a daily check-in milestone of 100,000, reflecting both its practical utility and the community's commitment to its vision. With the app now available on the Saga phone's dApp store, Roam is poised to offer an enhanced user experience, aligning with its mission to revolutionize connectivity through a decentralized and user-friendly approach.

DePINs and DeRENs are emerging as solutions to the risks associated with the centralized cloud computing market, dominated by players like AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud. The Cointelegraph Research and SwanChain report highlights how these decentralized platforms can enhance security, transparency, and reduce operational costs. The report also underscores the impact of computationally intensive AI models on the growth of DePINs and DeRENs, with the AI market expected to reach $1.4 trillion by 2029. SwanChain, a decentralized cloud computing platform, offers cost-effective resources for AI applications, smart contracts, and decentralized services, potentially reducing costs by 40-50% compared to major players. The platform's AI computing and storage bidding market allows users to request resources and match them with providers, streamlining the process and cutting costs. The report also discusses the role of AI and ZK Computing in the DePIN ecosystem, with SwanChain processing nearly 350,000 ZK computing tasks post-launch, demonstrating its scalability for ZK applications.