DePIN (Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Networks) as AI infrastructure

DePIN (Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Networks) as AI infrastructure is characterized by rapid deployment and measurable commercial metrics. IoID-registered devices surged nearly 450% during 2025, and weekly protocol revenue jumped over 258% to $443,770 by year-end 2025. DePIN market cap stood at $11.1 billion as of January 19, 2026, while wireless networks surpassed 5 million registered routers worldwide. These adoption and revenue figures occur alongside a reported 23% increase in customers in collaboration with a Fortune 500 company.

Hivemapper’s network covered over 700 million km of roads, about 37% of the global road network, and completed a $32 million funding round. Akash reported generating over $4.3 million in annual recurring revenue, and RENDER surged 62% year-to-date in early 2026; AR and AKASH posted double-digit gains. The DePIN sector experienced an approximate 80% loss of token value in 2025. Market estimates project the sector to reach $3.5 trillion by 2028. A quoted assessment states, “First, DePIN will become an essential AI infrastructure layer.”

DePIN (Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Networks) as AI infrastructure: 2025–2026 growth metrics

DePIN (Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Networks) as AI infrastructure registered measurable growth across several indicators during 2025 and into January 2026. IoID-registered devices surged nearly 450% during 2025, reported for that calendar year, reflecting device registration activity over the 12-month period. Weekly protocol revenue increased by over 258%, reaching $443,770 by year-end 2025, and the DePIN market capitalization was reported at $11.1 billion as of January 19, 2026.

Wireless networks within the DePIN sector surpassed 5 million registered routers worldwide, reflecting the scale of router registrations at the stated time. A 23% increase in customers was reported in connection with a collaboration involving a Fortune 500 company, indicating customer-count growth tied to that partnership. The metrics above are presented as reported for the period covering 2025 into January 2026 without additional interpretation or extrapolation.

DePIN token value performance in 2025

The DePIN sector reported an approximately 80% loss in token value during 2025. The reported figure refers to sector-wide token valuations for the 2025 calendar year and is presented as a measured percentage decline.

This token value decline appears alongside other 2025 metrics reported for the sector, including a nearly 450% surge in IoID-registered devices and a more than 258% increase in weekly protocol revenue to $443,770 by year-end 2025.

The provided material states the approximate 80% token value decline without supplying further explanatory data within those facts.

Hivemapper’s network covered over 700 million km of roads, as reported in the provided material. That reported coverage is described as representing about 37% of the global road network. The provided material also records that Hivemapper completed a $32 million funding round.

Akash is reported to be generating over $4.3 million in annual recurring revenue. The provided material presents this figure as Akash’s reported annual recurring revenue and does not provide additional breakdowns of that revenue in the same material. Akash is listed among the named DePIN companies in the provided data.

RENDER is reported to have surged 62% year-to-date in early 2026. The provided material also states that AR and AKASH posted double-digit gains in early 2026. The performance figures for RENDER, AR, and AKASH are presented in the provided material for the early 2026 time frame.

The DePIN market is projected to reach a valuation of $3.5 trillion by 2028. This projection reflects anticipated growth within the DePIN sector over a multi-year period. Expert quotes provide further context on DePIN’s role as an infrastructure layer in the AI industry.

An expert quote emphasizes that “AI models need actual compute, bandwidth, and storage, not just code and hype,” highlighting the importance of infrastructure in supporting AI systems.

Another expert stated, “AI is the storefront; DePIN is the supply chain,” conveying the essential function DePIN serves in underpinning the broader AI industry.

The focus on tangible metrics is underscored by the insight that “the question is no longer how many routers you can register. Instead, it’s how much real traffic you can serve, at measurable quality, for paying customers.” This reflects a shift toward performance-based assessments within the sector.

Predictions for 2026 indicate that the market will prioritize “utilization, reliability, and commercial contracts, not token noise,” suggesting that the industry will mature in terms of service delivery and agreements.

Another expert remarks, “The market is maturing, the tools are ready, and the demand is undeniable,” pointing to readiness and market demand as driving forces in the sector’s trajectory.

DePIN (Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Networks) as AI infrastructure recorded multiple measurable indicators of growth across 2025 and early 2026, including a nearly 450% increase in IoID-registered devices in 2025 and a weekly protocol revenue rise of over 258% to $443,770 by year-end 2025. The sector’s market capitalization was reported at $11.1 billion as of January 19, 2026, and wireless networks within the DePIN ecosystem surpassed 5 million registered routers worldwide, accompanied by a reported 23% increase in customers tied to a collaboration with a Fortune 500 company.

Company-level data in the provided material include Hivemapper’s reported coverage of over 700 million km of roads (about 37% of the global road network) with a $32 million funding round, Akash’s reported annual recurring revenue of over $4.3 million, and reported early-2026 performance metrics showing RENDER up 62% year-to-date with AR and AKASH posting double-digit gains.

The provided material also records an approximate 80% loss in sector token value during 2025 and a market projection to reach $3.5 trillion by 2028, alongside quoted statements noting that the market is maturing and that DePIN will become an essential AI infrastructure layer.