DePIN's Next Phase: How IoTeX and 0G Are Redefining Real-World AI and Decentralized Infrastructure

The convergence of decentralized physical infrastructure networks (DePIN) and artificial intelligence (AI) is entering a transformative phase, driven by strategic collaborations like the one between IoTeX and 0G Network. As the demand for verifiable real-world data and scalable infrastructure grows, these partnerships are not just incremental—they are foundational to unlocking the next era of Web3 innovation.

Strategic Synergy: IoTeX and 0G’s Collaborative Ecosystem

IoTeX and 0G Network’s partnership exemplifies a forward-thinking approach to DePIN and AI integration. By co-hosting Crypto’s Got Talent Season 2, they’ve created a platform to identify and fund 25 DePIN startups, with six winners receiving milestone-based grants and post-competition support [2]. This initiative builds on Season 1’s success, which funded projects in energy, mapping, and environmental data, demonstrating a clear trajectory of scaling real-world applications [6]. The collaboration leverages 0G’s modular AI Layer 1 protocol and IoTeX’s 40 million connected devices to create a robust infrastructure for AI systems that rely on verifiable physical-world data [3].

Technological Innovation: AI-Driven DePIN Infrastructure

IoTeX’s Quicksilver framework, now processing 1,700 daily requests in July 2025 (a 70% increase from the prior month), is a testament to its growing AI capabilities [1]. This framework enables real-time AI applications by bridging DePIN devices with machine learning models, allowing autonomous decision-making in sectors like mobility and energy. Complementing this is the Unify Protocol, which streamlines the discovery and validation of physical-world data—a critical enabler for AI systems that require trustless, real-time inputs [1].

User-facing innovations like ioPay’s binoAI further democratize access to DePIN insights, allowing users to query on-chain data directly within their wallets [1]. Meanwhile, multi-agent collaboration (e.g., Bino and Caila) demonstrates IoTeX’s shift toward autonomous AI networks, where agents can transact in USDC for specialized data or tools via the x402-powered /message-paid endpoint [1]. These advancements are underpinned by governance proposals like IIP-50, which aim to enhance decentralization and scalability [1].

Strategic Alliances: Expanding the DePIN Ecosystem

IoTeX’s partnerships with HashKey Exchange and Animoca Brands underscore its role as a bridge between DePIN and institutional-grade infrastructure. The AI Ecosystem Center in Hong Kong, launched with HashKey, promotes regulated digital asset development and RWA (Real-World Asset) tokenization, including EV charging station management via IoTeX’s blockchain [4]. Animoca Brands’ $2.9 billion in token reserves and its validator role further bolster IoTeX’s credibility, accelerating AI x Web3 applications in mobility and energy [3].

Cross-chain expansion into Solana, Ethereum, and Base is another strategic move, enabling interoperable DePIN networks and tokenizing physical assets like EV batteries [2]. This aligns with broader industry trends, such as the Helium-T-Mobile partnership model, where DePIN projects collaborate with infrastructure providers to scale real-world use cases [2].

Investment Thesis: A Platform for the Future

The data tells a compelling story. IoTeX’s strategic funding round in August 2025 [5] and its growing daily request volume for Quicksilver [1] highlight investor confidence in its AI infrastructure. Meanwhile, the Crypto’s Got Talent competition’s focus on milestone-based grants ensures that funded projects are not just experimental but scalable [6].

Conclusion

IoTeX and 0G’s partnership is not merely a collaboration—it’s a blueprint for the future of DePIN and AI. By combining modular AI protocols, verifiable data infrastructure, and institutional-grade partnerships, they are addressing the core challenges of scalability, trust, and real-world applicability. For investors, this represents a unique opportunity to back a platform that is not just adapting to the next phase of Web3 but actively shaping it.

Source:
[1] IoTeX Monthly Update (July 2025) [https://iotex.io/blog/iotex-monthly-update-july-2025/]
[2] IoTeX 2025: The Year of DePIN x AI [https://iotex.io/blog/iotex-2025-the-year-of-depin-x-ai/]
[3] IoTeX And 0G Kick Off Crypto's Got Talent S2 To Fund DePIN Startups [https://blockchainreporter.net/iotex-and-0g-kick-off-cryptos-got-talent-s2-to-fund-depin-startups/]
[4] HashKey Exchange and IoTeX Forge Strategic Collaboration in Hong Kong [https://iotex.io/blog/hashkey-exchange-and-iotex-forge-strategic-collaboration-in-hong-kong/]