Top 15 DePIN Projects in 2025: The Future of Decentralized Infrastructure
Updated November 2025
Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Networks (DePIN) moved from niche acronym to a core crypto + AI narrative. In 2025, DePIN projects live at the intersection of Web3, real-world infrastructure, and GPU-hungry AI — and that’s exactly where ShareAI operates.
In this guide:
- What DePIN actually is
- Why DePIN is exploding in 2025
- 15 standout DePIN projects by category (with a focus on DePIN + GPU)
- A deep dive into ShareAI’s decentralized GPU compute approach
- How to get involved in the DePIN ecosystem
- A look ahead: DePIN market size by 2027
Along the way we’ll naturally target “DePIN projects 2025” (primary), plus decentralized infrastructure network, DePIN crypto, blockchain infrastructure network, and DePIN GPU mining.
What Is DePIN? (Quick Explainer)
DePIN = Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Networks.
In plain terms: DePIN projects use incentives and open networks to coordinate people and organizations to deploy and run physical infrastructure in the real world — and reward them for doing it.
Instead of:
- A telco funding all the cell towers
- A cloud giant building every data center
- A single company owning all the map data
…DePIN turns those into open networks anyone can contribute to and get paid by.
- Compute networks – GPU/CPU for AI & apps
- Storage networks – decentralized cloud & permanent storage
- Wireless networks – Wi-Fi, 5G, IoT connectivity
- Sensor networks – weather, mapping, geospatial, mobility data
Why DePIN Is Exploding in 2025
1) The numbers are finally meaningful
DePIN went from small experiments to hundreds of live networks and tokens, with real hardware deployed and usage fees flowing. Even if measured conservatively, it’s grown from a niche theme to a durable blockchain infrastructure network segment that builders can touch and measure.
2) AI + GPU demand is off the charts
The AI GPU market ballooned, creating two gaps:
- Top-tier GPUs are scarce and pricey for startups and indie builders.
- Consumer & edge GPUs sit idle most of the day.
DePIN GPU networks step in by pooling idle GPUs globally, routing useful work (AI inference, rendering) and rewarding providers. This is where “DePIN GPU mining” emerges: instead of hashing, your hardware performs real AI tasks and earns.
3) “Useful work” is easy to explain
DePIN is a clear answer to the classic crypto question, “What’s the point?” From wireless (Helium) to storage (Filecoin) to mapping (Hivemapper), these networks power services non-crypto users can feel — with transparent economics.
The DePIN Stack (Where ShareAI Fits)
You can view DePIN as four horizontal pillars:
- Compute — GPUs / CPUs for AI inference, training bursts, rendering
- Storage — content and dataset durability (hot/cold/permanent)
- Wireless — Wi-Fi, 5G, IoT connectivity
- Sensors & mobility — weather stations, dashcams, GNSS/RTK, vehicle telemetry
ShareAI sits squarely in Compute, specializing in GPU inference for open-source LLMs. It naturally connects upward and sideways to other pillars (e.g., models and datasets living on decentralized storage).
For a quick model and provider overview, explore the Models (Marketplace):
Browse Models
Top 15 DePIN Projects in 2025 (By Category)
Note: Curated snapshot for “DePIN projects 2025” across compute, storage, wireless, and sensors. This is not financial advice. Metrics like price, supply, and usage evolve; always check current dashboards before decisions.
1) Compute Networks (DePIN + GPU)
ShareAI — The People-Powered AI API (Prosumer-first GPU grid)
Category: Compute (GPU)
Token/unit: Usage credits today; future on-chain options possible
Contributors provide: Idle CPU/GPU on desktops & laptops
Users get: One API to open-source LLMs, pay-per-token pricing
What’s unique:
- Idle-time first: ShareAI takes advantage of the dead times of GPUs and servers — owners get paid for capacity that would otherwise sit idle.
- Prosumer model: You can consume AI via one API, and also provide your spare compute when you’re not using it.
- Aligned incentives: ~70% of revenue flows back to device owners (a powerful pull for providers).
- Clarity: Today, ShareAI does not run on DePIN/blockchain protocols. It mirrors DePIN-like economics (anyone can contribute hardware and earn), while focusing on reliability and developer UX.
Try models instantly in the Playground or grab credentials:
Open Playground
Create an API Key
Want to earn with your hardware?
Provider Dashboard
Akash Network — Decentralized GPU “Supercloud”
Category: Compute (cloud marketplace)
Contributors: Data-center GPU/CPU capacity
Users: Kubernetes-style decentralized cloud with GPU support
Render Network — GPU Rendering → AI Workloads
Category: Compute (render/AI)
Contributors: High-end GPUs
Users: Distributed rendering + AI image/video tasks
io.net — Solana-Native DePIN GPU
Category: Compute (GPU)
Contributors: GPUs from data centers, miners, private clusters
Users: On-demand AI GPU clusters
Aethir — Enterprise-Grade DePIN GPU Cloud
Category: Compute (GPU)
Contributors: GPU containers, node operators
Users: AI inference & cloud gaming at scale
Nosana — AI Inference Marketplace
Category: Compute (GPU)
Contributors: GPUs tuned for inference
Users: Low-cost, on-demand inference
2) Storage Networks (Decentralized Data Infrastructure)
Filecoin — The Decentralized Storage Layer
Category: Storage
Contributors: Storage providers (exabyte-scale capacity)
Users: Verifiable storage + retrieval; IPFS incentive/security layer
Arweave — Permanent Data Storage
Category: Storage
Contributors: Storage + miners
Users: Permanent (economically perpetual) storage with one-time fees
3) Wireless Networks (Decentralized Connectivity)
Helium — Community-Owned IoT & 5G
Category: Wireless
Contributors: Hotspots & small cells
Users: Long-range IoT and 5G mobile coverage
Nodle — Smartphone-Powered IoT
Category: Wireless / IoT
Contributors: Smartphone radios via app SDKs
Users: Asset tracking, smart-city connectivity
XNET — Carrier-Grade DePIN Wi-Fi
Category: Wireless (Wi-Fi offload)
Contributors: Business/venue Wi-Fi hotspots
Users: Carrier offload + enterprise access
4) Sensors, Mapping & Mobility
Hivemapper — Drive-to-Earn Mapping
Category: Sensors / Mapping
Contributors: Dashcam imagery + validators
Users: Street-level map data
GEODNET — Decentralized GNSS/RTK
Category: Sensors / Geospatial
Contributors: GNSS base stations
Users: Centimeter-level corrections for drones/robots/agri
WeatherXM — Community Weather Grid
Category: Sensors / Weather
Contributors: Weather stations
Users: Hyperlocal weather data products
DIMO — Vehicle Data Protocol
Category: Sensors / Mobility
Contributors: Real-time vehicle telemetry
Users: Insurance, maintenance, fleets, mobility apps
Comparison Snapshot: 15 DePIN Projects (2025)
| Project | Category | Native Token / Unit | What Contributors Provide | Primary Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ShareAI | Compute (GPU) | Usage credits (tokenizable later) | Idle CPU/GPU on high-end devices | DePIN-style GPU grid for open-source LLMs |
| Akash | Compute (cloud) | AKT | Data-center GPU/CPU capacity | Decentralized “Supercloud” for AI & apps |
| Render | Compute (render/AI) | RNDR | GPU rendering power | Distributed rendering & AI workloads |
| io.net | Compute (GPU) | IO | GPUs from DCs & miners | On-demand AI GPU clusters |
| Aethir | Compute (GPU) | Aethir ecosystem | GPU containers + nodes | Enterprise GPU cloud & gaming |
| Nosana | Compute (GPU) | NOS | GPUs tuned for inference | Low-cost inference marketplace |
| Filecoin | Storage | FIL | Storage capacity | Decentralized file storage layer |
| Arweave | Storage | AR | Storage + mining | Permanent data storage |
| Helium | Wireless | HNT (+ sub-tokens) | Hotspots and small cells | IoT and 5G coverage |
| Nodle | Wireless / IoT | NODL | Smartphone connectivity | IoT connectivity & asset tracking |
| XNET | Wireless (Wi-Fi) | XNET | Enterprise/venue Wi-Fi hotspots | Carrier-grade Wi-Fi offload |
| Hivemapper | Sensors / Mapping | HONEY | Dashcam imagery & verification | Global street-level mapping |
| GEODNET | Sensors / Geospatial | GEOD | GNSS base stations | RTK-grade positioning |
| WeatherXM | Sensors / Weather | WXM | Weather stations | Hyperlocal weather data network |
| DIMO | Sensors / Mobility | DIMO | Vehicle telemetry | Car-data DePIN for mobility services |
Optional: when publishing, you can add a “Market Cap / Devices / Nodes” column sourced from live dashboards. Values change frequently; we keep them out of the static draft.
Deep Dive: ShareAI’s Approach to Decentralized GPU Compute
The Problem
GPUs are centralized and expensive; startups and researchers get priced out. Consumer GPUs (workstations, gaming rigs) are unused most of the time. AI APIs are fragmented, with opaque pricing and policy changes.
The ShareAI Vision: People-Powered AI
“Airbnb for idle machines”: anyone can contribute hardware and get paid. One API → 150+ models, routed across providers; pay-per-token usage that developers understand. ~70% of revenue goes back to GPU owners, aligning incentives and accelerating supply growth.
Explore the documentation or grab keys:
Documentation (Docs Home)
Create an API Key
DePIN-Like Economics, Without the Protocol
To be clear: ShareAI is not using DePIN/blockchain protocols today. However, it adopts the same core economics that make DePIN compelling:
- Open participation: anyone with capable hardware can join.
- Idle-time monetization: ShareAI takes advantage of the dead times of GPUs and servers, turning sunk costs into earnings.
- Useful work: your GPU runs real AI inference instead of wasteful hashing.
If you want to provide compute:
Provider Dashboard
Or read the Provider Guide (onboarding, best practices):
Provider Guide
Where ShareAI Connects in the DePIN Stack
Storage: datasets, model artifacts, and logs can live on decentralized storage ecosystems. Wireless & Sensors: apps built atop Helium/Nodle/XNET, Hivemapper/GEODNET/WeatherXM/DIMO can call open-source LLMs through ShareAI’s API.
How to Get Involved in the DePIN Ecosystem
1) As a hardware provider (“miner”)
GPU networks: ShareAI, Render, Aethir, io.net, Nosana, Akash — contribute your GPUs, earn via tokens or revenue share. Wireless & sensors: Helium/XNET (hotspots), WeatherXM (weather stations), GEODNET (GNSS base stations), DIMO (vehicle adapters), Hivemapper (dashcams).
Start with ShareAI in minutes:
Provider Dashboard
2) As a developer or team
Prototype in the Playground → Open Playground
Ship to production with one API → Create an API Key
Learn more → Documentation
3) As a community member or researcher
Track decentralized infrastructure network deployments (devices, GPUs, nodes). Focus on usage, uptime, and revenue over only token prices. Revisit this list annually; DePIN projects 2025 is an evergreen format that updates well.
DePIN Market Outlook: Where Could We Be by 2027?
Without making predictions, a reasonable directional view is:
- Token market caps: still in the tens of billions if traction continues.
- Network revenues: maturing networks could aggregate to hundreds of millions per year.
- GPU DePIN share: with AI spend growing, even a single-digit share captured by decentralized GPU networks implies multi-billion-dollar throughput across the sector.
The takeaway: DePIN is early, but no longer hypothetical. Real networks exist, real hardware is deployed, and real users are paying.
Provider Facts (ShareAI)
- Who can provide: Community or Company providers (anyone can join).
- Installers: Windows, Ubuntu, macOS, Docker.
- Contribution modes:
- Idle-time bursts (lend spare cycles)
- Dedicated / Always-on (serve inference workloads continuously)
- Incentives:
- Rewards (earn real money)
- Exchange (earn credits to spend on ShareAI usage — great for AI prosumers)
- Mission (donate a chosen % to NGOs)
- Perks as you scale: Set your own inference prices, get preferential exposure, and more.
Get started:
Sign in or Sign up → then open the Provider Dashboard
Next Steps
- Compare models and pricing → Browse Models
- Try models instantly → Open Playground
- Read the docs → Documentation
- Get credentials → Create an API Key
- Become a provider → Provider Dashboard
- See what’s new → Releases
