IO IO Loading... : Bullish and Bearish Analyst Opinions

The new generation of DePIN projects—those that lend idle GPUs/CPUs or collect and resell data (e.g., video) for AI training—are undergoing a structural transformation driven by surging AI demand. On-chain verified revenues have grown from $75M in 2025 to a projected $250M in 2026, and total DePIN market cap has jumped from under $5B to $20B. Unlike earlier DePIN waves that relied solely on token emissions and had no real income, these projects earn actual service fees, compensate participants in stablecoins, and use remaining revenue to buy back and burn their own tokens, creating a real equity-like cash‑flow flywheel. AI labs are signing multi‑million‑dollar long‑term contracts for compute and data, providing sustained demand. This revenue‑backed, buyback‑and‑burn model makes the AI‑focused DePIN sub‑sector the only revenue‑generating theme in crypto right now and a strong long opportunity.

The DePIN (Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Network) sector is experiencing a renaissance as AI startups increasingly rent GPU and CPU power from these networks to cut costs. This real enterprise demand is generating actual revenue, leading to token buybacks and burns.