The Rise of DePIN, the Next-Generation Infrastructure Leading 2026
With AI attracting significant attention, more and more people are focusing on the fundamental question: "Who will power AI in the real world?" Simple code and algorithms aren't enough. In reality, physical infrastructure, such as computational resources, bandwidth, and storage, is essential. In this context, the "Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Network (DePIN)" is emerging as a key keyword for 2026.
By 2025, DePIN had evolved from a mere narrative into a tangible market. IoID device registrations had surged by approximately 450% year-over-year, and protocol revenue had grown by 258%, reaching $443,770 (approximately KRW 640.54 million) on a weekly basis. The question of feasibility is now over; the key question is how quickly and efficiently it can scale.
DePIN Market Restructuring and Growth Indicators
As of January 19, 2026, the market capitalization of the DePIN ecosystem is approximately $11.1 billion (approximately KRW 16.123 trillion). This figure only reflects the value of listed tokens; if unlisted projects are included, the total value is likely to be much higher.
Interestingly, while the value of DePIN-related tokens fell by an average of 80% in 2025, real-world projects managed to rebound. Real-time rendering infrastructure RENDER surged 62% in just one month in 2026, while Arweeb (AR) and Akash (AKASH) also saw double-digit gains.
In the wireless networking sector, the number of registered routers worldwide has surpassed 5 million, and collaborations with Fortune 500 companies have led to a 23% increase in customer base. In the mapping sector, HiveMapper covers over 700 million kilometers of road data, securing approximately 37% of the world's roads, and has raised $32 million (approximately KRW 46.1 billion) in funding based on this data. Akash, with annual recurring revenue of $4.3 million (approximately KRW 6.2 billion), is driving long-term, high-value AI demand.
Transition to a cost- and efficiency-focused market
The market is now evaluating projects not simply by superficial metrics like the number of registered routers, but by their effective traffic throughput, the quality of their paid customers, and whether they have signed commercial contracts. 2026 will be the year when projects are judged not by token price, but by actual utilization, reliability, and contract-based revenue.
In particular, DePIN is emerging as a core infrastructure for AI. If AI is the "front end," DePIN will serve as the "supply chain." This is because centralized data centers alone will struggle to meet rapidly increasing demand.
In this trend, "profit per node" and "service utilization" are emerging as key performance indicators (KPIs). Projects that result in substantial contracts, such as B2B contracts or telecommunications backhaul deals, are gaining recognition for their authenticity.
A shift has also begun on the regulatory front. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's (SEC) dismissal of Nova Labs' lawsuit sets a precedent for regulatory flexibility for real-world tokens.
Meanwhile, industry consolidation is gaining momentum. Mapping projects are becoming vertically integrated with data pipelines for autonomous vehicles. The megatrends centered around real assets (RWA) and stablecoins also demonstrate a strong potential fit with DePIN's infrastructure orientation.
According to market research firms, the total DePIN market is expected to reach $3.5 trillion (approximately KRW 5,048 trillion) by 2028.
The invisible current that drives DePIN
The underlying currents operating beneath the surface are also key drivers of DePIN's rise. Primarily, the chronic shortage of AI computational resources is making distributed infrastructure an economic imperative.
Furthermore, the massive Cloudflare outage last November raised awareness of the risks of centralization and fueled demand for decentralized alternatives. The proliferation of hardware like sensors and routers has enabled rapid and inexpensive infrastructure construction by the crowd. Furthermore, stablecoins are establishing themselves as the optimal medium for high-speed micropayments, providing instant rewards to millions of contributors worldwide.
Another strength of DePIN is its transparent on-chain accounting structure. Thanks to a smart contract-based "proof of work" system, all activities are monitorable and auditable, serving as a trusted infrastructure suitable not only for B2B contracts but also for insurance products.
This is not a short-term fad, but a structural shift. The key is that the transition to DePIN is not a question of "if" but "when." The market is maturing, the technology and demand are ready, and 2026 will be the year when this change becomes fully visible.
💡 "In the AI era, who will support its backend? DePIN Infrastructure's eye for the answer."
In 2026, the Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Network (DePIN) is experiencing explosive growth alongside AI. However, only projects that demonstrate real profitability and utility , not mere tokens, will survive.
From mapping and wireless networks to storage and computational resources, DePIN has already established itself as a core supply chain for AI and Web3.
In such a sophisticated market, the question is no longer, "Will this token go up?"
We need to be able to ask , “How much valid traffic is this protocol handling?”
📊 More important than exchange disclosures are the 'profit rate per node and the number of B2B contracts concluded.'
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This article was summarized using a TokenPost.ai-based language model. Key points in the text may be omitted or inaccurate.
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