Here at Onchain, we’ve had our boots on the ground since DePIN was just a whisper. Now? It’s a full-blown symphony. Think of it like Web3’s fiber-optic nervous system, but powered by token rewards, community nodes, and vibes that don’t quit.
As centralized giants fumble with outdated models, Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Networks (DePINs) are flipping the script.
We’re talking community-run alternatives to cloud, energy, mobility, and more, all baked into the blockchain with real-world utility.
And the folks driving this movement? Absolute legends. These 25 leaders and projects are on the front lines, building a future where real infrastructure runs on open networks and aligned incentives, not corporate monopolies.
We compiled a list of 25 pioneers in collaboration with the ICN (Impossible Cloud Network) and the DePIN Association, key players in supporting and scaling DePIN ecosystems worldwide. We found these 25 founders who help the space grow with transparency and clarity to be most inspiring and impactful.
Here are the 25 DePIN leaders and top DePIN projects you should be watching.
Top 25 DePIN leaders and projects
- Amir Haleem: Helium.com – A decentralized wireless network revolutionizing IoT. connectivity.
- Greg Osuri: Akash Network – The world’s premier decentralized compute marketplace.
- Leonard Dorlöchter: peaq – An EVM-compatible layer 1 blockchain built to power the Machine Economy.
- Raullen Chai: IoTeX – Modular infrastructure for DePIN and Physical AI, connecting humans to machines.
- Mark Rydon: Aethir – Decentralized cloud computing delivering scalable GPU resources for AI, gaming, and Web3.
- Clara Tsao: Filecoin Foundation – The largest decentralized storage network globally.
- Alex Rawitz: DIMO – A secure mobility platform building connected car applications.
- Tory Green: io.net – The largest decentralized computing network offering scalable compute clusters.
- Tom Trowbridge: Fluence Network – A cloudless computing platform offering low-cost, resilient alternatives.
- Ariel Seideman: Hivemapper – A people-powered mapping network rewarding users for collecting street-level imagery.
- Jemma Green: Powerledger – A platform enabling peer-to-peer renewable energy trading.
- Mike A. Horton: Geodnet – Real-time precision positioning data for IoT and autonomous tech.
- Alessandro De Carli: Acurast – Verifiable decentralized computing powered by smartphones.
- Thomas Messerer: Silencio – A DePIN network creating a global noise pollution map through token incentives.
- Al Morris: Koii Network – A decentralized network turning everyday devices into an AI supercomputer.
- Kony Gaib: GAIB – AI-based DePIN for investment strategies and blockchain insights.
- Alireza Ghods: NATIX Network – A decentralized camera network using smartphones and AI to power real-time mapping, mobility data, and autonomous vehicle applications.
- Manolis Nikiforakis: WeatherXM – Community-deployed weather stations creating a decentralized weather data marketplace.
- Trang Phung: U2U Network – A layer-1 blockchain enabling DePIN with modular subnets and DAG architecture.
- Handy Barot: StorX – A secure decentralized cloud storage platform.
- Kai Wawrzinek: Impossible Cloud Network – Building the infra layer for the decentralized internet.
- Andrew Smith: Hivello – A DePIN aggregator that helps users earn by monetizing unused computer resources.
- David Corvalho: Naoris Protocol – A decentralized cybersecurity protocol using collective intelligence.
- Jonathan Schemoul: Aleph.im – Providing decentralized computing and storage for dApps.
- Sebastian Pfeiffer: Impossible Cloud Network – Building the infra layer for the decentralized internet.
DePIN into the future
These 25 DePIN leaders are laying the foundation for a decentralized world where infrastructure is no longer the exclusive domain of centralized corporations.
From decentralized mapping and ride-sharing to peer-powered data storage and gridless energy, these projects demonstrate how blockchain and tokenized networks are reshaping real-world systems.
Watch names like Alireza Ghods (NATIX Network), Raullen Chai (IoTeX), and Clara Tsao (Filecoin Foundation) for cutting-edge insights.
This list isn’t just names and DePIN crypto projects; it’s a snapshot of the DePIN movement. They are showing what it really means to scale in reality through the Web3 decentralized world.
To explore deeper trends, project intel, and more insights across the DePIN landscape, check out the latest Onchain DePIN Report.
Want early access to data-driven research and industry deep-dives? Become an Onchain member and stay at the forefront of the decentralized infrastructure revolution.