AI Forecasts 2026 Crypto Sector Surge as DePIN, RWA, SocialFi Steal Spotlight
With crypto on the rise globally, it’s difficult to forecast just what location of the blockchain sector will produce enough interest to become the next huge thing. The post AI Predicts 2026 Crypto Sector Rise as DePIN, RWA, SocialFi Steal Spotlight appeared first on Cryptonews.
“DePIN refers to blockchain-based programs that allow users to contribute infrastructure at a local scale while rewarding participants for adding resources and information to the network itself. Traditional DePIN infrastructure consists of storage, energy, bandwidth, computing, and more, making the sector appealing to governments looking to possibly improve their jurisdiction’s facilities via a decentralized, people-first approach. Proponents of DePIN argue that it decentralizes and democratizes technological development, especially when it comes to establishing rural locations with innovative technology. Portugal’s grid operator blames a fault from a ‘uncommon climatic phenomenon’ causing severe temp …
With a market value of $2.2 trillion and the potential to grow to $3.5 trillion by 2025, DePIN appears to be a hotbed for innovation. Cooperative digital storage network Filecoin, global map crowdsourcing platform Hivemapper, and graphics processing unit (GPU) companies like Render Network have all created buzz around the forthcoming sector, with plenty of startups following suit. And that’s not all– a 2025 Messari report finds that the DePIN projects have attracted an estimated $1 billion in venture capital since 2023. ‘DePIN went from being a non-consensus category to being widely acknowledged as one of, if not the single most crucial sector advancing the crypto economy today,’ the report reads. In summary, DePIN has the ingredients of a 2026 breakout– novel tech, real energy, strong early metrics, and synergy with other hot trends, making it a top sector to watch.
Traditional Financing Fulfills Web3 With RWA Tokenization Another key crypto trend expected to emerge next year is the rise of real-world asset (RWA) tokenization.
‘DePIN refers to blockchain-based programs that permit users to contribute infrastructure at a local scale while rewarding individuals for adding data and resources to the network itself. Traditional DePIN infrastructure includes storage, energy, bandwidth, computing, and more, making the sector attractive to governments looking to potentially improve their jurisdiction’s infrastructure through a decentralized, people-first approach. Proponents of DePIN argue that it decentralizes and equalizes technological advancement, especially when it comes to establishing rural locations with innovative technology. ‘DePIN leverages blockchain technology to decentralize the control and management of physical devices, addressing limitations of traditional infrastructure networks,’ a June 2024 study by Zin et al. states. Coming off the heels of an extraordinary power outage that saw parts of Spain, France, and Portugal go dark, DePIN could offer a localized solution for reconfiguring power grids in a way that reduces the risk of a major blackout occurring. Portugal’s grid operator blames a fault from a ‘rare climatic phenomenon’ triggering severe temp …
With a market value of $2.2 trillion and the potential to grow to $3.5 trillion by 2025, DePIN appears to be a hotbed for innovation. Cooperative digital storage network Filecoin, global map crowdsourcing platform Hivemapper, and graphics processing unit (GPU) business like Render Network have all generated buzz around the upcoming sector, with plenty of startups following suit. And that’s not all– a 2025 Messari report finds that the DePIN projects have attracted an estimated $1 billion in venture capital since 2023. ‘DePIN went from being a non-consensus category to being widely recognized as one of, if not the single most important sector advancing the crypto economy today,’ the report reads. In summary, DePIN has the ingredients of a 2026 breakout– unique tech, real utility, strong early metrics, and synergy with other hot trends, making it a top sector to watch.
Traditional Finance Fulfills Web3 With RWA Tokenization Another essential crypto trend expected to surface next year is the rise of real-world asset (RWA) tokenization. From the introduction of DePIN to the development of SocialFi, emerging trends in the crypto sector provide new solutions to longstanding issues along the lines of tech, governance, and social connectivity. These trends aren’t just for insiders– they’re shaping how we live, invest, and engage online.
