26
Apr, 2025
Countries must add DePIN tokens to their digital asset stockpiles
Altcoin News, Bitcoin News, Crypto Analytics, Crypto Industries & Currency Updates
Opinion by: Raullen Chai, co-founder and CEO of IoTeX
The United States and other superpowers are on the brink of a financial evolution. With President Donald Trump’s recent executive order establishing a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve (SBR) and a US Digital Asset Stockpile (DAS), the conversation around digital assets in government reserves is gaining momentum.
Countries like Czechia have also followed suit with their sovereign digital asset reserve plans. While Bitcoin (BTC) and select altcoins are being considered, the discussion remains incomplete without including decentralized physical infrastructure network (DePIN) tokens.
DePIN represents a new paradigm in infrastructure development, where communities, not corporations, build and operate essential networks like telecommunications that self-govern and distribute rewards to their individual contributors.
If it were to include DePIN tokens in its DAS, the US could use blockchain technology to create a self-sustaining infrastructure economy that strengthens technological leadership.
This would also encourage DePIN projects to build and scale physical infrastructure (such as WiFi, environmental monitoring and transportation) for US citizens by sharing bandwidth from their everyday devices. This eliminates the need for companies and governments to incur heavy capital expenditures.
Moreover, if proven successful in the US, it would set an example for other countries to set up their own sovereign crypto reserves for the benefit of their own citizens. A supranational network of DePIN token reserves would also potentially unite different types of infrastructure and grids in other countries, reducing the cost and friction between them.
A new asset class for sovereign investment
DePIN changes the way infrastructure is built. Instead of relying on governments or private companies to maintain critical infrastructure, DePIN uses blockchain and token incentives to enable community-driven bandwidth sharing.
DePIN networks, like those powering WiFi or movement sensors, prove that this model can be more efficient and cost-effective than traditional approaches.
For the US government, investing in DePIN tokens through its DAS would serve multiple strategic objectives. Regarding economic resilience, DePIN networks create a self-sustaining gig around infrastructure, reducing the country’s reliance on large corporations and enabling communities to earn revenue by contributing to infrastructure needs. Traditional infrastructure is prone to geopolitical risks and monopolistic inefficiencies.
Meanwhile, DePIN offers a decentralized alternative that is censorship-resistant. The US has long been at the forefront of technological revolutions. Including DePIN in its sovereign investment strategy would reinforce its position as a leader in Web3 and blockchain.
Many DePIN projects optimize resource utilization using token incentives to align infrastructure deployment with demand. This approach enables more sustainable, scalable solutions for Internet-of-Things sectors. While Bitcoin is a simple store of value, DePIN tokens represent ownership and operational stakes in decentralized infrastructure and possess tangible value just as equities or bonds.
If countries were to include DePIN tokens in their digital asset reserves, they could use blockchain technology to create self-sustaining, interconnected infrastructure economies. Imagine being able to distribute electricity between two countries when there is an excess demand in one and an oversupply in another. Distributed ledgers’ decentralized and cross-border nature can allow such mechanisms to happen.
A true strategic hedge
Historically, sovereign wealth funds have been used to preserve national wealth by diversifying investments. These models are, however, increasingly vulnerable to inflationary pressures. The US inflation rate averaged 8.0% in 2022, and the price of all assets, whether stocks or Bitcoin, sold off heavily during the year in an overall market rout. No one was immune.
Recent: DePIN needs thoughtful regulation — not lawsuits
On the other hand, DePIN offers a true hedge against these risks because the prices of core infrastructure services are, by definition, part of the Consumer Price Index (CPI), enabling users holding DePIN assets to directly profit from inflation increases or at least preserve their asset value.
DePIN networks also use token incentives to align infrastructure deployment with economic shifts. This is particularly relevant given that global electricity prices surged by over 20% in 2022 due to supply chain disruptions and geopolitical tensions.
In response to increased energy costs, decentralized energy grids operating on blockchain-based token economies could dynamically adjust rewards for energy producers. Coupled with the rise in underlying CPI prices, DePIN networks have the potential to deliver compounded returns (rise in CPI + additional token issuance) in opposition to such market sell-offs.
Including DePIN tokens in a sovereign wealth portfolio exposes the US to next-generation economic models. DePIN networks are built on transparent principles that align incentives between users, infrastructure providers and investors. All nations that have historically led technological revolutions should seize the opportunity to embrace DePIN, reinforcing their status as pioneers.
The future is decentralized
Integrating DePIN tokens into the US DAS or any other sovereign digital asset stockpile would not simply be a financial decision — it is a strategic imperative. With the world shifting toward decentralized economies, the US and other tech powerhouses must position themselves at the forefront of this transformation.
Countries that recognize and embrace this shift today will be best positioned to lead in the next era of global innovation. After all, infrastructure research has been stunted by decades of either monopoly or large-scale government ownership.
If millions of individuals and communities became directly involved in their daily infrastructure through DePIN, it would increase the likelihood of infrastructure innovation due to the sheer volume of crowd involvement and offset research and development expenses from the government for the money to be allocated elsewhere. Decentralization is a win-win for all.
Investing in DePIN will also ensure that national infrastructure remains affordable and not subject to national-level deployments requiring massive tax hikes to fund, enabling a future where physical infrastructure assets are affordably maintained. Specifically, if US policymakers act now, they can secure America’s leadership in the next great infrastructure revolution that prioritizes decentralized ownership.
Opinion by: Raullen Chai, co-founder and CEO of IoTeX.
This article is for general information purposes and is not intended to be and should not be taken as legal or investment advice. The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed here are the author’s alone and do not necessarily reflect or represent the views and opinions of Cointelegraph.
…
Learn MoreCountries must add DePIN tokens to their digital asset stockpiles
26
Apr, 2025
BTC/USD, 1-year chart. Source: Cointelegraph
Crypto sentiment recovers, but weekend liquidity risks remain
Altcoin News, Bitcoin News, Crypto Analytics, Crypto Industries & Currency Updates
Crypto investor sentiment has seen a significant recovery from global tariff concerns, but analysts warn that the market’s structural weaknesses may still result in downside momentum during periods of weekend illiquidity.
Risk appetite appeared to return among crypto investors this week after US President Donald Trump adopted a softer tone, saying that import tariffs on Chinese goods may “come down substantially.”
However, the improved investor sentiment “does not guarantee that Bitcoin will avoid volatility over the weekend,” analysts from Bitfinex exchange told Cointelegraph:
“Sentiment improvements reduce fragility, but they do not eliminate structural risks like thin weekend liquidity.”
“Historically, weekends remain vulnerable to sharp moves — especially when open interest is high and market depth is low,” the analysts said, adding that unexpected macroeconomic news can still increase volatility during low liquidity periods.
Related: Trump fought the bond market, the bond market won: Saifedean Ammous
Bitcoin (BTC) staged a near 11% recovery during the past week, but its rally has previously been limited by Sunday liquidity dynamics.
Bitcoin fell below $75,000 on Sunday, April 6, despite initially decoupling from the US stock market’s $3.5 trillion drop on April 4 after US Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell warned that Trump’s tariffs may affect the economy and raise inflation.
The correction was exacerbated by the lack of weekend liquidity and the fact that Bitcoin was the only large liquid asset available for de-risking, industry watchers told Cointelegraph.
Related: US banks are ‘free to begin supporting Bitcoin’ — Michael Saylor
“While improved sentiment creates a more stable foundation, cryptocurrency markets are still susceptible to rapid movements during periods of reduced trading volume,” according to Marcin Kazmierczak, co-founder and chief operating officer of RedStone blockchain oracle firm.
“The sentiment recovery provides some cushioning, but traders should remain cautious as weekend liquidity constraints can still amplify price movements regardless of the current market mood,” he told Cointelegraph.
Crypto investors may have “maxed out on tariff-related fears”
Cryptocurrency markets may have priced in the full extent of tariff-related concerns, according to Aurelie Barthere, principal research analyst at crypto intelligence platform Nansen.
“It feels like we’ve maxed out on tariff-related fear,” she told Cointelegraph, adding:
“While many remain uncertain about where things are headed over the next month or so, it also seems like markets were just waiting for the slightest signal that we’re back in the game.”
“Whether the rally is sustainable depends on whether we can break through previous resistance levels, at least in isolation. It could have legs, as markets now seem to believe there’s a ‘Trump put’ under equities, the US dollar and US Treasurys,” Barthere added, warning of more potential volatility amid the upcoming negotiations.
Nansen previously predicted a 70% chance that crypto markets will bottom and start a recovery by June, but highlighted that the timing will depend on the outcome of tariff negotiations.
The tariff negotiations may only be “posturing” for the US to reach a trade agreement with China, which may be the “big prize” for Trump’s administration, according to Raoul Pal, founder and CEO of Global Macro Investor.
Magazine: Bitcoin’s odds of June highs, SOL’s $485M outflows, and more: Hodler’s Digest, March 2 – 8
…
Learn MoreCrypto sentiment recovers, but weekend liquidity risks remain
26
Apr, 2025
DeFi Development Corp S-3 filing. Source: SEC
DeFi Development seeks $1B to boost Solana investments, expand treasury
Altcoin News, Bitcoin News, Crypto Analytics, Crypto Industries & Currency Updates
DeFi Development Corp (formerly Janover) aims to raise over $1 billion worth of capital to invest in Solana, the industry’s sixth-largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization.
The Nasdaq-listed firm, previously a real estate financing platform connecting commercial property lenders and buyers, announced its plans in a Form S-3 registration statement filed with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on April 25.
The filing states that the funds will be used for general corporate purposes, including Solana (SOL) token acquisitions.
According to the filing, the company may use proceeds from the offering to purchase more Solana, noting:
“Solana does not pay interest, but staking rewards can be earned on Solana. The ability to generate a return on investment from the net proceeds from this offering will depend on whether there is appreciation in the value of Solana following our purchases of Solana with the net proceeds from this offering.”
The company also warned that fluctuations in Solana’s price could lead to it converting the tokens into cash at a value “substantially below” the net proceeds raised.
Related: Deloitte predicts $4T tokenized real estate on blockchain by 2035
Janover was a real estate financing company connecting lenders and buyers of commercial properties before a team of former Kraken exchange executives bought 728,632 shares of its common stock on April 7. Joseph Onorati, former chief strategy officer at Kraken, has since been appointed as chairman and CEO.
The announcement comes shortly after the leadership of DeFi Development Corp adopted a Solana treasury reserve, “by applying a proven public-market treasury model to an asset that’s earlier in its lifecycle, structurally reflexive, and vastly underexposed as compared to Bitcoins.”
The firm’s new Solana investment treasury has drawn comparisons to Michael Saylor’s Strategy, which has amassed over 538,200 Bitcoin (BTC) as of April 20 — the world’s largest corporate Bitcoin holder.
The firm’s board of directors approved the company’s Solana-focused treasury policy on April 4, authorizing long-term accumulation and the launch of Solana validators to enable the staking of its treasury asset.
Parker White, the firm’s chief investment officer, who previously served as an engineering director at Kraken exchange, already runs a Solana validator with $75 million in delegated stake.
Related: US banks are ‘free to begin supporting Bitcoin’ — Michael Saylor
Regulatory concerns remain for Solana investment
While the Solana-focused treasury implementation marks a significant step for altcoin adoption, the firm remains concerned by the potential effects of opaque crypto regulations, according to the filing:
“We may be subject to regulatory developments related to crypto assets and crypto asset markets, which could adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations.”
The firm cites unclear regulations around digital assets, which may “adversely affect the price of Solana” and, in turn, impact “the market price of our common stock.”
The firm noted that Solana’s potential “reclassifying” as a security remains a particular concern, which may lead to the firm being classified as an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940.
However, the firm’s share price has been benefiting from its Solana acquisitions. Its shares rose by over 12% when DeFi Development Corp added $11.5 million worth of Solana tokens to its treasury on April 22, Cointelegraph reported.
“The decision by commercial property platform Janover to add SOL to its treasury is truly groundbreaking,” Chris Chung, founder of Solana-based swap platform Titan, told Cointelegraph. “I’m confident we will see many other businesses follow suit before long as crypto becomes increasingly adopted by traditional finance.”
Magazine: Ripple says SEC lawsuit ‘over,’ Trump at DAS, and more: Hodler’s Digest, March 16 – 22
…
Learn MoreDeFi Development seeks $1B to boost Solana investments, expand treasury
26
Apr, 2025
Global tokenized real estate value, growth predictions. Source: Deloitte 
The Truth Behind Tokenization and RWA panel. Source: Paris Blockchain Week
Deloitte predicts $4T tokenized real estate on blockchain by 2035
Altcoin News, Bitcoin News, Crypto Analytics, Crypto Industries & Currency Updates
Over $4 trillion worth of real estate could be tokenized on blockchain networks during the next decade, potentially offering investors greater access to property ownership opportunities, according to a new report.
The Deloitte Center for Financial Services predicts that over $4 trillion worth of real estate may be tokenized by 2035, up from less than $300 billion in 2024. The report, published April 24, estimates a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of more than 27%.
The $4 trillion of tokenized property is predicted to stem from the benefits of blockchain-based assets, as well as a structural shift across real estate and property ownership.
“Real estate itself is undergoing transformation. Post-pandemic work-from-home trends, climate risk, and digitization have reshaped property fundamentals,” according to Chris Yin, co-founder of Plume Network, a blockchain built for real-world assets (RWAs).
“Office buildings are being repurposed into AI data centers, logistics hubs and energy-efficient residential communities,” Yin told Cointelegraph.
“Investors want targeted access to these modern use cases, and tokenization enables programmable, customizable exposure to such evolving asset profiles,” he said.
Related: Blockchain needs regulation, scalability to close AI hiring gap
The uncertainty triggered by US President Donald Trump’s import tariffs has boosted investor interest in the RWA tokenization sector, which involves minting financial products and tangible assets on a blockchain.
Both stablecoins and RWAs have attracted significant capital as safe-haven assets amid the global trade concerns, Juan Pellicer, senior research analyst at IntoTheBlock, told Cointelegraph.
The tariff concerns also led tokenized gold volume to surpass $1 billion in trading volume on April 10, its highest level since March 2023 when a US banking crisis saw the sudden collapse of Silicon Valley Bank and the voluntary liquidation of Silvergate Bank
Related: US banks are ‘free to begin supporting Bitcoin’ — Michael Saylor
Blockchain innovation could drive regulatory clarity
Growing RWA adoption may inspire a more welcoming stance from global regulators, Yin said.
“While regulation is a hurdle, regulation follows usage,” he explained, likening tokenization to Uber’s growth before widespread regulatory acceptance:
“Tokenization is similar — as demand increases, regulatory clarity will follow.”
He added that making tokenized products compliant with a wide range of international regulations is key to unlocking broader market access.
However, some industry watchers are skeptical about the benefits introduced by tokenized real estate.
“I don’t think tokenization should have its eyes directly set on real estate,” said Securitize chief operating officer Michael Sonnenshein at Paris Blockchain Week 2025.
“I’m sure there are all kinds of efficiencies that can be unlocked using blockchain technology to eliminate middlemen, escrow, and all kinds of things in real estate. But I think today, what the onchain economy is demanding are more liquid assets,” he added.
Magazine: Ripple says SEC lawsuit ‘over,’ Trump at DAS, and more: Hodler’s Digest, March 16 – 22
…
Learn MoreDeloitte predicts $4T tokenized real estate on blockchain by 2035