Three Emerging Concepts in the Web3 Space: DePIN, DeSci, and DeFAI

With the cryptocurrency market entering a new bull market last November, Bitcoin's price broke through the $100,000 mark, and the concept of the integration of artificial intelligence and Web3 has emerged continuously. The rapid iteration speed and rich creativity of these emerging concepts are overwhelming. This article will briefly introduce three intriguing concepts: DePIN, DeSci, and DeFAI.

DePIN: Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Network

DePIN stands for "Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Networks" and refers to an innovative way of constructing and maintaining real-world infrastructure using blockchain technology. This concept originated from MachineFi proposed in 2021 and has evolved through ecological development.

DePIN coordinates multiple independent units of physical hardware facilities through blockchain technology and token incentive mechanisms in a permissionless, trustless, and programmable manner. It encompasses infrastructure networks in various fields such as storage space, communication bandwidth, cloud computing, and energy.

A well-known blockchain project is an excellent practitioner of the DePIN concept. The physical products launched by this project, such as home cameras and physical data recorders, have become pioneers for Web3 technology entering daily life. Recently, the project also collaborated with another company to deeply integrate its modular DePIN infrastructure with an AI agent system, aiming to create AI Agents with the ability to perceive the physical world.

DeSci: Decentralized Science

DeSci, short for "Decentralized Science", is an innovative concept aimed at addressing the pain points in traditional research fields using blockchain technology. It seeks to improve issues related to research review, funding, intellectual property management, and data transparency through Web3 technologies such as FT, NFT, and DAO.

The core goal of DeSci is to democratize scientific research and discovery. It provides scientists with a new way to raise funds, conduct experiments, share data, and disseminate research findings. This concept is like a bridge, allowing the general public to participate in high-tech development through intuitive investment methods, while also helping scientists secure sufficient research funding.

The rise of DeSci may disrupt the vested interests of the traditional academic community. It provides equal opportunities for all capable researchers through a decentralized approach, promising to break the monopoly of academic resources and promote fairness and openness in academia. However, DeSci still faces numerous challenges in terms of legal, technical, and academic recognition, and continuous efforts are needed to achieve its ambitious goals.

DeFAI: The Combination of DeFi and AI

DeFAI is an emerging concept that represents the integration of Decentralized Finance (DeFi) and Artificial Intelligence (AI). It aims to leverage AI's powerful computing capabilities and data analysis skills to enhance the efficiency and security of DeFi projects.

Ideally, DeFAI can significantly lower the usage threshold of DeFi through technologies such as natural language processing. For example, users can issue trading instructions directly in natural language, and AI will automatically handle complex operations such as parsing, searching for the best liquidity sources, and generating trading data.

However, as an emerging concept, DeFAI still faces many challenges. For example, whether AI's understanding of natural language is sufficient to accurately execute complex financial transaction instructions, and how to find a balance between convenience and security. To achieve large-scale application, DeFAI also needs to make breakthrough progress in AI technology.

Conclusion

DePIN, DeSci, and DeFAI, as cutting-edge concepts in the Web3 space, each carry different missions and visions. Although they are currently in the early stages of development, with technological advancements, ecosystem improvements, and enhanced market awareness, these concepts are expected to trigger profound changes in their respective fields. In the future, they may intertwine and develop synergistically, collectively shaping a more open, efficient, and intelligent new ecosystem for the digital economy.