Raullen Chai, CEO of IoTeX, on The Current DePIN Landscape, Autonomous Infrastructure, and How Physical AI Changes The Game | Ep. 436

Share

Copied

Last updated: 

May 7, 2025

Why Trust Cryptonews

Cryptonews has covered the cryptocurrency industry topics since 2017, aiming to provide informative insights to our readers. Our journalists and analysts have extensive experience in market analysis and blockchain technologies. We strive to maintain high editorial standards, focusing on factual accuracy and balanced reporting across all areas - from cryptocurrencies and blockchain projects to industry events, products, and technological developments. Our ongoing presence in the industry reflects our commitment to delivering relevant information in the evolving world of digital assets. Read more about Cryptonews

Raullen Chai, CEO of IoTeX, joined the Cryptonews Spotlight Podcast for a deep conversation about the evolution of DePIN (Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Networks), the coming wave of smart cities, and how real-world AI agents will transform daily life.

From his early days at Uber to founding IoTeX, Raullen shares his vision for how the digital and physical worlds will merge in the next decade.

The Journey into DePIN

“I fell in love with crypto really early… But when I graduated in 2012, crypto as an industry didn’t exist yet.”

Raullen’s background in cryptography and early exposure to Bitcoin during his Ph.D. laid the foundation for his later shift from centralized tech giants to decentralized innovation.

The Uber Years: First Glimpse of DePIN Concepts

“Uber is the biggest taxi company without owning a car… that’s where the DePIN spirit got started in my heart.”

At Uber, Raullen realized that platforms coordinating real-world assets without owning them hinted at a future decentralized model.

Betting Everything on Decentralized Infrastructure

“I don’t care too much about if I can really make it, but I have to give it a try.”

In 2017, Raullen left corporate life to pursue IoTeX full-time, raising $20M during the early DePIN wave.

What IoTeX Is Building Today

“We want to provide a unified infrastructure for DePIN companies – so they can serve customers without worrying about decentralization, security, or scalability.”

IoTeX focuses on simplifying DePIN deployments, helping small teams launch powerful real-world networks without reinventing blockchain tech.

DePIN: Hype Versus Reality

“Crypto capital is very rush-driven… people want a 10X overnight.”

Raullen acknowledged that many DePIN projects chased short-term token pumps, hurting long-term trust, but real projects with revenue are emerging.

The Real Challenge for DePIN Growth

“You need to create real revenue… not just sell devices and pump tokens.”

He emphasized that DePIN projects must deliver tangible services, not just speculative hype, to achieve sustainable growth.

Why Smart Cities Matter for the Future

“Eventually, every city will be smart.”

Raullen believes that AI and automation will soon operate city infrastructure, and smart cities will become the global norm, especially in Asia first.

Robots Will Arrive Sooner Than We Think

“Robots will come into our lives within the next two or three years.”

AI-powered household robots will start clumsy – but rapid improvement cycles (similar to Tesla’s FSD) will make them commonplace.

IoTeX’s Vision for an Uber-Like Platform for Robots

“We do feel like the next Uber opportunity is emerging right now.”

Raullen sees a future where robots are rented and coordinated via decentralized platforms, mirroring Uber’s early ride-sharing disruption.

Building Physical AI Agents

“Our Beano Agent knows real-time environmental conditions thanks to DePIN data – unlike ChatGPT.”

IoTeX is connecting physical sensor data to AI agents, making them aware of real-world states rather than relying purely on internet datasets.

How Real-World Data Changes AI

“Once AI connects to real-world data, it stops hallucinating and starts understanding context.”

Tying AI cognition to physical infrastructure unlocks new levels of reliability and intelligence.

Why People Don’t See Physical AI Coming Yet

“The future is already here – it’s just not evenly distributed.”

Many people underestimate how quickly physical AI and autonomous devices are advancing because they aren’t directly interacting with them yet.

A Blueprint for DePIN-Powered Smart Cities

“Combine solar energy, DePIN telecom, and decentralized transportation – you get the first DePIN-powered smart city.”

Raullen proposes small town experiments that integrate energy, communication, and mobility DePINs to prototype self-sufficient communities.

How Builders and Developers Can Get Involved

“Our team is very active on Twitter @iotex_io… We’re reshaping our infra to serve AI needs, with pilots in robotics and autonomous vehicles.”

IoTeX is currently collaborating with robotics startups and governments and welcomes new builders to join the ecosystem.

What’s Coming Next for IoTeX

“We’ll have a small rebrand and some major product launches in the next one to two months.”

IoTeX plans new positioning and fresh infrastructure releases, aiming to be the core engine for AI x DePIN applications.