[PRESS RELEASE – Dubai, United Arab Emirates, December 5th, 2025]
Decentralized AI infrastructure startup closes seed and strategic rounds as it accelerates toward mainnet launch.
DeepNode, a decentralized artificial intelligence network aiming to democratize AI development, has successfully raised $5 million across two funding rounds: a $2 million seed round at a $25 million valuation and a subsequent $3 million strategic round at a $75 million valuation.
The funding represents a significant milestone for the project, which is positioning itself as the infrastructure for “open intelligence”, a network where AI developers, compute providers, and validators can collaborate and earn rewards without relying on centralized tech giants.
Community-First Seed Round
DeepNode’s seed round included participation from community members, with support from key network validators such as WildSageLabs from RoundTable21 and Rizzo from DNA, as well as infrastructure partner Gateway.FM.
What makes this raise truly special is that it was driven by our community. The validators, miners, and early adopters pushing decentralized AI forward – the company stated in its announcement on X.
The approach signals DeepNode’s commitment to building what it calls a “community-first” ecosystem, where those who will actually operate the network infrastructure have early ownership stakes.
Strategic Round Brings Global Infrastructure Investors
The strategic round was led by a consortium of Web3 and AI infrastructure investors, including Blockchain Founders Fund, Side Door Ventures, TBV, IOBC Capital, Fomo Ventures, and Nestoris. These investors bring expertise spanning enterprise integrations, operational scaling, and go-to-market support.
For the DeepNode team, the strategic backing represents more than capital; it’s validation of the decentralized intelligence thesis. The investors have track records in Web3 infrastructure and understand how decentralized systems can reshape industries and digital economies.
Building the Multi-Tool for AI
DeepNode differentiates itself from other decentralized AI projects through what it calls a “multi-tool” approach. Rather than focusing solely on large language models or a single use case, the platform is designed to handle any predictive or decision-making task across multiple industries. From healthcare diagnostics to fraud detection to crypto trading and more.
The network operates using a novel Proof-of-Work Relevance (PoWR) consensus mechanism that rewards AI contributions based on actual utility rather than just computational output. Models compete and evolve based on real-world performance, with contributors earning emissions for valuable work.
Infrastructure Development and Long-Term Planning
DeepNode is building on Base, an Ethereum Layer-2 network, to leverage Ethereum’s security while maintaining transaction costs below $0.01. The company plans to launch its mainnet by the end of Q1 2026, with foundation-supported domains already in development across multiple verticals.
The combined funding will support DeepNode’s multi-year roadmap to develop an open intelligence network. According to the team, the network aims to enable builders to retain intellectual property rights, allow contributors to earn based on performance, and provide enterprises with private participation options while leveraging shared network effects.
Backed by a mix of ecosystem participants and strategic investors, DeepNode is pursuing a model of AI development that emphasizes collaboration, transparency, and contributor ownership.
About DeepNode
DeepNode is the infrastructure for open intelligence. A decentralized AI network where developers, validators, and compute providers collaborate, own their IP, and earn rewards for providing real-world utility via Proof-of-Work Relevance (PoWR). Built on Base for low-cost scalability, mainnet launches in 2026, powering predictions across healthcare, finance, trading, and beyond.
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