DeepNode has raised $5 million to build a decentralized AI network on top of Base, using PoWR to reward useful AI models across fields such as healthcare, fraud detection, and crypto trading.
summary
- DeepNode has secured $5 million in overall seed and strategic rounds from Web3 and AI infrastructure investors and community participants.
- The network uses Proof-of-Work Relevance to reward AI models based on real-world utility rather than raw compute.
- Built on Base, DeepNode targets sub-cent fees and plans to launch mainnet by the end of Q1 2026.
DeepNode, a decentralized artificial intelligence network, announced it has raised $5 million in two funding rounds, according to a company statement.
The funding consists of a $2 million seed round at a $25 million valuation and a $3 million strategic round at a $75 million valuation. The company describes its platform as an “open intelligence” infrastructure that allows AI developers, compute providers, and validators to collaborate and earn rewards without relying on centralized technology companies.
Deep nodes that build decentralized AI on top of Base
The company said the seed round included participation from community members, network validators such as RoundTable21's WildSageLabs and DNA's Rizzo, and infrastructure partner Gateway.FM.
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, the company said.
According to the company, DeepNode operates using a Proof-of-Work Relevance (PoWR) consensus mechanism that rewards AI contributions based on utility, not just computational output. Models compete and evolve based on real-world performance, and contributors earn emissions for their work.
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The company says the platform is designed to handle predictive and decision-making tasks across multiple industries, including medical diagnostics, fraud detection, and crypto trading.
According to the announcement, DeepNode is built on Ethereum's Layer 2 network, Base (BASE), to leverage Ethereum's security while keeping transaction costs below $0.01. The company plans to launch its mainnet by the end of the first quarter of 2026, with foundation-supported domains in development across multiple verticals.
The network aims to help builders retain their intellectual property rights, enable contributors to earn money based on their performance, and provide companies with private participation options while leveraging shared network effects, the company said.
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