Amid the rise of AI and decentralized cloud computing, these three overlooked blockchain projects are set to make a significant impact in 2025 and beyond.
As the Web3 ecosystem evolves at a dizzying pace, innovative projects reward their early supporters handsomely. For instance, decentralized storage pioneer Filecoin and secure smart contract network Chainlink have reached unicorn status by surpassing $1 billion in market value, significantly benefiting their backers.
It is no secret that the next big things are artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud computing, where demand is growing exponentially and has become a $650 billion industry. Moreover, analysts anticipate the sector will exceed a market size of over $1 trillion by 2030, presenting immense opportunities for decentralized alternatives.
However, centralized cloud providers such as AWS, Google Cloud, and Microsoft Azure pose significant bottlenecks by lack of enough capacity, controlling access and pricing..
As enterprises and developers seek scalable, cost-effective alternatives, blockchain-powered solutions in the decentralized physical infrastructure (DePIN) and decentralized AI infrastructure (DePAI) sectors are gaining momentum.
Despite their transformative potential, many of these projects remain significantly undervalued, making them compelling opportunities for early adopters.
Here are three overlooked blockchain projects worth following closely in 2025:
1. Functionland (FULA)
Decentralized data storage platform Functionland is a notable contender poised to disrupt the cloud computing and AI infrastructure industry. The platform develops blockchain software and hardware to offer a secure and reliable alternative to traditional data storage services.
Unlike traditional cloud providers, Functionland leverages blockchain technology alongside community-powered hardware nodes known as FxBlox, enabling users to participate directly in providing storage and compute power. This approach reduces costs by up to 60%, significantly enhancing privacy and actual data ownership compared to traditional centralized alternatives.
Functionland offers physical decentralized storage hardware, FxBlox. Source: Functionland
Functionland’s robust decentralized network, Fula Network, already includes more than 900 nodes globally and has attracted over 100,000 pre-registrations from both Web2 and Web3 communities since launching its testnet. Functionland further distinguishes itself with its consumer-facing decentralized applications, FxFotos for secure photo and video storage and FxFiles for general-purpose decentralized file storage.
With strategic backing from notable industry players such as Filecoin, IoTex, Dfinity and Singularity, Functionland is bridging Web2 to Web3 by providing practical tools for individuals and enterprises. Designed by world-renowned Swiss industrial designer Yves Behar, the FxBlox devices form the hardware backbone of the Fula ecosystem, combining plug-and-play simplicity with decentralized blockchain security.
Functionland’s ecosystem includes FxFotos for photo and video storage. Source: Functionland
The project has already won significant support, including grants from Protocol Labs, Delta Blockchain Fund, Outlier Ventures, and other leading investment entities such as Tenzor Capital and Astra X. Set for a significant milestone, Functionland will launch its $FULA token on March 18, available immediately for trading on leading platforms like MEXC and Uniswap. Early participants can also benefit from an ongoing token airdrop, designed to accelerate adoption among broader audiences.
2. Akash Network (AKT)
Akash Network is another player making waves in decentralized cloud computing, aiming specifically at AI developers and enterprises seeking alternatives to traditional cloud providers. Akash offers a peer-to-peer marketplace that directly connects providers of computing resources with consumers, creating competitive pricing and more transparent access to resources.
Source: Akash Network
Akash has found traction among AI innovators and blockchain developers by reducing vendor lock-in and decreasing costs. The network facilitates affordable AI training and real-time processing capabilities, positioning itself as a viable decentralized alternative within the expanding cloud computing market. Akash’s alliances with significant blockchain projects like Cosmos and Solana underscore its growth potential as decentralized computing gains momentum.
3. AIOZ Network (AIOZ)
AIOZ Network is an innovative blockchain-based platform explicitly designed for decentralized content delivery. Unlike traditional content delivery networks (CDNs) that rely heavily on centralized servers, AIOZ leverages a distributed network of nodes users provide worldwide. This decentralized infrastructure significantly enhances efficiency, reduces latency, and drastically lowers operational costs associated with streaming content, whether video, audio, or other multimedia formats.
Source: AIOZ Network
By harnessing peer-to-peer technology, AIOZ empowers users to monetize unused bandwidth and computing power, creating a sustainable and scalable alternative to centralized streaming giants such as YouTube, Netflix, and Twitch. Users and node operators receive rewards in AIOZ tokens, incentivizing continuous network growth and adoption. With partnerships across multiple blockchain ecosystems, AIOZ is quickly expanding its reach, offering robust solutions explicitly tailored for decentralized streaming, gaming, and metaverse platforms.
Final evaluation: Why Functionland stands out
While Akash Network and AIOZ Network are promising decentralized projects with solid growth potential, Functionland distinctly emerges as the most compelling prospect among them. Unlike general-purpose decentralized storage networks, Functionland is designed from the ground up for AI-driven computation, providing scalable, distributed infrastructure for developers and enterprises.
With $14 million annual recurring revenue (ARR) projected in the next 18 months and a $100 million target in five years, Functionland is emerging as the next Web3 unicorn. Backed by a team that includes former executives from Robinhood and Amazon and advisory support from Protocol Labs, the project is firmly positioned for success in the evolving Web3 landscape.
Functionland has already deployed physical infrastructure, FxBlox, with real users actively participating, setting it apart from speculative Web3 projects. As the first full-stack decentralized AI compute and data network, Functionland is bridging the gap between DePIN and DePAI, pioneering the future of AI-driven cloud infrastructure.
Investors interested in participating in Functionland’s journey can follow the upcoming $FULA Token Generation Event on March 18th, where tokens will be available on MEXC and Uniswap.
I’m a highly experienced and well-respected author in the field of Cryptocurrency. I have been writing on the subject for over 5 years which has made me one of the leading experts in the field. My work has been featured in major publications such as The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, and Business Insider. I’m a regular contributor to CoinDesk, one of the world’s leading cryptocurrency news websites.
