All terms
Decentralized physical infrastructure networks, where people are paid in tokens to provide real world capacity.
DePIN uses token incentives to bootstrap physical infrastructure from individuals rather than corporations. Contributors run hardware, wireless hotspots, storage, sensors, compute, and earn tokens for verified service.
The interesting claim is that this can build networks faster and cheaper than centralized capital expenditure. The open question is whether the networks retain users once token incentives normalize.
Wireless networks, mapping networks and distributed GPU compute markets are all DePIN categories with real deployed hardware.
That the token rewards are the business. Early rewards are subsidized by issuance, so the network can look busy while nobody is paying for the service. The question is whether real customers appear before the emissions slow.
Common questions
What is an actual example of DePIN?
Do DePIN networks actually work?
Where to go next
More web3 terms
Want this explained out loud?
Some of these land faster in conversation than in writing. Sessions are one to one and you can ask anything, including the things that feel too obvious to ask.