- Wireless communication
- Location
- Transportation management
- Healthcare
- Energy
- Data storage networks
- Computing networks
- High bandwidth networks
Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Networks (DePINs) are blockchain protocols that build, maintain, and operate physical hardware infrastructure in an open and decentralized manner. The DePIN industry encompasses infrastructure for data storage, wireless, computing, energy, data collection and more.
Wireless communication
DePIN’s wireless sector focuses on developing decentralized data exchange platforms for the Internet of Things and cellular devices. Such projects incentivize providers to provide network connectivity resources using cryptocurrencies. The middleware computes data on connectivity resources and rewards providers according to the services provided to devices connecting through the network.
Location
Location services are another niche for DePIN. The network incentivizes providers to offer physical location services, which in turn are rewarded with their own cryptocurrencies. Such projects work by utilizing sensors or community members who transmit location data to the network, and the network computes that data to provide services such as location mapping.
Transportation management
Automobiles and other vehicles have greatly improved the way people get around. However, beyond infrastructure developments in vehicle technology, little has been done about how car owners manage their vehicles and the added value they derive from their vehicles. DePIN’s mobility projects develop new ways to drive vehicles, collaborate with other vehicle owners and companies, and in doing so are rewarded.
Healthcare
Fitness apps promote healthy lifestyles by rewarding users for completing certain fitness quests. DePIN projects in this sector work using a similar scenario, only the rewards are given in tokens and the quests are organized by network members.
Energy sector
DePIN projects in the energy sector claim to promote green energy generation by connecting renewable energy suppliers to companies that utilize such energy sources. These projects facilitate the collection of reliable energy supply data and the use of that data to develop clean energy practices.
Data storage networks
Decentralized storage networks provide users with on-demand storage space, incentivizing providers to provide storage space. Projects like Filecoin claim to be working to make the Internet more secure and efficient through a decentralized storage marketplace, protocol, and cryptocurrency. The Filecoin blockchain keeps track of the storage space provided by each provider and rewards Filecoin contributors, while users pay a fee to provide storage space and securely store their data and files.
Computing networks
Decentralized computing networks offer users a retail computing infrastructure by bringing together private providers of computing resources to transfer idle resources to the network. They develop a market for computing resources and incentivize suppliers.
High-bandwidth networks
Decentralized high-bandwidth networks aim to optimize content delivery and reduce the cost of content delivery by incentivizing private providers to share their bandwidth. Thus, it allows existing video and media platforms to generate additional revenues while users pay a cheaper fee to utilize this shared bandwidth and deliver higher quality multimedia.
