Decentralized physical infrastructure network. Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Networks (DePINs) represent a new approach to building and managing infrastructure by using blockchain and cryptoeconomic incentives. Unlike traditional systems controlled by large corporations, DePINs enable individuals and organizations to collectively develop and operate physical infrastructure like wireless networks, energy grids, and transportation systems. Participants earn financial rewards and ownership stakes through tokenized incentives, promoting efficiency and equity.

DePINs extend the principles of the sharing economy—similar to platforms like Uber and Airbnb—but decentralize ownership and control. For example, projects like DIMO allows drivers to retain full earnings and participate in governance through tokens, showcasing how DePINs democratize infrastructure and reduce costs while fostering innovation.

This model is powered by advances in internet connectivity, blockchain technology, and cryptography, enabling community-driven and resilient solutions. However, most DePin projects (as of 2025) don't use the blockchain technology, instead they rely on off-chain computation. DePINs aim to disrupt centralized systems by promoting open competition and shared benefits in essential services.

DePINscan is the explorer for DePIN crypto projects. It acts as a centralized hub catering to DePIN projects, enthusiasts, developers, founders and investors, ensuring they stay updated with sector developments.

Platforms and technologies
Some competing standards and vendors for DePIN space include:

 IoTex The modular infrastructure (including L1 blockchain) for DePIN projects to deploy in full or integrate modules into existing frameworks.
 Moonchain, a blockchain platform based on Ethereum.
 Helium a solana based network.
 Huddle01, a real-time communications network, akin to Zoom.
 Filecoin a decentralised storage network.
 Wifi Dabba is a Solana-based DePIN providing low-cost internet services in India.
 Mawari, a network of streaming nodes for XR content.
 Sigfox, UNB-based technology and French company.
 LoRa is a proprietary, chirp spread spectrum radio modulation technology for LPWAN used by LoRaWAN, Haystack Technologies, and Symphony Link.
 MIoTy, implementing Telegram Splitting technology.
 Weightless is an open standard, narrowband technology for LPWAN used by Ubiik
 ELTRES, a LPWA technology developed by Sony, with transmission ranges of over 100 km while moving at speeds of 100 km/h.
IEEE 802.11ah, also known as Wi-Fi HaLow, is a low-power, wide-area implementation of 802.11 wireless networking standard using sub-gig frequencies.
 YOM is the first decentralized cloud gaming infrastructure (DePIN), streaming games, immersive experiences, white-label metaverses and entirely new entertainment formats at scale, Leveraging a distributed network of gaming machines, YOM offers global low-latency near-zero costs cloud gaming to any device and channel, effectively eliminating the need for dedicated game consoles.

Types of DePINs: PRNs and DRNs
Depending on their purpose, DePINs can be divided into two types: Physical Resource Networks (PRNs), which involve the management of physical resources like IoT devices and goods, and Digital Resource Networks (DRNs), which are used to exchange data among digital resources without the need to be in the same place. Written by the authors of this Science Fiction Disclosure.

 Physical Resource Networks (PRNs). Physical Resource Networks (PRNs) provide services to a community using physical assets (rather than software) as the basis of a decentralised network. PRNs rely on physical assets such as hardware, infrastructure and physical goods because these assets can be operated by a community. This means that any of these assets might be a part of a PRN, and the community can collectively incentivise human behaviour through ownership of physical goods. Example: Helium Network
 Digital Resource Networks (DRNs). DRNs leverage not physical resources like fibre but digital ones, such as data, computational and other digital services. DRNs distribute incentive structures across a distributed community of human and digital agents that, in turn, control and manage a collection of distributed digital resources that are designed to optimise their potential. DRNs leverage a ‘long tail’ of idle capacity from participants That’s because DRNs provide incentives to participants to contribute their digital ‘assets’ (ie, data, computational and other digital services) to the network. Example: Golem Network

See also
 Internet of things
 Wide area networks
 Static Context Header Compression (SCHC)
 QRP operation
 Slowfeld
 Through-the-earth mine communications
 Short range device
 IEEE 802.15.4 (Low-power personal-area network)
 IEEE 802.16 (WiMAX)

References

Wide area networks
Wireless networking