In an ideal scenario, the internet behaves like tap water: you turn it on, and it flows effortlessly. Users don’t want to think about finding a ‘better connection spot,’ SIM cards, or nearby cell towers. They simply desire a fast, stable connection wherever they find themselves. Fortunately, they are gradually achieving just that, often without even realizing it.
The current internet model is flawed (and costly)
Traditional telecommunications infrastructure is burdensome and pricey. Each tower requires leasing, permits, upkeep, and advertising. Expanding coverage can take months or years (due to both construction and bureaucratic hurdles) and can cost anywhere from $5 million to $100 million, leading to financial drains of up to $300,000 for installing even one small cell tower.
In this framework, users aren’t really paying for the gigabytes consumed — they’re paying for the bureaucratic systems surrounding them.
This model no longer makes financial sense. Telecom companies struggle to justify spending billions on connections that fail to improve while becoming increasingly challenging to maintain as the number of global users grows.
The silver lining is that an alternative is already nestled within homes and devices, though it’s not prominently advertised.
DePIN (Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Networks) is transforming the Wi-Fi routers around us into a novel form of connectivity.
Shifting from towers to routers
According to crypto asset management firm Grayscale, DePIN is currently integrated into daily life, and the company regards it as a “significant” investment opportunity.
Why is this? DePIN adopts a software-centric approach, leveraging existing infrastructure. A simple app or firmware update can turn an ordinary Wi-Fi router into part of an expansive network. When you’re within range, your device automatically connects through that router.
As DePIN gains traction, individuals and businesses are actively employing it: Nodle, a smartphone-based DePIN, converts smartphones into network nodes that transmit IoT data via pre-existing mobile infrastructure, while Helium Mobile utilizes community-deployed hotspots and small cells to enhance 5G coverage and offload traffic for partner carriers in U.S. cities.
In densely populated urban areas, DePIN-like networks are addressing coverage gaps that traditional mobile infrastructure struggles to fill.
Another example outside Wi-Fi is DIMO, a DePIN network for connected vehicles that enables drivers to share vehicle data while retaining control over it and earning rewards. By 2025, its network was projected to encompass around 425,000 connected vehicles, over 300 applications built on its data, and approximately $1.5 billion worth of cars transmitting information into the protocol. This level of scale demonstrates that DePIN is beginning to reach everyday drivers, not just those in the crypto space.
DePIN startups have attracted millions of users to their platforms and are on-boarding tens of thousands daily. Last June alone, the industry’s market cap was estimated at $25 billion, with projections reaching $3.5 trillion by 2028.
Operating behind the scenes, DePIN relies on a straightforward economic model characterized by a network token that aligns incentives and settlements between routers (“nodes”) and stable network credits, ensuring reliable pricing for telecom and business users.
For telecom firms, DePIN operates as a cost-efficiency mechanism. Offloading traffic to local Wi-Fi nodes reduces the cost per gigabyte, particularly indoors and during peak usage.
Network offloading is not a new concept. Data indicates that platforms capitalizing on these advantages have been implementing this strategy for years, with experts deeming it “crucial to mitigating the growing demands on network infrastructure.”
However, venture capital firm a16z crypto believes DePIN’s potential extends beyond telecom. In a recent report, it highlighted sectors such as AI, healthcare, energy, transportation, and robotics where DePIN can drive innovation.
Wi-Fi as a source of revenue
Across the globe, individuals operating co-working spaces or small offices are now leveraging Wi-Fi to create additional revenue streams. When the economics align for all parties involved, technology not only disseminates; it becomes entrenched.
If your internet at the airport abruptly cuts out on the guest portal, your phone in a shopping mall automatically connects to faster Wi-Fi, and the evening lag at home vanishes, chances are you’ve already benefited from DePIN. You didn’t need to install a wallet or purchase a token; the network simply selected the nearest node and routed your traffic more efficiently and economically.
Utilizing Wi-Fi as a revenue stream is advantageous for everyone involved. For users, it signifies fewer dead zones, smoother connections, and reduced bills. For venue owners, Wi-Fi ceases to be a sunk expense and instead becomes a revenue generator. For operators, coverage becomes adaptable, swift, and cost-effective.
Recognizing true adoption
Technology reaches its peak when it fades into the background. People don’t say, “I’m using TCP/IP” or “this app runs on the cloud.” They simply utilize it.
Mass adoption doesn’t materialize when crypto enthusiasts engage with it. It occurs when your grandmother does it without conscious thought. And she already does.
