Huge Opportunity In DePIN Sector: Revolutionizing Energy, Telecom, Healthcare, and More

One of the increasingly popular narratives in today’s blockchain world is the Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Network (DePIN).

This sector is growing rapidly because it integrates the real world with blockchain technology, enabling efficiency and innovation in various fields.

In this article, we will discuss DePIN sectors that could have a significant impact and are worth monitoring, both for those already interested in them and those new to them.

What Is DePIN?

DePIN (Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Network) leverages token incentives to promote the creation and expansion of physical infrastructure in the real world.

These infrastructures include wireless networks, cloud computing, transportation networks, and energy grids, which large corporations have traditionally controlled due to their significant capital investment needs.

In many cases, centralized organizations have monopolized pricing and services, stifling competition and innovation.

The DePIN initiative aims to address these challenges by utilizing blockchain technology and token-based rewards, empowering individuals, and decentralizing control.

A core principle of DePIN is shifting from the conventional centralized structure to a more distributed approach, encouraging global user involvement. This model aims to reduce reliance on major corporations and foster a ‘sharing economy,’ where resources and services are more equitably distributed.

Messari: DePIN Revenue to Surge Over 100x in 2024

A recent report from blockchain intelligence firm Messari highlights the exponential growth in the DePIN (Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Networks) sector. The number of active DePIN projects is projected to nearly double throughout Theon devices worldwide.

This is projected to double by DePIN tokens, which represent 5% of the total cryptocurrency market capitalization.

Furthermore, Messari revealed that 20 DePIN projects will surpass 100,000 active nodes by 2024, with five having more than 1 million active nodes.

This growth has been accompanied by a significant increase in investment, especially in the early stages of development. Data from the private market shows that pre-seed and seed funding for DePIN projects surpassed Series A funding.

5 DePIN Sector Potential 2025

1. DePIN for AI Data and Large-Scale Computing

Data is becoming an increasingly important factor in the development of AI, but the supply of data is currently challenging to meet the needs of evolving AI models.

In recent years, a vast amount of online data has been mined, but often, this data violates intellectual property rights or cannot be optimally used.

DePIN, through various projects, has developed solutions that provide access to the data needed to train AI models more efficiently and decentralizedly.

Projects such as Grass, DAF Mid Century, Magic, and Indexer are essential in providing public and private data that various AI models can use for textual, visual, sound, or sensors.

In addition, with its Layer One platform, projects like Pik have created an ecosystem that connects real-world assets with blockchain, enabling faster transactions and lower costs.

Pik provides machine identification, granular access, data verification, and machine-to-machine payment systems, further opening up decentralized data collection and processing opportunities.

2. DePIN for Renewable Energy and Distributed Energy Infrastructure

DePIN offers significant solutions in the energy sector, especially for challenges related to data fragmentation and hardware coordination in distributed energy networks. Innovative projects within DePIN have already shown how crypto-based incentives can transform basic operations in energy networks.

Projects like Day Light introduce a Virtual Power Plant (VPP) platform that allows homeowners to maximize their energy assets. The project also enables many individuals to get involved in energy management and distribution by creating a dynamic energy market and helping more transparent energy pricing.

In addition, projects like Glow and Fuse implement tokenization to fund renewable energy and distributed resources. With a similar model, Plural Energy introduced a more inclusive clean energy investment platform, allowing retail participation in investments previously only open to large institutions.

3. DePIN in Telecommunications: Decentralized Wireless Network

Telecommunications is another sector that has evolved with the DePIN concept, especially in developing decentralized wireless networks.

Projects like Helium have shown how distributed infrastructure can overcome the weaknesses of the traditional telecommunications model. The main advantage of these decentralized wireless networks is their flexibility in adjusting resources according to local needs.

However, the sector still faces challenges like regulation and token sustainability.

Some new projects, such as Carrier One and Rally, are starting to target underserved markets by building crypto-based payment systems and high-quality 5G infrastructure.

Going forward, a hybrid model combining satellite solutions such as Starlink with terrestrial networks is predicted to be the most effective solution for internet network coverage and performance challenges.

4. DePIN in Robotics: Data Collection for Machine Learning

DePIN is also beginning to reveal its potential within robotics as the energy and telecommunications industries evolve quickly. A significant challenge in developing robots is acquiring relevant data for machine learning. Collecting high-quality, affordable sensor data is increasingly vital for enhancing robotic capabilities.

Projects like H-Maper, which employs dashcams to gather real-world sensor data, and Neti, which leverages user devices without incurring additional infrastructure costs, demonstrate how DePIN can cut data collection expenses and speed up robot development.

By merging real-world data with AI-driven simulations, robots can learn and adapt more rapidly, paving the way for more intelligent and autonomous robots.

5. DePIN in the Healthcare Industry: Overcoming Data Fragmentation and Waste

The healthcare sector often faces challenges in collecting and managing scattered and fragmented data.

For example, healthcare spending in the United States absorbs more than 17% of GDP, with about 30% of that spending considered waste.

DePIN can greatly improve the health system’s efficiency by enabling decentralized data collection and utilization.

Using DePIN technology, projects like Puls allow individuals to participate in the collection and sharing of their health data with crypto-based incentives. This helps reduce wastage and gives individuals more control over their health data, allowing them to benefit from it financially.

Furthermore, implementing DePIN in the health system can improve the quality of care by providing more complete, integrated data and facilitating more informed decision-making.