DePIN: The Future of Decentralized Internet Infrastructure

Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Networks (DePIN) are disrupting the internet infrastructure sector by returning control to users and leveraging public blockchains. This model allows individuals to contribute resources like electricity and internet in exchange for micropayments, creating large-scale infrastructure without upfront costs. DePIN facilitates the launch of businesses in sectors with high entry barriers by relying on crowdsourcing and turning fixed costs into variable costs. Examples include Filecoin, which provides cloud services at lower costs than Amazon, and Akash Network, which offers compute power for AI training. DePIN challenges incumbents by offering Infrastructure as a Service (IAAS) models that are more flexible and cost-effective than traditional Software as a Service (SaaS) models.