DePINs use blockchain technology to incentivize individuals to create and maintain physical infrastructure, offering rewards for contributions like sharing resources and building infrastructure.

DePIN tokens facilitate network operations through governance, service payments, and staking, while also helping to incentivize the network's growth and ethical operation.

DePINs promote accessibility, efficiency, and democratized ownership of infrastructure while facing challenges like technical hurdles, regulatory uncertainties, and adoption barriers.

Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Networks (DePINs) are networks that leverage blockchain technology to incentivize individuals to collectively create physical infrastructure.

Sometimes referred to as TIPIN, PoPW, or EdgeFi, participants act as the backbone of each DePIN network, providing hardware resources in exchange for cryptocurrency rewards.

Examples of DePIN contributions include:

• Sharing excess resources – Anyone can share their unused hardware resources (such as excess energy generated by their solar panels) within a specific network.

• Building and maintaining infrastructure – Some DePINs incentivize the construction of new infrastructure (like cellular towers for a decentralized wireless network or charging stations for electric vehicles).

• Providing services – Individuals can earn tokens by providing specific network tasks like data querying or computation.

Overall, DePIN projects aim to democratize technology by offering decentralized, crowd-sourced alternatives to traditional, centralized services.

DePIN: How Blockchain is Making Kenyans Build Stuff for Crypto (And Loving It)

If you've ever been stuck in Nairobi traffic wondering why someone hasn’t built a decentralized teleportation network, you’re not alone. While we wait for that day, blockchain has come up with something almost as cool—Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Networks (DePINs).

Now, before you roll your eyes and say, “Another crypto buzzword?”—hear me out. DePINs are basically a way for ordinary people like you and me to build physical infrastructure (like Wi-Fi, solar grids, or charging stations) and get rewarded in cryptocurrency. So, instead of waiting for the government or some big company to get things done, we just do it ourselves—because why not?

Imagine a world where you no longer have to spend half your commute staring at random TikTok dances downloaded the night before. A DePIN could allow matatu owners to install Wi-Fi routers and get rewarded in crypto for keeping passengers entertained (and slightly less angry). The more reliable the internet, the more tokens they earn. Who needs Safaricom bundles when the number 32 matatu has better connectivity than your home?

Electric cars are on the rise, but charging stations are very rare things to see in the city. Enter DePIN: Anyone with space and an electricity source (hello, Mama Mboga with extra solar panels) can set up a charging station, and riders pay in crypto. It’s like a petrol station, but instead of overpriced fuel, or V power with questionable octane values, you get sustainable energy and a chance to brag about being part of the blockchain and solar revolution.

Kenya has no shortage of sunshine, but many rural areas still struggle with reliable electricity. DePIN allows people with solar panels to share excess energy in a peer-to-peer network. Picture a village where every home is connected, and instead of paying KPLC (and waiting three months for them to fix your transformer and working over night, late in the night), you simply pay your neighbor in DePIN tokens for that sweet, uninterrupted electricity from your local sunshine.

DePIN isn’t all sunshine and free Wi-Fi, though. Like any good Kenyan hustle, it comes with challenges:

• Regulation Drama: The government might wake up one day and ask, “What is this blockchain thing?” OH wait, they already have, and start drafting laws faster than you can say “decentralization.”

• Adoption Issues: Not everyone is ready to ditch Mpesa for some futuristic token they can’t pronounce and we still have those lingering mattress accounts to deal with.

• Technical Barriers: Setting up DePINs requires some technical know-how—so we might need to train a few villagers on blockchain. (my Guka explaining staking to his fellow Guka's at the shopping center.)

So, whether you’re a tech enthusiast, a EV rider, or just someone who wants faster internet on their journey through life, DePIN has something for you. The future is decentralized, and if Kenyans love one thing, it’s a good side hustle. Why not make one that builds infrastructure while earning you crypto?

The Scroll team got me into this DEPIN path, so far I like what I have read and looking to implement our Scroll project using this technology.

Who knows? Maybe that teleportation network isn’t too far off after all. 😉