Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Networks (DePIN) coordinate geographically distributed hardware contributors using cryptographic incentives. Instead of a centralized company deploying all hardware, independent operators supply bandwidth, compute, sensing or energy resources.
This article explains the layered model (discovery, orchestration guidance, local execution) and how separation of concerns improves privacy and resilience.
Key motivations include trust minimization, broader hardware reach, market-driven efficiency, and resistance to centralized failure domains.
A healthy DePIN ecosystem depends on transparent reward logic, open source client tooling, and verifiable operation metrics without leaking private credentials.