The following is a guest post by JD SeraphineFounder and CEO of Raiinmaker.
In an age where technological advancements are constantly reshaping the landscape of our daily lives, mobile devices have become an integral tool for driving connectivity. Hand in hand with this connectivity, the public’s awareness and concern about the security and privacy of their data has grown, as has their awareness of the suboptimal centralized nature of many of our legacy systems.
However, it is intriguing that mobile devices, the source and driver of many privacy and security problems in society, could hold the key to realizing a more decentralized and secure digital future through decentralized physical infrastructure networks (DePIN). Smartphones, with their ubiquity, advanced capabilities and seamless connectivity, provide the perfect platform to support and expand decentralized infrastructure and distributed networks.
Plus, Web3 phones are now hitting the market in earnest – just this month. Solana mobile has secured $70 million in pre-orders for its second blockchain smartphone, Seeker, which is expected to launch in 2025. Features include Seeker an upgraded crypto wallet and new reward mechanisms specifically tailored to unlocking DePIN’s transformational potential.
DePIN as a solution to the centralization crisis
The recent technical issue with CrowdStrike’s centralized software – which led to a global blackout that affected countless sectors – once again highlighted the problems created by the centralization of many of the core systems the modern world relies on, and the urgent need to move away from monolithic entities towards a more decentralized future.
This is expected to rise to $3.5 trillion by 2028 – DePIN technology has emerged as one of the revolutionary developments on the path to a more distributed world. DePIN projects seek to replace the existing centralized model by creating peer-to-peer (P2P) networks where individuals can contribute and have shared control over the network, promoting active community participation and giving users decision-making power. In addition to decentralizing control, data is distributed across multiple nodes, making it less vulnerable to single points of failure and attacks from malicious actors.
Mobile devices are key to achieving DePIN at scale
First and foremost, using DePIN on mobile devices has the distinct benefit of improving security through decentralized data distribution, giving users more control over their personal data and addressing their privacy concerns. Moreover, for DePIN to really take off and provide a credible alternative to the current centralized system, a key requirement will be the wide availability of nodes to boost the efficiency and effectiveness of networks.
In the modern world, the ubiquity of mobile devices means people are always connected, always online – the World Advertising Research Center (WARC) has predicted that by 2025, 72.6% of internet users or almost 3.7 billion people will have access to the internet via their smartphones. This constant connectivity of the modern population is a crucial factor for DePIN technology, which depends on the network effect: the more people are connected and contribute to the network, the more robust and efficient the network becomes. With smartphones in the pockets of billions of people, DePIN projects can leverage this vast, existing infrastructure to reach and engage users at an incredibly large scale.
To take things to the next level, mobile phones are becoming more powerful and capable – equipped with advanced processors, significant storage space and fast 5G internet connection. These capabilities make them increasingly better and ideal nodes in a decentralized network, able to perform complex tasks, store data securely and communicate seamlessly with other devices.
A recent study also reinforced the idea of mobile devices as a catalyst for efficient decentralized infrastructure networks. The research shows that by harnessing the power of mobile devices, projects can improve network efficiency and accessibility, promote decentralization by distributing computing tasks – reducing dependence on centralized data centers, and become more energy efficient, which contributes to sustainable network operations.
Clearlythe integration of mobile devices into DePINs has the very real potential to mark a significant step in the evolution of decentralized networks, improving accessibility, efficiency and sustainability – providing a scaled alternative to current centralized models and increasingly transformative real networks are unlocked -world usage scenarios.
Transformative practices
It should also be emphasized that while DePIN technology needs to be further scaled up, it is not just a theoretical concept at this stage – it is already demonstrating its capabilities to transform critical infrastructure and create a real impact across different sectors , such as AI training and development. , AI reputation management, telecommunications and much more.
To explain further, training AI models requires massive amounts of data and computing power and therefore access to powerful AI capabilities has been monopolized by big technology players. DePIN opens the door for individuals and smaller entities to harness the potential of AI, using a decentralized network of mobile devices that is more efficient and cost-effective.
This decentralized approach democratizes AI development, allowing more individuals and organizations to participate in and benefit from AI advances. Projects like Render network And VALDI are just a few examples of this process already in action – enabling users worldwide to leverage decentralized infrastructure for AI, promoting inclusivity and also fueling innovation from the ground up.
Likewise, DePIN has transformative potential in telecommunications – because traditional infrastructure systems are centralized, expensive, and often unable to reach remote or underserved areas. A distributed network approach, pursued by projects like Heliumprovides a decentralized alternative where individuals can share their internet connections, creating a community-driven network. This approach can significantly reduce costs and expand connectivity, meeting the urgent need to bridge the digital divide for the world 3 billion people still disconnected. This increase in connectivity has the added benefit of increasing the availability of mobile devices that can act as nodes for DePIN projects, driving additional adoption.
These use cases are just a small glimpse of DePIN’s potential and illustrate its diverse applications across industries, leveraging its decentralized infrastructure to improve efficiency, security and sustainability.
Path forward
The path forward is clear: a mobile-first approach is the key to mass adoption of Web3 technologies, and the key to realizing DePIN’s full potential to realize scaled, reliable networks built on reputation and that offer real alternatives to existing centralized solutions.
The ubiquity of mobile devices around the world presents a great opportunity for DePIN to succeed, if only we can find ways to attract more and more people to participate, contribute and benefit from decentralized networks. As more people join, the network becomes stronger and more robust, encouraging further adoption and creating a positive feedback loop.
