Key strategies on how to make DePIN mainstream

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The Web3 ecosystem is a hotbed of innovation, delivering bold solutions that promise to centralize systems and empower individuals. But for all its potential, web3 has yet to become a mainstream phenomenon. Adoption remains slow, hindered by a steep learning curve and significant barriers to entry.

Decentralized physical infrastructure networks, also known as DePINs, represent a new frontier in this field with the potential to transform industries by making infrastructure faster and cheaper. But transforming DePIN from a niche concept to a widely adopted model requires more than technology.

This information comes from my journey as a founder tackling the challenges of building a DePIN project. Scaling to tens of thousands of users and mapping millions of miles taught me invaluable lessons about adoption and decentralization; I believe these lessons can guide others who seek to bring DePIN into the mainstream.

In this article, I will examine three pillars to ensure mainstream adoption of DePIN projects: leveraging existing hardware, expanding accessibility, and prioritizing tangible benefit.

Step 1: Maximize existing hardware

Building new hardware comes with significant hurdles such as manufacturing challenges and component shortages, limiting scalability, a crucial factor for global adoption. To gain mainstream traction, DePIN projects need to use existing hardware as a launching pad.

Smartphones, which are estimated to reach 7.1 billion users globally by 2024, offer an ideal basis. Smartphones are not just communication tools; They are powerful mini computers with advanced sensors, cameras and connectivity options. This extensive network of existing hardware provides an ideal basis for DePIN projects.

For example, Solana Saga, an Android smartphone designed by Solana Labs, seamlessly integrates with the Solana blockchain, providing a simple experience for decentralized applications. However, the approach is not limited to blockchain-native devices. At NATIX, we leverage the power of smartphones to create a decentralized camera network without the need for new hardware. Similarly, Silencio uses smartphones to monitor and reduce noise pollution and demonstrates how DePIN projects can use smartphones to scale quickly.

Pillar 2: Extend Web3 accessibility beyond crypto

In the Web3 space, we are accustomed to cryptocurrencies, digital wallets and decentralized finance. However, a significant part of the population is not in this situation. The fact that many people are unfamiliar with or even unaware of these concepts creates a barrier to mainstream adoption.

To make DePIN projects accessible to everyone, it is important to include non-crypto rewards alongside crypto incentives. Integrating gift cards, discounts, or other recognizable perks ensures that participation isn’t limited to those already immersed in crypto.

Inclusion doesn’t end with awards; it’s also about creating a user experience that feels familiar and intuitive. For example, offering sign-up options via email or SMS rather than just wallet-based sign-ups can make it easier for non-crypto users to get started.

Projects that combine crypto and non-crypto incentives along with intuitive design are likely to attract a more diverse audience. DePIN can bridge the gap between web3 and the mainstream by balancing inclusivity with innovation.

Pillar 3: Prioritize benefit over token earnings

No matter how new the technology, a project can only be successful by providing real value to its users. While tokens may attract initial interest, retention depends on the project’s ability to deliver lasting benefits that improve daily life.

DePIN projects should focus on concrete applications that solve real problems.

The goal should not be to create completely new habits, but to facilitate the adoption of your product by improving existing habits. Whether relieving traffic congestion, monitoring air quality, or improving data privacy, DePIN projects should prioritize user-centered solutions over speculative tokenomics.

Overcoming the challenges: Scalability and retention

While leveraging existing hardware and expanding accessibility offers a path to scale, challenges remain. One of the lessons we’ve learned at NATIX is that smartphone-based DePIN models, for example, often struggle with lower user retention compared to passively powered hardware solutions. However, if done right (e.g. leveraging gamification, offering benefits to users, etc.), it can become a hyper-scalable way to build infrastructure. Combining increased utility with gamified user experience has worked wonders for projects like Silencio and NATIX, increasing retention rates and paving a new path for smartphone-based DePIN innovation.

At the same time, scaling infrastructure requires strategic partnerships and community participation. Collaborating with local organizations or municipalities can help integrate DePIN projects into broader ecosystems, strengthening their value and adoption.

Creating DePIN for the mainstream

Just as the iPhone revolutionized the way we think about and use mobile technology, well-thought-out DePIN models can transform the way we interact with the physical world and make decentralized management not just a concept but an everyday experience for billions of people.

The journey towards mainstream adoption of DePIN and web3 as a whole is not about flashy technologies or complex innovations that only a select few can understand. It’s about taking things that already exist, like smartphones, user habits, or everyday problems, and making them better, more accessible, and more valuable through the power of crypto and decentralization.

By aligning the technological vision with practical user needs, we can bring DePIN and web3 into the mainstream.

Alireza Ghods

Alireza Ghods is the CEO and co-founder of NATIX. He has a PhD in geospatial localization and has extensive experience as an R&D engineer in the geospatial data marketplace, autonomous driving, and creating local dynamic maps. He previously led IoT and Blockchain operations in Europe for PWC.