DePIN deserves the hype. Projects in the space are creating technologies that stand to change, at least to a degree, the reigning cloud computing model, while
Physical assets like telecom infrastructure or video streaming networks can be divided up, apportioned and owned by node owners for a small profit. Users then pay to access that network that is sustained by the many, instead of owned by the few. So we need to think of nodes as “micro businesses franchises” rather than an immediate cypherpunk global revolution in radical decentralization.New ideas take time. Yet, technology is often adopted much faster in the emerging markets. Banking adoption in Africa skipped internet banking and went straight to mobile banking. Localized innovations meant African payments and credit business models emerged.
Running cloud computing nodes for a modest profit is not a gimmick or a crypto quirk, but rather it is a very viable economic engagement that, in turn, provides localized value in the form of strong and reliable networks for users. Further distance education, streaming, gaming and healthcare can all be improved by better internet services. AWS won’t solve these problems: locals facing local problems will.