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A new kind of infrastructure is emerging—quietly, efficiently, and without fanfare. It’s called DePIN, short for Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Networks, and it’s changing how the physical world gets connected.

The idea is simple: replace bloated institutions and outdated middlemen with crypto incentives and a network of independent operators. Instead of centralized telecom giants, you’ve got individuals running devices from garages, rooftops, and back offices. Cell towers become community-powered. Sensor grids are crowdsourced. Cloud storage is distributed across thousands of independently operated machines.

This isn’t about permits or subsidies—it’s about participation. Stake a device, provide coverage, contribute data or bandwidth—earn tokens. No corporate hierarchy. No red tape. Just a protocol and an open invitation.

DePIN flips the model. You don’t need a résumé to join—just the right hardware. You don’t need permission—just a signal. It’s peer-to-peer, edge-run, and open-source at its core.

Here are five DePIN projects actively rebuilding real-world infrastructure in 2025—decentralized, token-powered, and already operating at scale.

PEAQ

While most blockchains are scrambling to retrofit themselves for the DePIN wave, Peaq didn’t have to pivot — it was created for this. “Peaq was built to power DePIN before this Web3 section even got its name,” says co-founder Leonard Dorlöchter. “[Peaq’s] clear focus on real-world applications is its defining edge.”

Peaq’s vision has always centered on enabling the Machine Economy , with DePIN as one of its core pillars. That vision runs through every layer of its infrastructure. “Everything about Peaq is meant to empower DePINs in some way,” Dorlöchter adds. “Its fundamentals give DePINs the quick and cheap transactions they need to scale. Its Modular DePIN Functions deliver builders ready-to-use key functionalities they need to build fast.”

Beyond tooling, Peaq’s DePIN Grant Program backs builders with enterprise partnerships, funding, developer resources, and go-to-market support. Its community is made up of DePIN-native pioneers, eager to back serious teams with serious ambitions.

“It’s the kind of synergy only possible with a blockchain built end-to-end for DePIN,” Dorlöchter emphasizes.

The Graph

As DePIN projects lay down cables, spin up sensors, and stake hardware in the real world, most wouldn’t function without The Graph pulling the strings in the background.

“The Graph isn’t just another DePIN protocol—it’s the protocol that powers other protocols,” says Nick Hansen, team lead at The Graph. “It gives these projects mission-critical access to indexed blockchain data. Without it, you’re basically flying blind.”

The Graph functions as the data layer for DePIN, providing decentralized access to the information these projects need to operate. Its network of Indexers ensures that data remains open, reliable, and verifiable—foundational traits for any decentralized physical system. “By simplifying data access, The Graph helps these projects run more efficiently and transparently,” Hansen adds. “It’s what brings the decentralized vision of DePIN to life.”.

From environmental sensors to mobility infrastructure, The Graph bridges blockchain data with real-world systems, making it easier for DePIN builders to create applications that actually work—at scale, and without compromise.

InFlux

In the crowded landscape of decentralized cloud infrastructure, Flux is carving out a broader lane. “InFlux Technologies (Flux) stands out from other DePIN competitors because of the depth of services we provide,” says CEO Daniel Keller. “There are numerous decentralized cloud computing networks, but how many of those only provide cloud computing?”

Flux isn’t limiting itself. Built on global infrastructure, it enables unlimited localized deployment scenarios and integrates decentralized AI at its core. “We’ve introduced a new operating system, called Arcane, into our decentralized computing marketplace—FluxEdge—that enables private container deployment for secure application environments,” Keller explains.

But the real differentiator? Strategic execution. Flux is actively onboarding Web2 giants into the Web3 world. “We just partnered with NVIDIA and NexGen Cloud to provide top-of-the-line GPU hardware at ridiculously affordable rates,” says Keller. With a focus on privacy, partnership, and practical scaling, Flux is turning DePIN from concept to compute-ready reality.

In the overcrowded world of decentralized cloud infrastructure, Flux isn’t just competing—it’s expanding the category.

Helium

Helium has quietly become one of the most established players in the DePIN space, building a decentralized wireless network powered by everyday users who earn HNT tokens for providing coverage.

“We started as an IoT network, but we’ve since expanded to a mobile network—and now we support both,” said Abhay Kumar, protocol lead at Helium Labs.

What sets Helium apart is how it abstracts the crypto layer from the end user. “The hotspot owner gets paid in HNT. The carriers burn HNT. But the subscriber just pays with a credit card,” Kumar explained.

That model is gaining traction. In a single weekend, over 900,000 unique phones connected to Helium hotspots. Through a new partnership, AT&T subscribers can now access Helium’s network across the U.S., expanding coverage to thousands of new locations built and maintained by individuals. AT&T is also adopting Helium’s real-time coverage quality metrics.

“The winners,” Kumar said, “will be the ones who solve for demand." Helium is already answering.

Hivemapper

“There hasn’t been a new approach to mapping since Waze in 2012,” says Ariel Seidman. “ Hivemapper is like Waze—but with eyes, intelligence, and rewards.”

Forget apps. This is a self-running, edge-powered mapping system built for the real world. At its core is the Bee—a purpose-built device that captures spatial AI data and processes it mid-drive. “The Bee updates the map in near real time,” says Ariel Seidman, CEO of Hivemapper. “Every drive is edge-processed, no heavy servers.” No server farms. No lag. Just raw data, converted into live maps as the world shifts—lane by lane, sign by sign, block by block.

That real-time responsiveness feeds into Hivemapper’s DePIN architecture: a decentralized network of drivers and fleets turning the world into constantly refreshed, high-res map data. Contributors don’t just feed the system—they get paid for it.

“Our decentralized system removes the bottlenecks,” Seidman says. “And by running computer vision directly on the Bee, we can power everything from autonomous vehicles to logistics platforms with constantly refreshed, high-res map intelligence.”

The pitch is simple: faster maps, smarter data, no middlemen. Just hardware, vision models, and a token incentive system that actually works.