This
op-ed
is
part
of
CoinDesk’s
new
DePIN
Vertical,
covering
the
emerging
industry
of
decentralized
physical
infrastructure.
DePIN
networks
cleverly
link
up
physical
devices
like
sensors,
IoT
gadgets,
computers,
and
smartphones
with
decentralized
blockchain
networks.
By
sharing
data,
offering
resources,
or
helping
keep
things
running,
users
earn
real
rewards
in
digital
assets
—
a
fair
deal
that’s
been
a
long
time
coming
in
the
digital
world.
This
setup
doesn’t
just
empower
users
to
benefit
from
their
involvement;
it
frees
them
from
the
grip
of
centralized
middlemen
who’ve
been
exploiting
the
system
for
too
long
by
profiteering
from
user
data.
These
middlemen
use
this
data
for
targeted
advertising,
marketing,
and
analytics,
generating
massive
revenue
while
offering
little
in
return
to
users.