Source: Cointelegraph
Original: “Centralized Infrastructure Requires DePIN Adoption”
Author: Carlos Lei, Co-founder and CEO of Uplink
Have you recently seen Spain, Portugal, and France plunged into darkness? That's right, millions were left without power. This is a connectivity collapse that exposes how fragile communication lifelines can become when electricity is interrupted.
Don’t think this is just a European issue. The same script is playing out globally. South Africa's endless power crisis. Pakistan's massive blackout in 2023. And the crazy cold snap in Texas in 2021, when residents in Houston melted snow from their roofs into barrels of water just to flush toilets for an entire week. Most people were without heating in sub-zero temperatures, with power and communications completely down. This lesson on infrastructure vulnerability is unforgettable.
The harsh reality? Most of these core infrastructures are outdated and were never designed for today’s always-online, data-hungry era. They are now overwhelmed by the pressures of renewable energy integration and an explosion in digital demand—by 2030, global energy consumption in the tech industry is expected to double. This is why DePIN (Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Network) is transitioning from a fringe experiment to a critical necessity in the blockchain space.
Decentralizing with DePIN
The industry must respond more wisely. We need resilience, and that starts with communities, not just top-down solutions.
This is where DePIN serves as a true solution, especially in maintaining connectivity. DePIN technology uses tools like blockchain to coordinate community-built physical infrastructure—think internet networks. Unlike models controlled by a single giant, imagine a network powered by thousands of ordinary people and businesses sharing resources (WiFi routers, storage space, or small new devices).
Don’t think DePIN is only applicable to networks. It has enormous potential in the energy sector as well. For example, community-shared rooftop solar or managing local battery storage through microgrids. This is true energy autonomy—closer to home, reducing reliance on distant large power plants and fragile transmission lines.
The advantages of decentralization? It significantly reduces the risk of a total collapse caused by a single point of failure. When part of a DePIN network encounters issues, other devices can typically find alternative paths to maintain local operations. This is people weaving their own safety nets, making resource access fairer, and preserving essential services when giants fail.
DePIN in the Real World
This is not a castle in the air. Tibetan exiles in Dharamshala, India, have built a wireless mesh network using waste materials to cope with unstable power. In Brooklyn's Red Hook, the local mesh network became a lifeline during the internet outage after Hurricane Sandy. These are not just anecdotes; they demonstrate the crisis response capabilities of the technology.
Most of the time, the best solution is a hybrid model. Decentralized technology doesn’t have to replace existing systems but can work alongside them to enhance resilience. OpenRoaming is a prime example—it connects over 3 million routers, enabling seamless global hotspot switching through automatic WiFi connections. This is the collaboration the industry needs and a standard supported by many.
Decentralized wireless (DeWi) solutions based on DePIN principles can further optimize existing hotspot networks while integrating more community-operated access points, effectively expanding coverage. This is the value of the decentralized layer—enhancing and extending existing standards.
Imagine: when a storm destroys a base station, a local DePIN network composed of backup power routers could become the only way for people to send messages, access critical information, or organize rescue efforts. This option would change everything during a complete internet outage.
The Time for Action
These power outages should not become news that is forgotten a week later. They must serve as a real wake-up call. For all parties maintaining critical services—whether government, business leaders, or urban planners—it’s time to speak frankly: betting on purely centralized systems equals creating disaster. Resources and wisdom must be directed toward decentralized solutions like DePIN. This is not a futuristic decoration but a cornerstone for building the resilience people need.
How to act? Governments should open policy space for new models. Telecom operators and businesses need innovative thinking to incorporate decentralized nodes like community routers and mesh backups into existing network planning. Building shared DePIN infrastructure in vulnerable areas through public-private partnerships aligns with the interests of all parties.
Our goal is to build a multi-layer backup system that combines the coverage of traditional networks with the grassroots resilience of decentralization. This is crucial for sectors like transportation, healthcare, and emergency services.
Do not view connectivity as a secondary issue. It is critical infrastructure, just like electricity—affecting safety in disasters, community survival, and basic functionality. To avoid large-scale communication paralysis, collaboration between traditional forces and the new decentralized army is necessary. It’s time to reinforce our digital lifelines before the next crisis hits.
Related: The Necessity of Cross-Border Cooperation to Promote Digital Asset Development
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or investment advice. The views expressed are solely those of the author and do not represent or reflect the position of Cointelegraph.
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