Growth in DePIN Driven by Apps

A New Era of User Participation

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Feb 05, 2025

In DePIN, apps are emerging as a transformative force, redefining how users engage with and contribute to these networks. This shift has brought about rapid growth in user onboarding and distribution mechanisms, providing new avenues for participation without the need for dedicated hardware investment. While seasoned DePIN ecosystem participants are likely familiar with existing browser extensions and network companion tools, a new meta is emerging surrounding mobile apps in the decentralized infrastructure sub-sector.

Browser Extensions: The Trailblazers

Browser extensions have long been a staple of DePIN. By integrating directly into a user’s browser, these apps offer a seamless way to participate in networks. Users can earn points or tokens by leveraging their existing online activities and network resources. This model has set the stage for more accessible network participation, reducing the barriers to entry traditionally associated with DePIN operations.

While impactful, browser extensions primarily cater to users who are already familiar with Web3 ecosystems and are largely speculative in regard to their profitability. Their growth has been explosive, but in most cases these extensions are only compatible with desktop and laptop computers, and require a fixed internet connection, leaving room for other location-based mechanisms to broaden the reach of DePIN networks.

Some relevant examples of DePIN Browser Extensions:

Grass Lite Node - 2M+ Users
Dawn Validator - 1M+ Users
Bless Network - 1M+ Users
Gradient Sentry Node - 1M+ Users
BlockMesh Network - 500K+ Users
Pipe Guardian Node - 300K+ Users (Currently Unavailable)

Network Companions: Utilities for DePIN Operators

Network Companions focus on managing and operating existing DePIN networks, these apps enhance user experience by providing tools for monitoring, controlling, or optimizing network participation. Unlike browser extensions, these apps are tailored for users who already have a stake in a geographically distributed DePINs, such as wireless and sensor networks.

Some relevant examples of Mobile DePIN Network Companions:

Helium Wallet - 100k+ Downloads (Google Play Store)
DIMO Mobile - 50k+ Downloads (Google Play Store)
Helium Mobile Builder - 5k+ Downloads (Google Play Store)
Sourceful Energy - Just launched, no public user data yet

Mobile Apps: The Game Changers

The sudden influx of mobile apps marks a significant turning point for DePIN. With the ubiquity of smartphones, these apps have made it possible for anyone to contribute to decentralized networks using devices they already own and carry every day, or unused devices that may be collecting dust.

Standalone DePIN Apps: These iOS and Android applications allow users to mine or earn points/tokens by performing specific tasks, such as:

Capturing and sharing location data.
Completing actions at designated intervals.
Engaging in behaviors aligned with network goals.

Mobile apps stand out because they democratize access to DePIN participation. Users no longer need to invest in standalone hardware, instead contributing directly from their smartphones. This innovation significantly lowers the barrier to entry and broadens the user base.

Some relevant examples of DePIN mobile apps:

Helium Mobile - 120K+ Users (Flipside)
Natix - 100K+ Downloads (Google Play Store)
UpRock - 2.6M+ Users (Google Play Store)
Chirp (Chirp Tracker & Kage) - 110k+ Users (Google Play Store)
375go - 100k+ Users (Google Play Store)
Acurast Processor Lite - 10k+ Users (Google Play Store)
Teleport - 15k+ Signups (TRIP Explorer) (Recently Deprecated)
AmbiGo - 25K+ Users (Ambient Explorer)
Silencio - 830k+ Users (Silencio on X)
Wifi Map - 193M+ Users (Wifi Map on X)

User Contributions Without Hardware Costs

One of the most compelling aspects of this app-driven growth is the ability for users to participate in networks without incurring hardware costs. By leveraging existing devices, these apps eliminate the need for traditional servers, specialized sensors/radios, and other equipment typically associated with DePIN networks.

Users contribute by performing tasks that often align with their daily routines, such as:

Browsing the internet.
Walking or commuting.
Capturing environmental data like air quality or noise levels.
Allowing background services to use resources when the device is idle.

This model not only simplifies participation but also aligns incentives—users earn rewards while contributing to the growth and functionality of the network. The result is a symbiotic relationship where networks benefit from increased participation, and users gain tangible value.

Why Mobile App Growth Is Outpacing Browser Extensions

While browser extensions and network companions have paved the way, mobile apps are experiencing unprecedented growth due to their accessibility and convenience. Key factors driving this trend include:

Ubiquity of Smartphones: Nearly everyone owns a smartphone, making it the ideal gateway for onboarding new users.
Ease of Use: Mobile apps are user-friendly and intuitive, appealing to a broader audience.
Low Barrier to Entry: Without the need for specialized hardware, mobile apps attract users who might otherwise be excluded from participating in DePIN networks.
Diverse Use Cases: Mobile apps can cater to a wide range of activities, from data collection to network management, making them versatile tools for network operators.
Referral Systems: Mobile apps benefit from incentive programs focused on allowing existing users to onboard friends and family, often increasing potential earnings for both the referrer and referred.

Challenges With Mobile Apps

While DePIN apps bring a new, highly scalable entry point for onboarding, they aren’t without drawbacks and specifically face challenges related to user expectations and direct competition, creating strain on network growth post-TGE.

Value Add Variance: User telemetry can have a high degree of variance in regard to the value of the aggregated dataset.
Lack of Moat: The decreased barrier to entry present in the current generation of DePIN apps can lead to data generation becoming easily commoditized, resulting in reduced business model defensibility.
Misaligned Expectations: Mobile-first DePIN networks have historically seen substantial user growth, followed by a sharp decline after the token generation event due to unrealistic expectations in the value of user contributions.
Constrained Hardware Capabilities: Mobile DePIN apps are ultimately as capable as the devices they’re running on, generally resulting in a lower efficacy when compared to desktop apps or dedicated physical hardware devices.

Conclusion

The rise of app-driven participation in DePIN represents a new era of direct participation. Browser extensions and network companions have laid a strong foundation, but the rapid adoption of mobile apps is set to redefine how users interact with decentralized networks. By eliminating barriers to entry and leveraging existing devices, these apps accelerate user contributions to DePIN ecosystems.

It is important to note that many of the Web3 focused passive income generation opportunities on the market today are ultimately extractive in regards to end user value. Mobile apps like Pi Network have pioneered a stickiness factor relating to “mobile mining” in which users login to click a button once per day to continue accruing points/tokens that do not and may never exist, ultimately deriving revenue through users being required to watch ads or share personal info with data brokers. DePIN apps, on the other hand, provide a fair exchange of value. In short, users transparently share specific data with the issuing protocol, and are compensated at regular intervals directly correlated to the amount and quality of information generated.

As mobile apps continue to gain traction, they promise to unlock new levels of engagement and utility, driving the next wave of innovation in DePIN. This shift not only accelerates the growth of decentralized networks but also democratizes access, ensuring that anyone with a smartphone can participate in building the infrastructure of tomorrow.