Helium is the longest-running DePIN network on this list: its first HNT was emitted on July 29, 2019, and it moved to Solana on April 18, 2023. Data on Helium is paid in Data Credits fixed at $0.00001 each. GEODNET, Hivemapper and DIMO build location and vehicle data, while Render, Filecoin and Grass supply GPUs, storage and bandwidth.
Quick answer
Helium is the reference DePIN network for wireless coverage. For data and compute, Filecoin and Render have the longest public track records here, since 2020.
- 01Helium: best for wireless
- 02Filecoin: best for storage
- 03Render Network: best for GPU rendering
- 04GEODNET: best for positioning
- 05Hivemapper: best for mapping
The 7 best DePIN projects
Helium has emitted HNT since July 29, 2019 and runs on Solana since April 18, 2023. Data is paid in Data Credits fixed at $0.00001 each, so data costs do not follow the HNT price.
- Chains
- Solana
- Platforms
- Hotspot hardware, Web, iOS, Android
- Token
- HNT, native token of the Helium Network, on Solana
- Launched
- First HNT emitted July 29, 2019; moved to Solana April 18, 2023
- Open source
- Yes, public repos such as helium-program-library (Apache-2.0)
Pros
- No pre-mine of HNT before the network launch, per Helium docs
- Data Credits are pegged to USD, so data costs do not follow the HNT price
- Core libraries are public on GitHub under Apache-2.0
Cons
- The number of Data Credits made by burning one HNT changes with the HNT price
- Hotspot hosts are rewarded in HNT, so reward value moves with the token
- The network already moved chains once, to Solana on April 18, 2023
Skip it if you expect steady rewards: hosts are paid in HNT, whose value moves.
Filecoin mainnet has run since October 15, 2020. Storage providers post proofs and lock FIL collateral that is burned if they repeatedly fail.
- Chains
- Filecoin, its own network with an EVM-compatible runtime (FEVM)
- Platforms
- CLI, API
- Launched
- Mainnet live October 15, 2020
- Token
- FIL, max supply 2 billion (collateral and payments)
- Open source
- Yes (Lotus node on GitHub)
Pros
- Providers lose collateral if they repeatedly fail storage proofs
- Open market: clients can review provider history before choosing
- Mainnet running since October 2020
Cons
- Storage providers must lock FIL as collateral, which is burned if they repeatedly fail proofs
- Clients pick and pay storage providers themselves rather than one company
Skip it if you want a single vendor: clients pick and pay providers themselves.
Render Network has run publicly since April 27, 2020, matching GPU providers with creators through OTOY software. RENDER replaced RNDR on November 2, 2023.
- Chains
- Solana (RENDER SPL token)
- Platforms
- Web, Desktop, API
- Launched
- Public launch April 27, 2020; RENDER token November 2, 2023
- Token
- RENDER (SPL token; migrated from RNDR)
- Company
- Render Network Foundation, Cayman Islands (spun out of OTOY, Inc. in 2023)
Pros
- Works with Cinema 4D, Blender Cycles, Octane and other tools listed in its guides
- Public network since April 2020
- On-chain governance through Render Network Proposals
Cons
- Tied to OTOY software such as OctaneRender
- RNDR holders had to migrate to the RENDER SPL token
- Priced in OctaneBench-hours, so cost per frame depends on the scene
Skip it if you work outside OTOY-supported tools.
GEODNET launched in 2022 and lists 22,000+ reference stations with live coverage in 150+ countries, giving centimeter-level positioning. Station hosts earn GEOD, and a free RTK trial is offered.
- Platforms
- Base station hardware, Web, iOS
- Token
- GEOD, 1,000,000,000 total supply, earned by station hosts
- Launched
- 2022 network launch
- Free plan
- Free RTK trial
- Chains
- Polygon, Solana
Pros
- Centimeter-level accuracy with under 1 second correction latency, per its About page
- Free RTK trial offered from the main site
- Reports $10M annual revenue for 2025 from real usage
Cons
- Station hosts must buy and install GNSS hardware
- Earlier growth relied on GEOD token incentives, as its own timeline states
- Pricing for RTK data is not published as a simple public price list
Skip it if you want to host a station without buying GNSS hardware.
Hivemapper launched in November 2022 and rewards drivers in HONEY, a Solana token capped at 10 billion, for dashcam imagery.
- Chains
- Solana
- Platforms
- Web, Hardware
- Launched
- November 2022 (first HONEY minted November 1, 2022)
- Token
- HONEY, 10,000,000,000 max supply
- Chains
- Solana
Pros
- HONEY supply capped at 10 billion
- 40% of HONEY supply allocated to contributors
- Two current Bee dashcam models, LTE and WiFi-only
Cons
- Needs a dedicated dashcam to contribute
- Original Hivemapper Dashcam and Dashcam S are discontinued
- 40% of HONEY supply went to investors and employees
Skip it if you do not want to buy a dedicated Bee dashcam.
DIMO gives developers one API for vehicle data across 50+ brands, including Tesla, Ford and BMW, with SDKs for TypeScript, Python and C#. Developer accounts are free, and owners can revoke access.
- Chains
- Polygon, Ethereum
- Platforms
- Web, API, SDK, iOS, Android
- Open source
- Yes, public repos such as device-definitions-api (Apache-2.0)
- Free plan
- Free developer account at console.dimo.org
- Pricing
- Early-bird pricing (may change): Hobbyist free; Core $349/month billed annually ($399 monthly); Enterprise custom; plus $1.25 per vehicle/month
Pros
- Free developer account at console.dimo.org
- Official SDKs for TypeScript, Python and C#
- Owners can revoke data access at any time
Cons
- Paid plan prices are marked as early-bird pricing and may change
- Apps can read a vehicle only after its owner grants access
Skip it if you need fixed long-term prices: its paid plans are marked early-bird pricing.
#7G
Best for bandwidth sharing
Grass runs as a desktop app, mobile app or Chrome extension and sells unused bandwidth. Rewards come in Grass Tokens or USDC, based on points, usage and location.
- Platforms
- Chrome extension, Desktop, Android, iOS
- Token
- GRASS; allocations: Community 300M, Foundation and Ecosystem 228M, Early Investors 252M, Contributors 220M
- Company
- Grass OpCo Ltd.
- US availability
- Available: terms restrict only sanctioned jurisdictions
Pros
- Runs in the background with a one-tap pause
- Available as desktop app, mobile app and Chrome extension
- Rewards can be paid in USDC as well as Grass Tokens
Cons
- Users in sanctioned or high-risk jurisdictions may not be eligible for tokens
- Points convert to rewards by a formula that also weighs location and usage
- Bare name "Grass" in search mostly returns unrelated results
Skip it if you live in a sanctioned or high-risk jurisdiction: Grass says you may not be eligible for tokens.
Not on this list
Aethir: Terms exclude US residents: its KYC excludes US users, so they cannot claim or withdraw ATH.
DePIN Projects compared
Select a name to jump to its review.
| Name | Best for | US availability | Chains | Token |
|---|
| Helium | Community wireless coverage | Available in the US | Solana | HNT, native token of the Helium Network, on Solana |
|---|
| Filecoin | Decentralized storage | Available: terms name no country restrictions | Filecoin, its own network with an EVM-compatible runtime (FEVM) | FIL, max supply 2 billion (collateral and payments) |
|---|
| Render Network | GPU rendering jobs | Available: agreement names no country restrictions beyond US export controls | Solana (RENDER SPL token) | RENDER (SPL token; migrated from RNDR) |
|---|
| GEODNET | RTK location data | Not verified | Polygon, Solana | GEOD, 1,000,000,000 total supply, earned by station hosts |
|---|
| Hivemapper | Dashcam map data | Available: terms restrict only sanctioned jurisdictions | Solana | HONEY, 10,000,000,000 max supply |
|---|
| DIMO | Car data API | Available: terms name no country restrictions | Polygon, Ethereum | $DIMO (ERC-20 on Polygon and Ethereum) |
|---|
| Grass | Earning from spare bandwidth | Available: terms restrict only sanctioned jurisdictions | Not verified | GRASS; allocations: Community 300M, Foundation and Ecosystem 228M, Early Investors 252M, Contributors 220M |
|---|
“Not verified” means we could not confirm the value on the project’s own pages.
How we rank DePIN projects
- 01Real-world output: what the network produces: coverage, maps, positioning, compute or storage.
- 02What it takes to join: hardware you must buy, or an app you can install.
- 03Token design: supply and how rewards and usage are paid, from the project's own docs.
- 04Track record: launch date from the project's own pages.
No project paid to be listed or ranked. Full rules: methodology.
What we did not test
- We did not open accounts, deposit money or place trades with these services.
- We did not audit smart contracts, reserves or security claims ourselves; we report what the project and its auditors publish.
- Fees, limits and availability change; the list date shows when we last checked them.
Rubric last updated Oct 1, 2026. Crypto assets are not insured by the FDIC or SIPC, and you can lose all the money you put in. This page is educational content, not financial advice.
How to choose
01Count the hardware cost
Helium, GEODNET and Hivemapper need devices such as hotspots, GNSS stations or dashcams. Grass only needs an app.
02Rewards move with the token
Helium hosts earn HNT and Hivemapper drivers earn HONEY. The dollar value of rewards changes with the token price.
03Check eligibility before you start
Grass says users in sanctioned or high-risk jurisdictions may not receive tokens. Read each project's terms for your location.
Who should skip all of these
- Anyone looking for guaranteed income: rewards depend on token prices and network demand.
- Investors picking tokens: this list is not investment advice.
Bottom line
Helium, Filecoin and Render have the longest track records; newer networks such as GEODNET and DIMO sell data to businesses.
Before buying hardware, check the reward terms and your jurisdiction.
Educational content, not financial advice. Crypto assets are volatile; do your own research.
FAQ
What is DePIN?
±
Decentralized physical infrastructure networks: projects where people run hardware, such as hotspots or dashcams, and are rewarded in a token for the service it provides.
What is the oldest DePIN project here?
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Helium: its first HNT was emitted on July 29, 2019.
Do I need hardware to join a DePIN network?
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For Helium, GEODNET and Hivemapper, yes. Grass runs as a desktop app, mobile app or Chrome extension.
How are Helium data fees priced?
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In Data Credits, fixed at $0.00001 each and created by burning HNT.
Is Grass safe to run?
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Grass is a residential proxy network: companies send public web requests through your home connection. It describes buyers as verified institutions and says AppEsteem monitors its apps for vulnerabilities and malware. Installing the app does not guarantee Network Points.
What changed in this list
2026-09-26First version: eight DePIN networks ranked on real-world output, entry cost, token design and track record.
2026-09-26Moved Aethir to Not on this list: its terms exclude US residents
2026-10-01Added a FAQ on what running Grass involves.
Who made this page
✓
Fact check
Checked against 16 sourcesLast check: Oct 1, 2026
A value we could not confirm on the project’s own pages is marked “Not verified” instead of estimated.
How we review