Exploring the Total Addressable Market for the DePIN Sector

Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Networks (DePIN) is a rapidly emerging sector that incentivizes the deployment, usage, and maintenance of physical infrastructure. From telecommunications equipment, storage devices to energy resources; what’s store for the future of this market?

Bistroo
4 min readNov 6, 2024

DePIN represents a significant shift in how infrastructure is funded, owned, and managed. Instead of relying on large corporations or government agencies, it allows for community-driven infrastructure development and maintenance, distributed across many participants. This model promises to democratize access to essential infrastructure and create new opportunities for investment and innovation.

  • Telecommunications: Decentralized wireless networks (e.g., Helium) that allow users to build coverage with low-power hotspots.
  • Energy: Distributed energy grids and solar networks, allowing for peer-to-peer energy trading and grid optimization.
  • Data Storage and IoT: Decentralized cloud storage (e.g., Filecoin) and IoT networks.

The Stellar Growth of the DePIN Sector

Over the last few years, the DePIN sector has seen exponential growth, as the need for decentralized and more cost-effective infrastructure has become more apparent. Early players like Helium and Filecoin have already demonstrated the potential of DePIN.

The Helium Network started as a proof-of-concept in 2019, with just 1000 nodes, but by 2023, it had grown to over 1 million nodes globally. Projects like Filecoin (for decentralized storage) are showing similar upward trends, driving more investments (both consumer and institutional) and users into this space.

According to a report from Messari, the total value locked (TVL) in DePIN projects exceeded $5 billion by mid-2023 which could exceed $50 billion by 2030, driven by rising demand for more resilient and locally controlled infrastructures, especially in emerging markets.

The Total Addressable Market (TAM) for DePIN

The Total Addressable Market (TAM) for DePIN is vast, as it encompasses multiple high-growth industries, including telecommunications, energy, IoT, and data storage:

  1. Telecommunications
    Traditional telecommunications services (like cellular networks) represent a massive market opportunity. According to Statista, the global telecom services market was valued at $1.7 trillion in 2023. DePIN projects like Helium are targeting decentralized wireless networks, aiming to capture a portion of this market by providing cheaper, community-driven solutions, particularly in underserved areas.
  2. Energy & Power Grids
    The global energy grid market is another key sector. With increasing investments in decentralized energy solutions, including solar power grids and microgrids, the DePIN sector has enormous potential here. The global energy-as-a-service market alone was valued at $77 billion in 2023, according to Fortune Business Insights. DePIN projects that enable peer-to-peer energy trading or decentralized grid management could significantly disrupt this market.
  3. Takeaway & Delivery Market for Food
    The food delivery market is a significant area where decentralized infrastructure can disrupt centralized models. Traditional delivery platforms like UberEats and DoorDash take large commissions from restaurants, leading to higher costs for both businesses and consumers. Bistroo, a blockchain-powered food delivery platform, presents a decentralized alternative. By allowing restaurants to directly connect with customers, Bistroo reduces fees and empowers local businesses. According to a report by Statista, the global online food delivery market is projected to reach $470 billion by 2027. DePIN-powered food delivery solutions like Bistroo have the potential to capture a portion of this market by providing more equitable, peer-to-peer delivery services.
  4. Data Storage & Cloud Infrastructure
    Decentralized storage and cloud infrastructure solutions also represent a large market opportunity. Companies like Filecoin are challenging traditional data storage giants like Amazon and Google by offering cheaper, decentralized solutions for storing large amounts of data. According to Gartner, the public cloud services market was valued at $490 billion in 2022 and is expected to reach $1 trillion by 2026. DePIN-based data storage could carve out a substantial share of this market by offering more secure and cost-effective alternatives.
  5. IoT Networks
    With the rise of connected devices, decentralized IoT networks are becoming more relevant. Traditional IoT networks require centralized coordination, but DePIN-based IoT allows users to contribute nodes, sensors, and bandwidth to support device connectivity and management. The global IoT market is expected to reach $1.1 trillion by 2025, according to Fortune Business Insights. DePIN projects that enable secure, decentralized IoT infrastructures can take a slice of this growing pie.

Insights into DePIN’s Potential Growth

As DePIN projects mature, they could potentially capture a significant share of the TAM across multiple sectors. Current estimates place the combined value of all the industries DePIN touches (delivery, telecom, energy, storage, IoT, etc.) well above $3 trillion annually. Even a modest market penetration of 5–10% by 2030 could result in a $150-$300 billion addressable market for DePIN-specific projects.

Venture capital interest in DePIN projects is also increasing. In 2022, decentralized infrastructure projects attracted over $1.3 billion in venture funding, with continued strong interest in 2023, especially in DePIN-specific networks that target underserved markets. Analysts expect funding to grow alongside greater regulatory clarity and technological improvements in blockchain infrastructure.

Get your fill on everything Bistroo!

Bistroo is a SaaS infrastructure for restaurants, powered by the BIST Token. Restaurants can serve their customers with significantly lower fees and receive instant payouts. Any online order made easy, with full control to the user. Both customers and merchants can earn rewards by contributing to the BIST ecosystem.

Website | Telegram | Twitter | YouTube

--

--

Bistroo
Bistroo

Written by Bistroo

Bistroo is a peer-to-peer marketplace for food & beverages, powered by the BIST Token🍔🥙🥃

No responses yet