MystNodes is part of the Mysterium Network ecosystem. It lets users run a node on their device, whether it’s a phone, computer, router, or Raspberry Pi, and users can share unused internet bandwidth. This bandwidth you share then becomes part of Mysterium’s decentralized network of residential IPs, and node runners get paid in MYST, which is the network’s native crypto token.

Right now the platform is active across 135 countries, and there are 31,547 participating IPs and $568,019 in total network earnings paid out so far. It supports a wide range of hardware, meaning it can be used on any of the options mentioned above or a browser extension. You can make withdrawals at any time and can be converted to other crypto or cash without having to wait for a minimum threshold, something that is often a common friction point on competing platforms.

One factor that does set MystNodes apart is the control users have. You get to choose exactly who to share your bandwidth with — VPN traffic, data streams, public access, or scraping rather than having it pooled indiscriminately.

One thing that’s worth focusing on here is what MystNodes actually is. It is the node infrastructure layer separate from Mysterium VPN, which is a different product for people paying to route traffic through the network rather than contributing to it.

Helium

Helium is one of the oldest and most established projects in the DePIN category built around wireless connectivity rather than internet bandwidth. It works like this: individuals deploy small hardware devices called Hotspots. These provide wireless coverage originally created for IoT devices, now also used for mobile data, and they earn HNT tokens in return. What differentiates Helium is its real commercial traction. It’s not just a crypto experiment; it has actual mobile carrier partnerships with subscriber traffic routing through community-deployed Hotspots when available and falling back to traditional carrier networks elsewhere. Every gigabyte of verified carrier data that passes through the network permanently removes HNT from circulation, which ties the tokens’ economics directly to real usage rather than speculation.

Hivemapper

Hivemapper takes DePIN into mapping. Contributors install a purpose-built dash cam that automatically captures street-level imagery while they drive. Then it’s uploaded to build a continuously updated global map. Users then earn HONEY tokens for their contribution. If you choose to participate in this, there’s literally no extra effort beyond normal driving; the dashcam runs and uploads passively in the background. The network has already mapped roughly a third of the world’s roads, and the map data is already being commercially used by companies such as Volkswagen and Lyft.

Filecoin

Filecoin is the largest decentralized storage network in the space. It is built by Protocol Labs and integrated with the InterPlanetary FileSystem (IPFS). Storage providers rent out spare hard drive capacity to an open marketplace, earning FIL tokens, while clients pay to store and retrieve data across a network rather than relying on a single centralized cloud provider.

For verification, Filecoin uses cryptographic proofs to make sure that providers are actually storing the data they’ve committed to. If they don’t hold up their end of the deal, FIL tokens get forfeited.

Render Network

Render Network connects people with idle GPU power to 3D artists’ studios and AI developers who need computers for rendering and machine learning workloads. If you become a node operator, you need to install software, register your GPU, and then you earn RENDER tokens for completed jobs. The creators pay for the compute they use when they submit jobs. Render has built real traction into the visual effects industry, specifically giving it a use case beyond speculative crypto demand.

How to Choose a DePIN Project

The label alone won’t tell you much, as plenty of tokens borrow the  “DePIN” name without any real demand for the infrastructure they claim to provide. Look for a genuine customer base actually paying for the resource being shared, not just token speculation keeping the activity alive.

Final Words

DePIN is still a relatively young sector, and no single project will still be around in years to come. The ones worth paying attention to are the ones already proving out real demand today, not just promising it for the future.

FAQs

What does DePIN actually stand for?

Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Network. It refers to crypto projects that reward individuals for contributing to physical resources, i.e., bandwidth, storage, wireless coverage, and GPU power to a shared network rather than relying on one centralized company to build and own that infrastructure.

Do I need technical knowledge to participate in these networks?

Generally no, the projects above are designed for non-technical users involved with installing an app or purchasing a purpose-built device that handles the technical side.

Are DePIN tokens a safe investment?

This isn’t investment advice, but DePIN tokens can be as volatile as any other crypto asset. Real usage and paying users are generally a stronger signal of a project’s staying power than token price alone.

How is DePIN different from typical crypto projects?

Many crypto projects are purely financial or speculative in nature. DePIN projects are tied to a physical resource or service such as internet bandwidth, wireless coverage, storage, compute, with a real usable output at the end of it.

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