# What is DePIN?

DePIN stands for Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Network. Instead of a few corporations owning things like cell towers or data centers, DePIN lets anyone join in. People can run devices, share data, or connect to networks and earn rewards for it.

### What Makes it Different?

Traditional infrastructure is centralized: companies build it, maintain it, and capture all the value. DePIN flips that model. It makes infrastructure:

* **Open:** anyone can join with a phone or device
* **Resilient:** no single point of failure
* **Fair:** contributors earn value for their part

### How Does It Work?

Every DePIN project has three layers:

1. Devices or nodes doing useful work
2. A network that collects and validates the work
3. A system that records contributions and distributes rewards

### The XYO Approach

XYO has been running a DePIN since 2018. More than 10 million nodes contribute through the COIN App, sending real-world data like timestamps, observations, and location relationships. That data is verified with Proof of Location and Proof of Origin, then secured on XYO Layer One, a blockchain built for data. Contributors earn $XYO for their participation, while $XL1 powers activity on-chain.

### How DePIN Impacts Industries

DePIN builds trusted, global systems that anyone can help run. From mapping and logistics to IoT, public data, and asset tracking, XYO shows how a DePIN can connect the digital and physical worlds at scale.