# What is DePIN? The case for decentralizing the real world

> What if our most important services — basic Internet connectivity, electricity, and access to water — were owned by users, not companies? In this talk, a16z crypto general partner Guy Wuollet explains decentralized physical infrastructure networks (DePIN) and why they may be one of the most importan...

- URL: https://a16zcrypto.com/posts/videos/what-is-depin-the-case-for-decentralizing-the-real-world
- Authors: [Guy Wuollet](https://a16zcrypto.com/team/guy-wuollet)
- Published: 2026-01-09
- Updated: 2026-01-30
- Focus areas: tech trends
- Tags: DePIN
- Format: videos

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What if our most important services — basic Internet connectivity, electricity, and access to water — were owned by users, not companies?

In this talk, a16z crypto general partner Guy Wuollet explains decentralized physical infrastructure networks (DePIN) and why they may be one of the most important use cases for crypto.

[Embedded media](https://www.youtube.com/embed/b3vndSjUSfY?feature=oembed)

Most people understand how blockchains decentralize digital services. But energy grids, telecom networks, transportation, and other physical systems are controlled by centralized incumbents. DePIN flips that model by allowing users to own, operate, and govern the physical infrastructure they rely on.

Guy breaks down:

-   What DePIN actually is (and what it isn’t)
-   Why Bitcoin mining and decentralized AI aren’t DePIN
-   How projects like Helium pioneered user-owned telecom networks
-   Why energy, telecom, and transportation are natural fits for decentralization
-   How tokens can help crowdfund infrastructure and solve cold-start problems
-   The difference between distributed networks and decentralized ones
-   Why composability and latent capacity matter in the physical world
-   How DePIN could challenge incumbent monopolies

Resources: Find Guy on X: [https://x.com/guywuolletjr](https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqa1gwdHMyWFRpVHZxNTRzdk5xRklrM2VBNVRDZ3xBQ3Jtc0tuT1lEaThtdFFVVnF2XzBhczl1cXJCUXhhdWV0R3JCZFdfTWRtemVReTdJemZVS2Nyd0E4LUpTT3hjcXVjckVRV0IxektzX3R2NWxIaXpHckxXYTVwOUJIRkx2U1JkVmpYMmNFdTExek1HZy1fd1U2cw&q=https%3A%2F%2Fx.com%2Fguywuolletjr&v=b3vndSjUSfY) Why DePIN matters and how to make it work: [https://a16zcrypto.com/posts/listicle…](https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbTBfQ3UtNGUwdm1zX2RuVU9jLXlCTnBEdzVtQXxBQ3Jtc0ttVU1ONjlqQTNVdm96dlhkRTdySTRPMk1HazRfTzJXMlprRHBaeUJoLWNxaEJvXy1EajlBOVNta3hEZkZ2aHJvbmdRckwtU19ENndDemVzM2JITUZOZDJpRm9ydTVZUUNJTzVfZ3ExYW5wazVWcHJZSQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fa16zcrypto.com%2Fposts%2Flisticles%2Fwhy-depin-matters%2F&v=b3vndSjUSfY) Follow a16z crypto across… X: [https://x.com/a16zcrypto](https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqa19XRlU0YjdTZmFiWXhBRHRBV2VGUUJUdE9KUXxBQ3Jtc0ttblVEaURRT202cjhpWFVkbmFTZWItTGVnMllCSlJ3UDdxRzM0TjF5M1duX3FyMnB1X1FPTWhwUVNuVl9MSkxFTnZXd004YWs1RzRtYWx4anp0TWVGMlNCdjFQUC1iTFdXRVdPaF92cW5DQmlCbTFNZw&q=https%3A%2F%2Fx.com%2Fa16zcrypto&v=b3vndSjUSfY) LinkedIn: / posts Youtube: / @a16zcrypto 📩 Subscribe to our Substack for more industry reports, trend updates, news analysis, builder guides, and other resources: [https://a16zcrypto.substack.com/](https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbE8tTkdBNW1kVkdlV0lRWUlheXQyT2UtTjI1QXxBQ3Jtc0trVndVbW1WQ05aX2VjRXpVNlppaWpZRU5aUEZrME9HLThDTlhCZlBWY2Nfb3A2alVNUnozM3lnMnQ3NnZDYzhITmJ0cXNyNXJta1ExMExxbnllRVF3OFFQcjRKeHpOT0NzMG9ORFFHdHg1dzBIU2dyYw&q=https%3A%2F%2Fa16zcrypto.substack.com%2F&v=b3vndSjUSfY) \*\*\* As always, none of the following should be taken as investment, business, legal, or tax advice. Please see a16z.com/disclosures for more important information, including a link to a list of our investments.

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Source: [What is DePIN? The case for decentralizing the real world](https://a16zcrypto.com/posts/videos/what-is-depin-the-case-for-decentralizing-the-real-world) — a16z crypto. Full archive: https://a16zcrypto.com/posts