Decentralized physical infrastructure networks, known as DePINs, are currently a hot topic in the Web3 community. Although this technology has been around for some time, it has recently sparked renewed interest with the return of bullish sentiment in the crypto market.
DePINs enable ordinary individuals to contribute their physical resources, such as hard drive space and bandwidth, to support a larger decentralized network. One notable example is XYO, a project where users store data for clients and receive cryptocurrency in exchange.
In a recent episode of The Agenda podcast, hosts Jonathan DeYoung and Ray Salmond sat down with Markus Levin, the co-founder and head of operations at XY Labs, the company behind the development of the XYO protocol. Levin made a compelling case for how DePINs can enhance the trustworthiness of artificial intelligence and have already made significant strides towards mass adoption in the crypto space.
During the interview, Levin highlighted the issue of AI models “hallucinating,” generating false information as if it were factual. He emphasized that a DePIN system like XYO, which ensures the provenance of each piece of data, could serve as a safeguard against such misinformation.
Regarding the potential for mass adoption, Levin dismissed the idea of a DePIN market bubble, stating that this technology is only at the beginning of a growth trajectory. He acknowledged the current excitement surrounding DePINs but attributed it to the scalability and genuine utility they offer to clients.
When asked if a DePIN protocol could be the game-changer that drives widespread adoption, Levin confidently replied, “We’ve already built it.” He shared that a significant percentage of XYO users are non-crypto individuals who eventually convert to crypto users, demonstrating the platform’s appeal to a broad audience.
To delve deeper into Levin’s insights on XYO, including discussions on data privacy, the distinction between DePIN and the Internet of Things, and more, listeners can tune in to the full episode on Cointelegraph’s Podcasts page, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify. Additionally, Cointelegraph offers a range of other shows for those interested in staying updated on the latest developments in the crypto space.