Do most DePIN projects actually use blockchain technology? True or false?

The DePIN projects in the blockchain world are a topic of contention. With many projects unable to utilize blockchain efficiently, even at 1 million transactions per second, the question of the technology’s bandwidth for DePIN projects arises. These projects, like DePIN, connect physical devices for data exchange but face challenges due to the huge amount of data they produce. Helium, a notable DePIN project, moved to Solana for faster processing, highlighting the need for high-throughput chains.

Despite the excitement surrounding DePIN projects, their reliance on blockchain networks remains questionable. Many current projects are not fully onchain, opting for offchain computation and hybrid structures to improve efficiency and reduce costs. While some projects use blockchain as a marketing strategy, others like MegaETH are aiming to provide real-time computation capabilities for DePIN applications.

Offchain computation plays a crucial role in DePIN projects, with two main categories of IoT devices: sensors and executors. While sensors can tolerate latency in data transmission, executors, like those controlling lights or driving, require real-time processing. Blockchain’s role in coordinating activities across devices in a permissionless manner without the need for trust is vital for DePIN projects. Financial incentives in the form of tokens also attract contributors to share resources and participate in decentralized infrastructure.

Looking to the future, blockchain networks like MegaETH and Sui are promising high TPS numbers, potentially revolutionizing DePIN projects. With advancements in L2 chains and optimized sequencers, the scalability and efficiency of blockchain networks for DePIN projects could improve significantly in the coming years.