A Survey of Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Network,Research Directions, and Open Challenges

Abstract

The Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Network (DePIN) represents a transformative paradigm that redefines the construction, operation, and governance of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) infrastructure in the Web 3.0 era. DePIN integrates physical resources, such as networking equipment, storage, and computing power, with decentralized digital governance, forming a self-incentivized ecosystem that is collaboratively built, shared, and governed by the community. It provides a foundational framework for future communication networks, facilitating decentralized edge intelligence, efficient resource sharing, and trustworthy coordination among heterogeneous devices. Focusing on the feasibility of this emerging paradigm, this paper examines the technology landscape in the pre-DePIN era and gaps between existing methodologies and the forthcoming decentralized infrastructure for Web 3.0. It provides a systematic and comprehensive survey of the background, core characteristics, technical architecture, and applications of DePIN across various vertical domains. The paper analyzes the DePIN technology stack from six layers: physical infrastructure, blockchain, interaction, trust, incentive, and application, with special attention to their cross-layer feedback loops, implementation readiness, and deployment limitations. To further bridge conceptual analysis and practical deployment, we propose a DePIN feasibility assessment framework covering technical, governance, and economic dimensions. Moreover, we highlight promising research directions, providing insights and guidance for further exploration and deployment of DePIN.