Crypto’s energy problem may have a DePIN solution
The following is a guest post and opinion by Ruchir Punjabi, Co-Founder at ReNRG.
Crypto, for all its growth, has an energy reputation problem. The proof-of-work era left a lingering carbon footprint, and while the industry has largely pivoted to more efficient mechanisms, the perception persists.
Yet within the technology that birthed this conundrum lies a potential solution: Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Networks (DePINs). These networks, which bridge the gap between the digital and physical worlds, could redeem crypto’s energy image while also accelerating the global energy transition.
The promise of grid optimization, often touted as a clear IoT application, remains largely theoretical in much of the Global South. Today’s…
