Blockstars Web3 Weekly Podcast Ep.89 Featuring William Ross MBA | DePIN Daily
In this episode, we catch up with Will for a look at the DePIN (Decentralised Physical Infrastructure Networks) space — what’s changed, what’s working, and where the big opportunities are.We dig into the Crypto State of DePIN Report, which shows just how far the sector’s come since 2022. What was once a tiny, under-the-radar niche has exploded in 2025. Projects like Helium now run more than 60,000 mobile hotspots, and importantly we’re seeing real revenue flow through these networks.Will points out the current “good problem” in the industry: there’s loads of supply (plenty of nodes, plenty of data) but not enough demand yet to soak it all up. Rather than being a setback, he sees it as the perfect time to focus on attracting customers who’ll actually pay for that data, locking in long-term value.We unpack the journeys of Peak and Silencio, two projects Will knows inside-out as an ambassador. Both have gone for a compliance-first, slow-and-steady approach to launching tokens — which means fewer legal headaches, but also some delays that have tested community patience. Peak’s “Get Real” campaign and Silencio’s niche focus on monetising noise pollution data are standout moves in their own right.Will also shares highlights from ETH Denver, where as he puts it the main conference is good, but the real magic happens at the side events. As MC of the “DePIN Dinner,” he connected builders, sparked collaborations, and had the sort of valuable, open conversations you don’t get on a show floor.Then there’s DePIN Happy Hour, Will’s weekly unscripted livestream with other industry voices. It’s part banter, part brain dump — a space where they talk DePIN, Web3, and RWAs without the corporate polish, often with a beer in hand. It’s all about making complex ideas easy to grasp and fun to talk about.Chapters00:00 – Welcome & Life Updates02:00 – State of DePIN 2024 Overview05:50 – Supply vs Demand Challenges09:40 – Community Building in DePIN12:50 – Peak & Silencio Token Launches18:00 – ETH Denver Highlights & Side Events26:00 – What’s DePIN Happy Hour?30:00 – Bear Market Tips & Earning on the Side33:30 – Closing ThoughtsBullet PointsDePIN’s growth from small niche to serious Web3 sectorOversupply issues creating a push for real demandPeak & Silencio: compliance-first token launchesETH Denver side events delivering the strongest connectionsDePIN Happy Hour: industry insights with a casual twistBear markets as the best time to build and earnKey TopicsDePIN sector growth and revenue trendsBalancing supply with sustainable demandToken launch strategies that avoid legal riskNetworking beyond the main conference stageEarning with DePIN without big upfront costsThought-Provoking QuestionsHow can DePIN projects turn oversupply into a growth advantage?Does a slower, compliant launch set a project up for greater success?Is a bear market the smartest time for newcomers to start in DePIN?
