A tokenomics resource on how DePIN and Web3 protocols design their token economies, including case studies on networks like Hivemapper and Helium, explainers on mechanisms like burn-and-mint and vesting, and market analysis grounded in on-chain data. Written by Hilary Brown, Founder of GridEcon, drawing on the same rigor applied to client engagements.
Latest From the Field
AI is driving real demand across Helium, GEODNET, NATIX, Hivemapper, and DIMO. This piece tests whether each network's tokenomics actually converts that demand into token holder value.
Tokenomics 101
New to tokenomics? These fundamentals connect token design to real business strategy decisions.
Case- Studies
See how token design and business strategy come together in real DePIN networks.
More Insights
Helium's HIP 149 and the Realignment of Helium's Deployer Economics
Helium's HIP 149 cuts the carrier rate from $0.50 to $0.10/GB, retires Proof-of-Coverage, and ties deployer pay to real usage, closing the gap our original case study flagged between hype and fundamentals.
GEODNET: Building a Global Coordinate Layer
How GEODNET built a 20,000-station global RTK network at a 90% cost advantage over incumbents like Trimble, and what its buyback-and-burn model means for token holders.
Reimagining Maps through Blockchain Incentives — The Hivemapper Story
How Hivemapper is disrupting the $100B mapping industry through decentralized crowdsourcing and blockchain incentives. A case study of tokenomics, market opportunity, and valuation for the world's fastest-growing decentralized mapping network.
Affordable Housing Security Token Case Study
A real-world analysis of tokenized real estate fundraising for an affordable housing foundation, examining capital raise scenarios, operating cost models, and the strategic balance between debt and equity token structures.
From Hype to Fundamentals: A Case Study of Helium & DePIN
An in-depth analysis of Helium's evolution from IoT pioneer to mobile infrastructure provider, examining the fundamentals, tokenomics, and market opportunities that distinguish DePIN protocols from traditional crypto speculation.