DAWN raises $13 million: New York startup accelerates global expansion of decentralized networks

Decentralized protocol DAWN, developed to provide high-speed internet under user control, announced the completion of a Series B funding round of $13 million. The investment round was led by the well-known crypto fund Polychain Capital, highlighting the growing interest of venture investors in decentralized physical infrastructure (DePIN).

The New York-based company plans to use the raised capital to scale its blockchain-based network across the United States and launch pilot projects in international markets. This funding marks a turning point in the approach to telecommunications infrastructure, which is gradually shifting towards distributed, user-controlled models rather than centralized corporations.

DePIN Model: How Decentralized Internet DAWN Works

DAWN’s model is radically different from traditional broadband access. Instead of relying on centralized operators, the protocol allows individuals and organizations to become network nodes by deploying wireless access points in their homes or offices. Each node owner is rewarded based on the quality of coverage provided and the level of demand for the service in their area.

This approach aims to dismantle entry barriers in the telecommunications market, historically dominated by a few large players. DAWN shifts ownership of infrastructure from central offices to the network periphery, literally into the hands of users. It’s not just a technological shift — it’s a change in the economic model, where people become service providers and receive fair compensation for their contribution.

Polychain Capital: Venture Perspective on the Future of Decentralized Infrastructure

Polychain Capital’s decision to lead DAWN’s funding round reflects the strategic vision of major crypto investors. The venture fund, known for its focus on innovative blockchain projects, sees the DePIN sector not as a temporary trend but as a fundamental reorientation of infrastructure industries towards decentralized principles.

The $13 million funding will enable DAWN to not only establish itself in the US market, where it already covers over 4 million households, but also to begin international expansion. The first international launch is planned in Accra, Ghana, where the lack of reliable broadband access and high costs of traditional fiber optics create favorable conditions for the adoption of innovative decentralized solutions.

Helium and DAWN: Two Approaches to Decentralized Communication

DAWN is not the only player in the DePIN communication space. The Helium project, also built on Solana, demonstrates the viability of this business model by allowing users to deploy cellular nodes via hotspots and earn tokens as compensation. Recently, Helium expanded into the Latin American market through a partnership with Brazilian WiFi provider Mambo, indicating DePIN projects’ attraction to regions with underdeveloped infrastructure.

The parallel growth of DAWN and Helium points to the consolidation of investment capital around the DePIN vertical in the communication sector. The difference in approaches — Helium’s mobile cellular network versus DAWN’s broadband access — suggests that the market is large enough for multiple successful projects simultaneously.

Black Box: Consumer Equipment for Decentralized Internet

A key innovation of DAWN is the development of its own consumer device called Black Box. This device functions both as a regular router and as a node of the decentralized infrastructure supporting multiple blockchain ecosystems. For households, this means no need for complex additional configurations — they simply install Black Box and start earning rewards for providing internet.

Ease of use is a critical factor for mass adoption of DePIN services. Black Box addresses this by ensuring a smooth transition from traditional routers to active nodes of the decentralized network. Consumers do not lose standard home internet functions but gain an additional income source.

Global Expansion Strategy: From the US to Developing Markets

Choosing Accra (the capital of Ghana) as the pilot site for international expansion demonstrates DAWN’s understanding of its target audience. In regions where the development of fiber optic infrastructure remains costly and slow, decentralized wireless models offer a viable alternative. DAWN positions itself not just as an internet provider but as a project aimed at digital inclusion of underserved areas.

This geographic strategy also offers secondary benefits. Expansion into developing countries allows DAWN to create a community of nodes in new jurisdictions, diversify regulatory risks, and build a global infrastructure that competes not only with other DePIN projects but also with traditional operators.

Why DePIN Attracts Investment: Trend or Tectonic Shift?

Polychain Capital’s and other investors’ interest in DAWN reflects a broader trend of rethinking infrastructure through decentralization. The DePIN concept goes beyond philosophical debates and is transforming into concrete business models that address real problems: internet inaccessibility, monopoly power of large operators, unfair revenue distribution.

For investors, DAWN is a bet that future economies will be built on distributed principles, where individual users have greater power and the ability to control and monetize their assets. In this context, investing in DePIN companies is not just technological exotica but a strategic positioning in the anticipated future digital economy.