Finance Share Share this article Copy linkX (Twitter)LinkedInFacebookEmail DAWN raises $13M to expand decentralized bro Finance Share Share this article Copy linkX (Twitter)LinkedInFacebookEmail DAWN raises $13M to expand decentralized bro

DAWN raises $13M to expand decentralized broadband networks

2025/12/18 23:39
5 min read
Share
Share this article
Copy linkX (Twitter)LinkedInFacebookEmail

DAWN raises $13M to expand decentralized broadband networks

The decentralized wireless protocol plans U.S. expansion and new international deployments as investors back a user-owned alternative to legacy internet providers.

By Jamie Crawley, AI Boost|Edited by Sheldon Reback
Dec 18, 2025, 3:39 p.m.
Decentralized wireless protocol DAWN raised $13 million in a Series B funding round. (춘성 강/Pixabay, modified by CoinDesk)

What to know:

  • DAWN raised $13 million in a Series B led by Polychain Capital.
  • The protocol enables individuals and organizations to own and monetize wireless broadband infrastructure.
  • New funding will support U.S. growth and international rollouts.

DAWN, a decentralized protocol designed to deliver a multigigabit broadband service owned and operated by users, said it raised $13 million in a Series B funding round led by Polychain Capital.

The money will be used to expand the Solana-based protocol's network coverage across the U.S. and roll out international deployments, according to an announcement shared with CoinDesk on Thursday.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW
Don't miss another story.Subscribe to the Crypto Daybook Americas Newsletter today. See all newsletters
Sign me up

The New York-based project allows individuals and organizations to act as network hosts, deploying wireless nodes that provide internet access. The hosts earn rewards based on coverage quality and demand. The model aims to sidestep the centralized ownership structures that dominate traditional broadband, instead distributing infrastructure ownership to the network edge.

The funding highlights the interest of investors in the introduction of decentralization to real-world services, an approach known as decentralized physical infrastructure (DePIN).

DAWN is not alone in identifying communication as a DePIN application. Another prominent project, Helium, allows users to act as small cellphone sites by installing hot spots. The platform, also built on Solana, expanded to the Brazilian market this month in a partnership with local WiFi provider Mambo.

DAWN reaches over 4 million households in the U.S, while an initial international rollout in Accra, Ghana targets underserved districts where fiber has proven slow and expensive to deploy.

The project also introduced consumer hardware, including its Black Box device, which doubles as a router and a decentralized infrastructure node. The device supports multiple blockchain ecosystems and allows households to participate directly in broadband delivery while earning rewards.

DePINInternetFunding RoundsPolychain Capital
AI Disclaimer: Parts of this article were generated with the assistance from AI tools and reviewed by our editorial team to ensure accuracy and adherence to our standards. For more information, see CoinDesk's full AI Policy.

More For You

Protocol Research: GoPlus Security

Commissioned byGoPlus

What to know:

  • As of October 2025, GoPlus has generated $4.7M in total revenue across its product lines. The GoPlus App is the primary revenue driver, contributing $2.5M (approx. 53%), followed by the SafeToken Protocol at $1.7M.
  • GoPlus Intelligence's Token Security API averaged 717 million monthly calls year-to-date in 2025 , with a peak of nearly 1 billion calls in February 2025. Total blockchain-level requests, including transaction simulations, averaged an additional 350 million per month.
  • Since its January 2025 launch , the $GPS token has registered over $5B in total spot volume and $10B in derivatives volume in 2025. Monthly spot volume peaked in March 2025 at over $1.1B , while derivatives volume peaked the same month at over $4B.
View Full Report

More For You

PayPal to use PYUSD stablecoin to fund AI infrastructure through USD.AI

The move links PayPal’s dollar-pegged token to onchain funding for GPUs and data centers, supported by a $1 billion customer incentive program.

What to know:

  • PYUSD will be used to support USD.AI’s onchain financing for AI infrastructure, including GPUs and data centers.
  • A one-year incentive program will offer 4.5% yield on up to $1 billion in customer deposits.
  • The development highlights growing demand for programmable dollar settlement as AI infrastructure spending accelerates.
Read full story
Latest Crypto News

Gold, silver shine in debasement trade as bitcoin is left behind

Coinbase shares rise as ‘ambitious expansion’ wins analyst praise

PayPal to use PYUSD stablecoin to fund AI infrastructure through USD.AI

Most Influential: Dennis Porter

Most Influential: Javier Pérez-Tasso

Most Influential: Gilles Roth

Top Stories

Coinbase shares rise as ‘ambitious expansion’ wins analyst praise

Gold, silver shine in debasement trade as bitcoin is left behind

U.S. inflation data surprises, with CPI higher by just 2.7% in November

Trump Media stock surges 25% on merger agreement with nuclear fusion firm TAE Technologies

PayPal to use PYUSD stablecoin to fund AI infrastructure through USD.AI

SoFi unveils the first bank-issued stablecoin for enterprise payments

Disclaimer: The articles reposted on this site are sourced from public platforms and are provided for informational purposes only. They do not necessarily reflect the views of MEXC. All rights remain with the original authors. If you believe any content infringes on third-party rights, please contact service@support.mexc.com for removal. MEXC makes no guarantees regarding the accuracy, completeness, or timeliness of the content and is not responsible for any actions taken based on the information provided. The content does not constitute financial, legal, or other professional advice, nor should it be considered a recommendation or endorsement by MEXC.

You May Also Like

U.S. Moves Grip on Crypto Regulation Intensifies

U.S. Moves Grip on Crypto Regulation Intensifies

The post U.S. Moves Grip on Crypto Regulation Intensifies appeared on BitcoinEthereumNews.com. The United States is contending with the intricacies of cryptocurrency regulation as newly enacted legislation stirs debate over centralized versus decentralized finance. The recent passage of the GENIUS Act under Bo Hines’ leadership is perceived to skew favor towards centralized entities, potentially disadvantaging decentralized innovations. Continue Reading:U.S. Moves Grip on Crypto Regulation Intensifies Source: https://en.bitcoinhaber.net/u-s-moves-grip-on-crypto-regulation-intensifies
Share
BitcoinEthereumNews2025/09/18 01:09
The Role of Blockchain in Building Safer Web3 Gaming Ecosystems

The Role of Blockchain in Building Safer Web3 Gaming Ecosystems

The gaming industry is in the midst of a historic shift, driven by the rise of Web3. Unlike traditional games, where developers and publishers control assets and dictate in-game economies, Web3 gaming empowers players with ownership and influence. Built on blockchain technology, these ecosystems are decentralized by design, enabling true digital asset ownership, transparent economies, and a future where players help shape the games they play. However, as Web3 gaming grows, security becomes a focal point. The range of security concerns, from hacking to asset theft to vulnerabilities in smart contracts, is a significant issue that will undermine or erode trust in this ecosystem, limiting or stopping adoption. Blockchain technology could be used to create security processes around secure, transparent, and fair Web3 gaming ecosystems. We will explore how security is increasing within gaming ecosystems, which challenges are being overcome, and what the future of security looks like. Why is Security Important in Web3 Gaming? Web3 gaming differs from traditional gaming in that players engage with both the game and assets with real value attached. Players own in-game assets that exist as tokens or NFTs (Non-Fungible Tokens), and can trade and sell them. These game assets usually represent significant financial value, meaning security failure could represent real monetary loss. In essence, without security, the promises of owning “something” in Web3, decentralized economies within games, and all that comes with the term “fair” gameplay can easily be eroded by fraud, hacking, and exploitation. This is precisely why the uniqueness of blockchain should be emphasized in securing Web3 gaming. How Blockchain Ensures Security in Web3 Gaming?
  1. Immutable Ownership of Assets Blockchain records can be manipulated by anyone. If a player owns a sword, skin, or plot of land as an NFT, it is verifiably in their ownership, and it cannot be altered or deleted by the developer or even hacked. This has created a proven track record of ownership, providing control back to the players, unlike any centralised gaming platform where assets can be revoked.
  2. Decentralized Infrastructure Blockchain networks also have a distributed architecture where game data is stored in a worldwide network of nodes, making them much less susceptible to centralised points of failure and attacks. This decentralised approach makes it exponentially more difficult to hijack systems or even shut off the game’s economy.
  3. Secure Transactions with Cryptography Whether a player buys an NFT or trades their in-game tokens for other items or tokens, the transactions are enforced by cryptographic algorithms, ensuring secure, verifiable, and irreversible transactions and eliminating the risks of double-spending or fraudulent trades.
  4. Smart Contract Automation Smart contracts automate the enforcement of game rules and players’ economic exchanges for the developer, eliminating the need for intermediaries or middlemen, and trust for the developer. For example, if a player completes a quest that promises a reward, the smart contract will execute and distribute what was promised.
  5. Anti-Cheating and Fair Gameplay The naturally transparent nature of blockchain makes it extremely simple for anyone to examine a specific instance of gameplay and verify the economic outcomes from that play. Furthermore, multi-player games that enforce smart contracts on things like loot sharing or win sharing can automate and measure trustlessness and avoid cheating, manipulations, and fraud by developers.
  6. Cross-Platform Security Many Web3 games feature asset interoperability across platforms. This interoperability is made viable by blockchain, which guarantees ownership is maintained whenever assets transition from one game or marketplace to another, thereby offering protection to players who rely on transfers for security against fraud. Key Security Dangers in Web3 Gaming Although blockchain provides sound first principles of security, the Web3 gaming ecosystem is susceptible to threats. Some of the most serious threats include:
Smart Contract Vulnerabilities: Smart contracts that are poorly written or lack auditing will leave openings for exploitation and thereby result in asset loss. Phishing Attacks: Unintentionally exposing or revealing private keys or signing transactions that are not possible to reverse, under the assumption they were genuine transaction requests. Bridge Hacks: Cross-chain bridges, which allow players to move their assets between their respective blockchains, continually face hacks, requiring vigilance from players and developers. Scams and Rug Pulls: Rug pulls occur when a game project raises money and leaves, leaving player assets worthless. Regulatory Ambiguity: Global regulations remain unclear; risks exist for players and developers alike. While blockchain alone won’t resolve every issue, it remediates the responsibility of the first principles, more so when joined by processes such as auditing, education, and the right governance, which can improve their contribution to the security landscapes in game ecosystems. Real Life Examples of Blockchain Security in Web3 Gaming Axie Infinity (Ronin Hack): The Axie Infinity game and several projects suffered one of the biggest hacks thus far on its Ronin bridge; however, it demonstrated the effectiveness of multi-sig security and the effective utilization of decentralization. The industry benefited through learning and reflection, thus, as projects have implemented changes to reduce the risks of future hacks or misappropriation. Immutable X: This Ethereum scaling solution aims to ensure secure NFT transactions for gaming, allowing players to trade an asset without the burden of exorbitant fees and fears of being a victim of fraud. Enjin: Enjin is providing a trusted infrastructure for Web3 games, offering secure NFT creation and transfer while reiterating that ownership and an asset securely belong to the player. These examples indubitably illustrate that despite challenges to overcome, blockchain remains the foundational layer on which to build more secure Web3 gaming environments. Benefits of Blockchain Security for Players and Developers For Players: Confidence in true ownership of assets Transparency in in-game economies Protection against nefarious trades/scams For Developers: More trust between players and the platform Less reliance on centralized infrastructure Ability to attract wealth and players based on provable fairness By incorporating blockchain security within the mechanics of game design, developers can create and enforce resilient ecosystems where players feel reassured in investing time, money, and ownership within virtual worlds. The Future of Secure Web3 Gaming Ecosystems As the wisdom of blockchain technology and industry knowledge improves, the future for secure Web3 gaming looks bright. New growing trends include: Zero-Knowledge Proofs (ZKPs): A new wave of protocols that enable private transactions and secure smart contracts while managing user privacy with an element of transparency. Decentralized Identity Solutions (DID): Helping players control their identities and decrease account theft risks. AI-Enhanced Security: Identifying irregularities in user interactions by sampling pattern anomalies to avert hacks and fraud by time-stamping critical events. Interoperable Security Standards: Allowing secured and seamless asset transfers across blockchains and games. With these innovations, blockchain will not only secure gaming assets but also enhance the overall trust and longevity of Web3 gaming ecosystems. Conclusion Blockchain is more than a buzzword in Web3; it is the only way to host security, fairness, and transparency. With blockchain, players confirm immutable ownership of digital assets, there is a decentralized infrastructure, and finally, it supports smart contracts to automate code that protects players and developers from the challenges of digital economies. The threats, vulnerabilities, and scams that come from smart contracts still persist, but the industry is maturing with better security practices, cross-chain solutions, and increased formal cryptographic tools. In the coming years, blockchain will remain the base to digital economies and drive Web3 gaming environments that allow players to safely own, trade, and enjoy their digital experiences free from fraud and exploitation. While blockchain and gaming alone entertain, we will usher in an era of secure digital worlds where trust complements innovation. The Role of Blockchain in Building Safer Web3 Gaming Ecosystems was originally published in Coinmonks on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story
Share
Medium2025/09/18 14:40
Why your phone number shows as private and how to remove it

Why your phone number shows as private and how to remove it

Table of contents How to remove private number on your Android How to remove private number on your iPhone (iOS) What to do if your number still shows as Private
Share
Techcabal2026/02/07 00:23