- A joint effort by Acurast and researchers from the University of Zurich provided a tangible demonstration of the true potential of DePINs.
- It found that the serverless cloud system of Acurast outperformed the traditional models employed by mainstream players like Google and Amazon in several aspects.
The Rise of DePINs
Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Networks or DePINs are quite becoming popular due to the advantages they hold over cloud and other conventional storage systems. DePIN unlocks a decentralized way of storing data through its distribution to various nodes of storage points.
The system also offers a fresh take on wireless networks as it democratizes access to the Internet via a decentralized web of hotspots. Likewise, it paves the way for decentralized sensor arrays to promote more efficient, faster, and more accurate data gathering. Furthermore, it can be used to open up a platform for the decentralized allocation or trading of energy resources.
All these are made possible due to the merger of blockchain and the Internet of Things (IoT) within its framework. This fusion brings in data sovereignty, reduction of reliance on centralized models, and mitigation of system failures.
The Acurast Serverless Network
Recognizing the innate potential of DePINs, Acurast and researchers from the Communication Systems Group (CSG) of the University of Zürich (UZH) have recently partnered up to explore how the often underutilized resources of smartphones could be optimized via the technology of Acurast to power up a decentralized serverless cloud network.
The study titled, “Performance Analysis of Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Networks and Centralized Clouds” evaluated the features of Acurast’s platform to determine how it fares against complex computing tasks and how it stands out from the traditional centralized system of cloud storage.
Based on the outcome of the study, Acurast exhibited better performance in processing computationally intensive operations than mainstream players like Google Cloud Platform (GCP) and Amazon Web Services (AWS). This was achieved without compromising the confidentiality of the information stored in the network.
Acurast’s serverless protocol also displayed a significantly lower energy consumption than its centralized counterparts. What’s more, the paper featured empirical evidence proving the conceptual leverage of DePINs.
“The advent of decentralized technologies presents a unique opportunity to rethink how we manage and operate digital infrastructures,” said Jan von der Assen, a PhD student and Junior Researcher of the CSG at the UZH. “Acurast not only challenges the status quo but may also present a scalable, secure, and sustainable model for future computing needs.”
The paper is now available through various media. In addition to the resources offered by Acurast and the Communication Systems Group of the UZH, it has been published by Cornell University. The same document will be a subject for discussion at the International Conference on Blockchain Technology (ICBC) 2024, which will be held from May 27 to 31, 2024, in Dublin, Ireland.