How to Participate in the DAWN Network and Earn Points

You can earn points on the DAWN Network by downloading the Chrome extension and running it in the background of your device.

Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Networks (DePINs) are a recent and emerging concept within the blockchain realm. These DePINs are essentially decentralized applications (dApps) that leverage blockchain technology to enable communities to contribute resources like energy, computing power, or connectivity toward the development and maintenance of physical infrastructure networks, all while being rewarded in tokens for their efforts.

One such dApp is DAWN, a new and upcoming application on Solana that aims to deliver internet services to users. Through DAWN, users can buy and sell internet capacity within their surrounding area, essentially allowing them to operate as their own internet service providers and potentially lower household costs in the process.

At the core of the protocol, DAWN undertakes two parallel objectives. The first objective is to transform internet bandwidth into a commodity, shifting away from the exclusive service provision by large corporations. Simultaneously, the protocol endeavors to channel equity from centralized infrastructures directly into the homes of users. Instead of relying on massive central data centers and network hubs, DAWN proposes a decentralized approach, empowering each participating household with the capability to operate as a mini data center.

To facilitate efficient communication between nodes at multi-gigabit speeds, comparable to fiber, DAWN employs Point-to-MultiPoint (PtMP) wireless technology. This technology is crucial as it enables high-density distribution of bandwidth among numerous users within a network, essentially turning each node into a mini internet service provider.

Users have the flexibility to purchase bandwidth that aligns with their needs and actual usage, while also having the opportunity to sell any surplus bandwidth. For instance, if a household anticipates lower bandwidth utilization during a period, such as while away on holiday, they could choose to sell part of their allocated bandwidth to others. DAWN is implementing this system to maximize the efficiency of internet resources and simultaneously open up avenues for financial gain among users. Not only could households earn the protocol’s tokens as rewards for participating in the network, but they could also potentially generate additional income to offset their bills.

To operate in a trustless environment, DAWN utilizes blockchain technology and implements three key mechanisms that work in tandem to ensure a robust and transparent network. The first mechanism is Proof-of-Backhaul (PoB), which essentially serves as an empirical measure of the throughput capacity at each node. For example, if a node claims to be providing 1 Gbps but only delivers 400Mbps, PoB will adjust the payment and delivery mechanisms accordingly.

At the same time, Proof-of-Location (PoL) works to guarantee that each node's physical location is accurately reported. The final mechanism is Proof-of-Frequency, which confirms the wireless spectrum that each node utilizes in order to maintain high-quality network performance and minimize congestion issues.

The team behind DAWN is Andrena, a technology company driven by the mission to provide high-speed internet services through a decentralized model. As a wireless internet company, Andrena aims to deliver home internet services at a lower cost in comparison to other providers, while also making connectivity accessible and affordable for users. By developing DAWN, the protocol can take this mission a step further by allowing users to also sell excess internet bandwidth as previously mentioned.

On August 7, 2024, DAWN successfully raised $18 million in a funding round led by Dragonfly, with participation from 6th Man Ventures, Triton, Reflexive, Modular Capital, and Frictionless Capital. The protocol also announced the launch of the DAWN Validator Extension, powered by Witness Chain’s Watchtower system, which allows anyone to actively participate in the DAWN network. By participating, users can receive rewards which are generated based on the time of connection, referring other users, following DAWN on social media, and participating as a validator node which will be rolling out soon. Each 24 hour period has an eligible 1,440 reward points and users will accrue points based on the amount of time their end user device has the extension active and connected.

Given the opportunity to join over 500,000 verified users on DAWN to earn points, now is a great time to download the extension and participate in the DAWN network. However, it is important to note that at the time of writing, the DAWN team has not made any official announcements regarding a token launch or token airdrop. Therefore, following the steps below to participate in the DAWN network does not guarantee a future token airdrop allocation.

Step 1: Download the Extension

First, head over to https://www.dawninternet.com/ and go ahead to Download DAWN Validator Extension. You will be redirected to the extension on the Chrome store. At the time of writing, it is currently only available as a Chrome extension on a desktop device such as a laptop or a personal computer.

Proceed to Add to Chrome and the extension download will begin.

Once the extension has been added to your Chrome, you can Continue in the extension to create your account.

Proceed