Crowdsourced Hardware

Definition ∞ Crowdsourced hardware refers to physical devices or infrastructure developed or deployed through collective community contributions. This model leverages decentralized participation for design, funding, or operation of hardware components, often within blockchain networks. Participants might contribute processing power, network bandwidth, or physical devices to support a larger system. This collaborative approach can democratize access to and ownership of essential infrastructure.
Context ∞ The concept of crowdsourced hardware gains prominence in news concerning decentralized physical infrastructure networks, or DePIN projects. These initiatives aim to build global networks for services like wireless connectivity or data storage by rewarding individuals for deploying and maintaining hardware. Debates often center on the economic incentives required to sustain such distributed hardware ecosystems.