Summary: DePIN mainnets no longer win on whitepapers and token sales—they win on verifiable utility, rock‑solid device identity, and production‑grade rollup/interop stacks that CFOs can model. Here’s a pragmatic blueprint to launch a DePIN mainnet in 2026 that converts hardware activation into recurring utility revenue instead of one‑off token hype.

Title: Launching a DePIN Mainnet: From Token Sales to Utility Sales

Hook: the specific headache your DePIN core team is feeling right now

• You’ve proven a pilot, but mainnet is blocked by three intertwined constraints:
  • DA/rollup decisions that your infra team can’t cost with confidence (EigenDA vs. Celestia vs. L1 blobs), and an interop plan that won’t strand users when bridges deprecate networks.
  • Device identity and network authorization at scale (IMEI/eSIM, CPI/SAS for CBRS, tamper‑resistant attestations) that procurement can’t lock until you finalize standards like SGP.32—and you’re already staring at lead‑time slips.
  • A GTM model built for “token distribution” that doesn’t map to “utility consumption,” so Finance can’t forecast LTV:CAC or payback once emissions ramp down and utility burns kick in.

If this sounds familiar, it’s because 2025–2026 DePIN leaders already had to rip up early playbooks:

• Helium Mobile’s legacy $5 Beta and $20 Unlimited plans are being retired on January 27, 2026, with subscribers moved to the Air plan (10 GB) and credits/boosts to smooth the shift—an explicit pivot from growth gimmicks to sustainable ARPU. (support.hellohelium.com)
• Render Network deprecated RNDR on Polygon after a 2025 security incident and set a support sunset of March 1, 2026 for the Polygon→Solana upgrade tool—illustrating how cross‑chain migrations must be operationalized with snapshots, cutovers, and user support SLAs. (rendernetwork.medium.com)
• Hivemapper’s MIP‑15 shifted to a utility‑driven burn‑and‑mint: 75% permanent burn, 25% re‑mint to contributors, capped at 500k HONEY/week—making consumption the core revenue lever vs. emissions. (docs.hivemapper.com)
• GEODNET scaled to ~20k+ RTK stations by late 2025 with 80% of fiat revenue auto buy‑and‑burning GEOD—again, utility first, emissions second. (messari.io)

Agitate: what’s actually at risk if you “just launch”

• Missed regulatory or hardware gates = stalled activations:
  • CBRS Category B radios require CPI‑signed installs and SAS onboarding under FCC Part 96; skipping CPI or SAS orchestration holds radios dark, burns installer hours, and delays coverage proofs. (telrad.com)
  • eSIM fleet flips slip if you bet on the wrong RSP path—SGP.32 is the IoT‑grade remote provisioning standard (no SMS dependency, eIM proxy flows), but certified commercial stacks only began landing in 2025 and are standardizing through 2026. (gsma.com)
• Interop regressions strand liquidity and users:
  • Bridges update and deprecate networks—Wormhole sunset chains (e.g., Terra, Oasis) in 2025 and transitioned others from frontends; if your asset routing depends on a soon‑to‑deprecate lane, you inherit user‑support debt. (wormhole.com)
  • AggLayer/OP‑Stack/Superchain upgrades add safety (pessimistic proofs; Stage‑1 fault proofs), but timelines differ per stack; misalignments break your “single‑click” UX promise. (optimism.io)
• DA sticker shock:
  • EigenDA V2 hit 100 MB/s and is now widely adopted by rollups (Fuel, Aevo), but unit‑economics differ materially from Celestia’s sampling‑based DA; the wrong choice can double your all‑in DA/settlement bill at mainnet scale. (blog.eigencloud.xyz)
• Security and slashing:
  • With EigenLayer mainnet slashing and multichain AVS support, your oracle/coverage/verification services can finally be enforced with hard penalties across L2s—if you don’t spec it pre‑genesis, you ship with unfunded liabilities. (blog.eigencloud.xyz)

Solve: 7Block Labs’ methodology to ship a utility‑driven DePIN mainnet in 120 days We bridge deep protocol engineering (Solidity, ZK, rollups) with hardware identity, radio operations, and CFO‑level business metrics. The deliverables map to both your CTO and your Head of Procurement.

Phase 0 — Stakeholder alignment and costable architecture (2 weeks)

• Target audience: DePIN CTO, Head of Network Deployment, VP Procurement, VP Finance/RevOps, and Compliance Lead (EU/US).
• Outputs:
  • Chain + DA decision memo: OP‑Stack vs Polygon CDK vs SVM rollup, DA selection (EigenDA vs Celestia), interop plan (Hyperlane ISM vs. guarded Wormhole lanes; AggLayer connectivity). (hyperlane.xyz)
  • AVS/security blueprint: slashing conditions for coverage/oracle AVS with restaked security and Base/OP L2 footprints. (cointelegraph.com)
  • Device identity stack: eSIM SGP.32 eIM flows, IMEI/TAC whitelisting, secure bootchain requirements per OEM, CBRS CPI/SAS workflow and domain proxy if applicable. (eseye.com)
• Engage our custom blockchain development services and interop architects: [custom blockchain development services] and [blockchain integration].
  • Links: custom blockchain development services, blockchain integration

Phase 1 — Reference implementation sprints (4–6 weeks)

• Rollup + DA:
  • Stand up an L2 with fault‑proofs roadmap alignment (OP‑Stack Stage‑1 today; Stage‑2 track) or Polygon CDK with AggLayer connectivity (unified bridge + pessimistic proofs). We baseline DA against EigenDA (100 MB/s targets, fee curves) and Celestia (sampling cost curves, Ginger/Lotus upgrade path). (optimism.io)
• Interop and liquidity routing:
  • Implement Hyperlane ISM tuned to your threat model; where needed, maintain a “deprecation‑aware” bridge manifest to avoid Wormhole‑style chain sunsets stranding users. (hyperlane.xyz)
• ZK coprocessors:
  • Offload heavy verification (coverage proofs, route quality, sensor integrity) to zkVMs—RISC Zero 2.x/OpenVM or Axiom—returning succinct receipts your contracts can verify for ~330k gas. (releasealert.dev)
• Hardware identity and radio ops:
  • Build SGP.32 eIM flows (direct/indirect downloads over CoAP/MQTT) so you can swap MNO profiles without truck rolls; codify CBRS CPI/SAS registration and channel‑plan automation. (simartis.com)
• Map utility metering:
  • For wireless: heartbeat/modeled‑coverage accrual akin to Helium’s Mobile PoC; for mapping/compute: burn‑and‑mint loops like HONEY and GEOD with weekly caps/halvings to enforce sustainability. (docs.helium.com)
• Security reviews and dry‑runs via our [security audit services].
  • Link: security audit services

Phase 2 — Genesis, utility billing, and compliance (4 weeks)

• Genesis + allocs:
  • Ship a genesis that avoids future “RNDR‑on‑Polygon” style deprecations by pinning chain‑id/router manifests and snapshotting any migration paths with time‑boxed support. (rendernetwork.medium.com)
• Utility billing and burns:
  • Encode consumption → burn with contributor remint caps (e.g., 25% cap to contributors) so Finance can reconcile fiat revenue with on‑chain burns; if you operate RTK or data networks, route 80% of fiat receipts through buy‑and‑burn. (docs.hivemapper.com)
• Token compliance:
  • If any token touches EU users in 2026, align with MiCA go‑live and consider ERC‑3643 for permissioned flows (KYC/transfer restrictions) vs. bare ERC‑20 utility. We implement allowlists and on‑chain identity registries that satisfy MiCA’s phased enforcement through July 1, 2026. (digitalpolicyalert.org)
• Launch runbooks:
  • Fault‑proofs bridge UX, halt switches, rollup dispute games, and AVS slashing toggles.

Phase 3 — GTM: from emissions to utility sales (ongoing)

• Field ops OKRs:
  • Installer AHT, first‑pass‑activation rate, RMA/MTBF, CPI‑signed installs/day, SAS grant latency, eSIM profile success rate, and IMEI onboarding throughput.
• Utility revenue OKRs:
  • DAU of utility (not wallets), consumption‑driven burns, payback period (hardware subsidy vs. utility margin), and cohort‑level LTV:CAC with referral K‑factor.
• Sales packaging:
  • “Coverage as a Contract” for radio and “Tiles/Queries/Compute Minutes” for data/compute; meter via receipts and auto‑invoice.
• Ops SRE:
  • SLOs for DA inclusion latency, bridge finality (pessimistic proofs), AVS uptime, and zk proof wall‑clock—all tied to customer‑visible credits/SLA earn‑backs.

Technical blueprint: what we implement so Ops can run

• Chain and DA
  • OP‑Stack L2 at Stage‑1 with permissionless fault proofs and a Stage‑2 roadmap, or Polygon CDK + AggLayer connectivity for unified liquidity and pessimistic cross‑chain safety. (optimism.io)
  • DA: EigenDA V2 (100 MB/s throughput; horizontal scaling; users like Fuel/Aevo) or Celestia (data‑availability sampling; Ginger/Lotus upgrades reducing block times and boosting throughput). We deliver TCO models with fee sensitivity to block size and sampling rates. (blog.eigencloud.xyz)
• Interoperability
  • Hyperlane with custom ISMs (example: DIA’s Spectra deployment) and a hardened route registry; Wormhole/other lanes gated by deprecation watchlists and guardianship thresholds. (hyperlane.xyz)
• ZK verification/coprocessors
  • RISC Zero/OpenVM pipeline for coverage proofs, route quality scoring, and device attestations; Axiom API paths for historic on‑chain analytics and identity checks with succinct verifications. (releasealert.dev)
• Radio and device identity (wireless DePIN)
  • CBRS Part‑96 install program: CPI training, digital cert management, and SAS APIs (Google SAS channel planning, device manager, roles/permissions); domain‑proxy for fleet ops. (cbrs.wirelessinnovation.org)
  • eSIM at scale: SGP.32 eIM (direct/indirect downloads, CoAP/MQTT), no‑SMS provisioning, and security bindings between eIM and eUICC to prevent rogue profile ops; we stage SGP.32 migrations from today’s stacks in your device roadmap. (ericsson.com)
• Utility metering patterns (by vertical)
  • Mobile coverage: modeled‑coverage + “heartbeat” eligibility (12+ hours/24) to prevent “silent radios” earning. (docs.helium.com)
  • Mapping: burn‑and‑mint with 75% net burn and weekly cap to avoid runaway inflation; region‑based progress for fair global payout. (docs.hivemapper.com)
  • RTK/positioning: buyer burns tied to subscription revenue (80% buy‑and‑burn), with SuperHex staking to steer supply to demand hotspots. (messari.io)

Prove: GTM metrics you can hold us to (and why they matter)

• Coverage/activation SLA
  • 95%+ first‑pass CPI‑signed activation for CBRS radios; <10‑minute SAS grant issuance average; <48‑hour channel plan conflict resolution through automated portal API workflows. These eliminate long‑tail install revisits that kill CAC payback. (cloud.google.com)
• Utility conversion
  • Within 60 days post‑mainnet, 35–55% of active devices generating metered, billable utility events (calls, tiles, queries, compute minutes)—the ratio you must beat now that “$5/$20”‑style promos are sunsetting in favor of sustainable ARPU plans (cf. Helium Mobile’s 2026 plan changes). (support.hellohelium.com)
• Burn/consumption coupling
  • Utility burns ≥55% of emissions after 90 days (benchmarked to Hivemapper’s 75% net burn design and GEODNET’s 80% buy‑and‑burn routing). Your tokenomics should not require perpetual community subsidies to clear sell pressure. (docs.hivemapper.com)
• Interop resilience
  • Zero stranded users/assets during bridge or chain deprecations over a 12‑month horizon—achieved by route manifests and “deprecation‑aware” UX patterned after RNDR’s Polygon→Solana upgrade learnings and Wormhole’s 2025 deprecations. (rendernetwork.medium.com)
• DA cost predictability
  • ±10% variance between modeled and realized DA spend at P95 traffic, leveraging EigenDA/Celestia performance envelopes and proof/finality pipelines. If your DA bill is unpredictable, Finance won’t sign the next growth tranche. (blog.eigencloud.xyz)

Best emerging practices we’re embedding now (so you don’t learn them the hard way)

• Launch where fault proofs live: Use OP‑Stack chains that are already Stage‑1 (anyone‑can‑challenge), and plan your Stage‑2 trajectory. Even if you choose CDK/AggLayer for liquidity unification, adopt similar security posture for cross‑chain finality. (optimism.io)
• Treat interop like a regulated dependency: Maintain a signed, versioned “bridge manifest” in‑app; alert users proactively when networks are deprecated and stage upgrade/snapshot tooling with support SLA windows. Wormhole’s 2025 changes and RNDR’s 2025–2026 path are your cautionary tales. (wormhole.com)
• Make device identity boring and automated:
  • SGP.32 eIM integration beats SMS‑dependent hacks; design for indirect downloads to reach sleepy/low‑power devices and codify eIM↔eUICC signing to block malware‑issued profile ops. (ericsson.com)
  • For CBRS, pre‑issue CPI certs, pre‑validate TAC/IMEI lists, and automate channel plans; don’t let field techs discover portal gaps at the pole. (cloud.google.com)
• ZK coprocessors as your “trust budget” reserve: Move heavy verification off‑chain (RISC Zero/Axiom) and ship succinct receipts to contracts; aim for <1s proof latency paths for UX‑critical flows, with on‑chain verifies around a few hundred K gas. (releasealert.dev)
• Design utility sales from Day 1:
  • Wireless: price by GB/coverage minutes with earn‑backs for SLA breaches; model throttling/fair‑use. Helium Mobile’s plan changes show ARPU durability beats promo virality in 2026. (support.hellohelium.com)
  • Mapping/compute: publish public usage dashboards and tie contributor rewards to net burns, not emissions; cap consumption remints weekly to protect price integrity. (docs.hivemapper.com)
• If the EU is in scope in 2026, don’t wing MiCA: For permissioned flows, adopt ERC‑3643 identity registries and compliance hooks instead of post‑hoc geofencing—your legal and exchange listings will go smoother. (docs.erc3643.org)

Who this is for (and the keywords you actually care about)

• CTO and Protocol Lead: “OP‑Stack Stage‑1 fault proofs,” “EigenDA 100 MB/s,” “AggLayer pessimistic proofs,” “Hyperlane ISM,” “ZK coprocessor receipts,” “Axiom/OpenVM,” “restaked AVS slashing.”
• Head of Network Deployment: “CBRS CPI/SAS domain proxy,” “Google SAS channel plan API,” “IMEI/TAC whitelisting,” “SGP.32 eIM indirect downloads (CoAP/MQTT),” “OTA secure boot.”
• VP Procurement: “CPI certification pipeline,” “radio BOM alternatives by HAAT/EIRP limits,” “eUICC sourcing by SGP.32 v1.2,” “RMA/MTBF targets,” “Incoterms DDP + regional certifications (FCC/CE).”
• VP Finance/RevOps: “consumption‑driven burn/remint caps,” “ARPU durability post‑promotion,” “DA cost variance P95,” “payback period on hardware subsidies,” “cohort LTV:CAC by installer channel.”

Where 7Block Labs plugs in today

• Need end‑to‑end build? See our [web3 development services] and [dapp development solutions].
  • Links: web3 development services, dapp development solutions
• Tokenomics and funding runway while you pivot to utility? Our [fundraising advisory] models emissions→utility transitions with exchange ops and compliance baked in.
  • Link: fundraising advisory
• Cross‑chain and bridges without surprises? Engage our [cross‑chain solutions development] and [blockchain bridge development] teams.
  • Links: cross‑chain solutions development, blockchain bridge development
• Secure, upgradable smart contracts and permissioned utility tokens? Our [smart contract development] practice ships audited, upgrade‑safe code and can integrate ERC‑3643 where needed.
  • Link: smart contract development

Brief in‑depth examples (applied)

• Wireless DePIN (CBRS + L2)
  • Stack: OP‑Stack L2 (Stage‑1), EigenDA V2, Hyperlane ISM for L1/L2 messages, CPI/SAS domain proxy, SGP.32 eIM flows for eSIM activation, modeled‑coverage accrual with heartbeats and SLA‑backed credits.
  • KPI targets after 90 days: 92% first‑pass activation; 40% devices generating billable utility weekly; DA spend within ±8% of model; net burn ≥55% of weekly emissions. (optimism.io)
• Mapping DePIN
  • Stack: zkVM coprocessors for road‑segment validation and freshness scoring, burn‑and‑mint with 75% net burn and 500k/wk remint cap, region‑progress rewards to avoid city pile‑ups.
  • KPI targets: usage‑linked burns tracking gross margins monthly; 30–60 day payback on dashcam subsidies. (docs.hivemapper.com)
• RTK/Positioning DePIN
  • Stack: Celestia DA for cheap postings from high‑frequency rover sessions, GEOD‑style 80% buy‑and‑burn coupling; SuperHex staking to crowd‑fund coverage where enterprise demand is spiking.
  • KPI targets: coverage SLAs by SuperHex, 70%+ coverage requests auto‑routed to in‑hex stations, burn/revenue correlation >0.8. (bsc.news)

What success looks like in your board deck (GTM metrics with credible external comps)

• Utility ARPU sustainability: Reference Helium Mobile’s shift—plan mix and credits designed to stabilize ARPU at scale in 2026. Your own plans should publish throttling/fair‑use and usage‑linked credits upfront. (support.hellohelium.com)
• Revenue‑driven burns: Mirror Hivemapper’s 75% net burn and capped remints; mirror GEODNET’s 80% revenue buy‑and‑burn—this is the cleanest story for investors on token value capture vs. emissions. (docs.hivemapper.com)
• Interop risk controls: Show a versioned route manifest and a tested migration path, citing 2025–2026 real‑world examples (RNDR, Wormhole deprecations). (rendernetwork.medium.com)
• DA/settlement predictability: Cite EigenDA’s 100 MB/s and Celestia’s throughput/finality upgrades; show your sensitivity table, not slogans. (blog.eigencloud.xyz)

Your next step (specific, personal CTA) If you’re the CTO or Head of Network Deployment planning a U.S. CBRS rollout with SGP.32 eSIM in Q2–Q3 2026, book a 45‑minute whiteboard this week: we’ll map your CPI/SAS workflow, draft a deprecation‑aware interop manifest, and deliver a DA+AVS genesis spec you can hand to Procurement and Finance within 10 business days. Start by picking a slot and referencing “DePIN Mainnet Utility Launch”—we’ll assemble our rollup/ZK and radio engineers for you. Meanwhile, review our [blockchain integration] and [security audit services] deliverables to see exactly what ships on Day 1.

• Links: blockchain integration, security audit services