DAWN raises $13M to expand decentralized broadband networks

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.

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.