DePINPulse Reports

DeCharge Network: Scaling EV Infrastructure With DePIN-Fi

Key Insights

  • DeCharge aims to deploy 7,000 chargers across India, the United States, Southeast Asia, and Africa.
  • 90% of chargers were deployed via delegators and the other 10% were self-deployed.
  • DeCharge has successfully raised $150,000 on ReFiHub, a Solana-based RWA marketplace, to deploy a Bangalore Fast Charger Hub with 15 Beasts and 4 Titan DC fast chargers.
  • DeCharge is launching its own tokenized infrastructure pools to make Titans and other DC Fast chargers into yield-bearing assets.
  • DeCharge’s hex-based emissions model rewards early deployments and sustained charger utilization, directing incentives to high-performing stations that fill market needs.

Primer

DeCharge is a decentralized electric vehicle (EV) charging network designed to solve the scaling inefficiencies with traditional charging infrastructure. Rather than one entity covering all the costs of building out charging infrastructure, DeCharge enables individuals, landlords, or small business owners to invest in or deploy internet connected chargers and participate in a network that incentivizes early deployment and continued utilization of chargers through points.

Key features include:

  • A multi-tier device lineup ranging from the 3.3 kW alternating current (AC) Mini to the 60 kW direct current (DC) Titan fast charger.
  • A software layer that leverages Solana for settlement and is enhanced by integrations with Linera microchains.
  • Integrations with DePHY’s Open Source Energy Module and GEODNET’s precise positioning system through strategic partnerships.
  • A reward engine that distributes points, optimized to incentivize reliable, early, and high-performing chargers.

Founded in 2024 by Mohan Kuldeep Ponnada and Dr. Prakash Kamaraj, DeCharge raised a $2.5 million seed round in March 2025 led by Lemniscap, with participation from Colosseum, Daedalus, and other early-stage investors. As of writing, the network aims to support more than 6,700 chargers and has logged over 2.5+ million charging minutes, giving early validation that decentralized infrastructure can scale effectively.

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Season Growth Framework

Season Structure

DeCharge is focusing on expanding its charging network across device types and geographies. To manage this process, the project organizes growth into structured release cycles known as Seasons. Each Season is defined as a specific phase of expansion that is designed to:

  • Onboarding: Define simple onboarding paths for hosts and contributors.
  • Deployment: Match device deployment milestones with manufacturing and logistics schedules.
  • Community Coordination: Align communities with specific geographic expansion priorities.
  • Rewards: Distribute network reward points based on verifiable contributions.
  • Track KPIs: Track device uptime, charging sessions, and energy delivered, and adjust policies based on feedback.

This framework provides transparency for participants, allows for feedback-driven iteration, and introduces new network participants in clearly defined cohorts.

Initiating the Season Structure: Season 1

Season 1 is DeCharge’s first coordinated deployment cycle. The Season lasts till the end of 2025 and has the goal of reaching close to 7,000 chargers deployed. The goal is to achieve chargers in these areas:

  • India: over 5,000+ chargers, concentrated in high-demand urban centers such as Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Delhi.
  • United States: ~500 chargers across California and the Washington D.C., Maryland, Virginia region.
  • Southeast Asia & Africa: Initial pilots seeding growth corridors in high traffic quick commerce pitstops which have high density of EVs

DeCharge is projecting to deploy 25,000 chargers by the end of 2026 using the current framework.

How the Product Worked in Season 1:

Today, there are two live charger product lines: the Mini and the Beast Charger.

The Mini (3.3 kW AC): The Mini is optimized for two-wheel and light EVs. Compact and low-cost ($300–$500 with activation), Minis can be installed by local electricians in small parking spaces or commercial store fronts. The DeCharge team notes that roughly 4-6 charging sessions per day can repay the device cost within a year. Food delivery and fleet drivers prioritize quick charging times and reliable uptime, as time spent waiting translates to lost earnings.

The Beast Charger (7.4 kW AC):The Beast Charger isDeCharge’s flagship charger for full-size EVs The device can be installed in apartments, offices, and retail complexes. It is noted that the Beast Charger adds around 25 miles of range per hour. The Beast Charger is priced at $600-$1,000 per unit.

The Mini and Beast chargers both stream session data to the network and enable reward points for hosts, sponsors, and drivers. Chargers are visible on the DeCharge app, where EV drivers can locate charging stations, reserve sessions, and pay in fiat or USDC. Additionally, the DeCharge Dashboard allows hosts and purchasers to monitor their deployed devices in real time, with metrics such as sessions, earnings, uptime, and device health across regions and models.

Deployment Models

Purchasers can opt in to either delegate to a vetted local operator or self deploy their devices. It’s been noted that 90% choose delegated, and 10% self deployment.

Delegated deployment:

Purchasers fund one or more chargers. The charger is then installed at a high-traffic location and managed by a vetted local operator. This model accounts for ~90% of Season 1 units and has attracted buyers from more than a dozen countries, with most purchasers coming from the UAE, UK, and USA. In this model revenue is shared between the purchaser, hosts (site owners), and DeCharge.

Self-deployment:

Shop owners or residential communities can purchase and install the Beast Charger (Mini not supported for this model) themselves. In this model, because there is no external manager, owners keep a larger share but revenue could be less and depends on site traffic.

DePIN-Fi: Infrastructure Bootstrapped by DeFi

Season 1 has shown that the majority of chargers have been deployed via the delegated model where the majority of capital has been sourced from countries like the US.

To support the next stage of growth, expanding both smaller and medium chargers as well as deploying high-power DC fast chargers, DeCharge is adopting a DePIN-Fi model. The model is organized around two components: tokenized infrastructure pools and a novel emissions framework.

Tokenized Infrastructure Pools

DeCharge is initiating tokenized infrastructure pools to transform their charges into yield-bearing assets anyone can access. This model works best for high-cost infrastructure like DeCharge’s Titans. The Titan series features two fast DC chargers: Titan Mini (30 kW) and Titan (60 kW). Designed for industrial grade reliability and high throughput energy needs, they deliver 4–10x faster charging compared to AC units like the Mini and Beast Charger. They are most useful along highways and in critical fleet corridors.

The Titan is priced between $10k-$30k. To make Titan more affordable to individuals, Decharge leverages tokenized infrastructure pools.

Decharge is supporting the tokenized infrastructure pool initiative through two projects.

Bangalore Fast Charger Hub: DeCharge is collaborating with ReFiHub, a Solana based RWA marketplace, to launch a tokenized infrastructure pool. The initiative is bundling 4 Titan DC fast chargers (30–120 kW) with 15 Beast chargers, built for fleets and intercity travelers, into a pool where anyone can contribute capital. The pool has the following information and projections:

  • Capital raise: $150,000 via ReFiHub for hardware, permits, civil works, operations, and integration
  • Annual revenue: ~$75,000 assuming 20–30 sessions per day at ~40 kWh per session
  • Impact: 240,000+ kWh of clean energy dispensed annually, serving corridor traffic of 60,000–100,000 vehicles per day

The team has successfully raised the funds. Further information on the pool can be found here.

DeCharge Pools

DeCharge is also planning on launching its own tokenized pool. The first pool will raise $100,000 for a mix of Beast chargers and DC fast chargers. Anyone can participate in this pool with only $10 and up to $25,000. Charger yields are distributed based on actual utilization and uptime.

These pools make EV infrastructure ownership accessible from small passive investors to larger institutional allocators alike.

HEX-Based Strategy & Emissions Model

DeCharge uses a hex-based emissions model that incentivises investors, hosts, community referrers, and partners via points based rewards on time, performance, and location.

First, the world is divided into hexagonal zones using H3 spatial indexing. Each hex unlocks rewards when certain conditions are met:

  • Demand Signals: EV density, traffic patterns, and fleet corridors
  • Community Expansion: affiliates, local advocates, and host signups
  • Strategic Growth Locations: targeting urban hubs, underserved rural deserts (Rural hexes are considered saturated at ~10% of urban density), and fleet-heavy clusters

Emissions Structure

The emission model is designed to reward both early participation in a HEX and sustained utilization of chargers:

  • Base rewards: Attract first movers in each hex, with larger rewards for the first three deployers. This incentivizes pioneering deployments.
  • Utilization rewards: Distributed based on measurable performance, such as energy dispensed, uptime, and unique charging sessions. Idle or poorly used hardware earns little.
  • Demand leader bonuses: Extra allocation goes to the most utilized station in each hex epoch.
  • Charging desert multipliers: Hexes designated as underserved receive 4x rewards.

Hosts and investors can use the DeCharge Dashboard to monitor their accrued points.

Because emissions are structured into Seasons and each Season has a fixed reward point pool and each HEX has a limited amount of points, it introduces scarcity and predictability while preventing uncontrolled inflation of rewards.

Closing Summary

DeCharge is a decentralized EV charging network that is exploring new mechanisms to provide its next wave of scaling with over 6,700 chargers ready to deploy by the end of the year.

In October 2025, Decharge will be introducing tokenized infrastructure pools to make expensive assets like Titan DC fast chargers accessible to a wide base of participants through ReFihub and Decharge pools. At the same time, DeCharge’s emissions framework ensures incentives are directed to reliable, high-performing chargers in regions where they are most needed.

Disclaimer: Some of the information contained in this report is based on internal documents and data that are not publicly available. While care has been taken to ensure the accuracy of these materials, certain details cannot be independently verified through public sources. As such, this report should not be considered fully auditable or externally verifiable in all respects.

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This report was commissioned by DeCharge Network. All content was produced independently by the author(s) and does not necessarily reflect the opinions of Messari, Inc. or the organization that requested the report. The commissioning organization may have input on the content of the report, but Messari maintains editorial control over the final report to retain data accuracy and objectivity. Author(s) may hold cryptocurrencies named in this report. This report is meant for informational purposes only. It is not meant to serve as investment advice. You should conduct your own research and consult an independent financial, tax, or legal advisor before making any investment decisions. Past performance of any asset is not indicative of future results. Please see our Terms of Service for more information.

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Kaleb was previously a research and governance analyst at 404 DAO. His primary interests are high performance L1 and L2 chains and innovative DeFi protocols.

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Outline
  • Key Insights
  • Primer
  • Season Growth Framework
  • DePIN-Fi: Infrastructure Bootstrapped by DeFi
  • Closing Summary
Author
Kaleb was previously a research and governance analyst at 404 DAO. His primary interests are high performance L1 and L2 chains and innovative DeFi protocols.
Mentioned Assets