Roam’s node count has increased 427.5% YTD, from 1.1 million to 6 million nodes.
Since April 2025, the network has averaged 1.8 million check-ins per day and has had over 574.5 million check-ins since the network’s inception.
Roam’s updated points mechanism was launched in August 2025 to ensure sustainability, align participant incentives, and adapt to growing user sophistication and participation rates.
The new points mechanism shifts rewards to usage-driven metrics and away from passive maintenance.
Primer
Most wireless access systems rely on centralized authentication, carrier lock-in, and manual onboarding. This applies to both public WiFi and cellular networks. These design choices fragment the user experience, introduce security limitations, and restrict user mobility. Roam provides an alternative architecture: a credential-based wireless network built on Solana, compatible with BSC and other EVM chains, that incorporates WiFi OpenRoaming and eSIM provisioning. Instead of centralized authentication, Roam uses verifiable credentials (VCs) and decentralized identifiers (DIDs) to support portable and authenticated access. Its architecture combines three components: blockchain-based coordination, DID/VC-based identity management, and a dual connectivity model that includes both WiFi and eSIM infrastructure.
Users connect via Roam-enabled hotspots and are verified through VCs and DIDs. Their connectivity is validated by network contributors called Roam Miners, which are physical WiFi routers that function both as wireless access points and as blockchain nodes. Roam Miners act as validators, verifying user credentials within the network.
Roam incentivizes users, node operators, and validators with Roam Points, which are convertible to the protocol’s token, ROAM. Contributors earn points by performing tasks such as onboarding new WiFi hotspots, contributing content delivery network (CDN) bandwidth, verifying hotspot authenticity, expanding geographic coverage, and performing daily check-ins that validate WiFi status and log data on Solana. To date, Roam has recorded over 578 million check-ins and features over 6 million nodes.
In August 2025, Roam introduced an overhaul of its Roam Points mechanism, reshaping the economic incentives that underpin the network. This update was driven by several goals:
Ensure the sustainability of the reward pool.
Align participant incentives with long-term network health.
Adapt to growing user sophistication and participation rates.
While instrumental in bootstrapping early growth, the previous system had begun to show signs of reward dilution and unintended behavioral patterns. For example, passive node operators could accumulate disproportionate rewards without driving real usage, while new infrastructure deployment and active engagement were not always fully incentivized.
The new structure introduces several changes. First, the reward for adding any new WiFi nodes was doubled to 200 points, split between an immediate reward and a bonus unlocked when five unique users check in. For new OpenRoaming WiFi nodes, the additional reward was increased from 300 to 400 points, with a similar bonus structure. This two-stage system incentivizes not only hardware deployment but also outreach and active onboarding of users, ensuring that nodes contribute to actual network utilization rather than just map coverage.
Daily check-in rewards for users were raised from 10 to 15 points with no daily cap, increasing the incentive for frequent, legitimate use. For WiFi node operators owners, the per-check-in reward increased to 8 points, but daily earnings are now capped by hardware tier: Rainier MAX60 (240 points/day), Baker MAX30 (120), and other types (80). This tiered cap is designed to prevent reward concentration among high-capacity operators and to encourage a more distributed, resilient infrastructure footprint.
A notable shift is the reduction of daily rewards based on WiFi health. High-health nodes now earn 4 points/day (down from 12), and medium-health nodes earn 2 (down from 6). A node is high-health, unless no check-ins occur for a month, and can be downgraded to low-health if there are no check-ins for another two months. Passive maintenance is now less valuable than active contribution. By redirecting rewards toward usage-driven metrics, Roam signals a preference for network vibrancy and user-centric growth.
Additionally, Roam Miner welcome bonuses for newly activated devices have been substantially increased, with Rainier MAX60 bonuses rising from 3,000 to 6,000 points and Baker MAX30 bonuses rising from 1,000 to 3,000. These higher upfront rewards are aimed at accelerating infrastructure expansion, lowering the barrier to entry, and recognizing early risk-taking by new contributors.
Burn and conversion mechanics also remain central to Roam's economic model. The system’s high burn rate, over 10.08 billion out of 14.98 billion points issued, illustrates active engagement, with users consistently converting points at a dynamic rate into ROAM tokens.
From a strategic perspective, these incentive adjustments are designed to correct course as the network matures. They draw inspiration from other DeWi models, such as Helium’s burn mechanisms, while tailoring the approach to Roam’s specific focus on WiFi/eSIM, decentralized identity, and active user engagement. By rewarding contributions that drive real network usage utility, Roam aims to foster a more sustainable, participatory, and resilient ecosystem.
Network Metrics
As with any new incentive redesign, ongoing monitoring and community feedback is essential to ensure the mechanisms continue to serve the network's evolving needs. Early data suggests increased engagement and more balanced competition among node operators and users.
Roam’s network is experiencing steady growth, reflecting both a surge in user adoption and the successful deployment of infrastructure. As of September 2025, the network reports an increase in registered users, exceeding 3 million total, as new accounts are created daily by users across dozens of countries.
The Roam Explorer, a real-time analytics dashboard, provides a transparent map-based visualization of WiFi node distribution, highlighting clusters of activity in major urban centers like New York City, London, and Tokyo, as well as expansion into underserved regions. This granular visibility not only demonstrates Roam’s global ambition but also serves as a tool for users and partners to identify growth opportunities and coverage gaps. The node count for the network has grown from 1.1 million nodes to 6 million nodes in 2025, a 427.5% YTD increase.
User engagement extends beyond simple connectivity. Roam’s check-in system, which requires users to authenticate at participating WiFi nodes, generates a wealth of data on real-world network usage. Each check-in represents a verified interaction and is rewarded with Roam Points, incentivizing both repeat use and genuine participation. The frequency of check-ins has grown alongside Roam’s user base, with daily check-ins trending upwards throughout 2024 and into 2025., reaching over 578 million check-ins since the network’s inception. However, the number of daily check-ins has stabilized since April 2025, with Roam averaging 1.8 million check-ins per day since then.
Roam helps to gamify the experience and foster community loyalty by issuing digital stickers as badges of participation. The adoption of eSIM technology, integrated directly into the Roam app, has also gained traction. This technology allows users to access mobile data services globally without the need for physical SIM cards. This eSIM capability is particularly valuable for travelers and digital nomads, underscoring Roam’s commitment to frictionless, borderless connectivity.
A critical indicator of ecosystem health is the issuance and burn rate of Roam Points. Since the program’s inception, over 14.98 billion points have been issued, with more than 10.08 billion converted to ROAM at a dynamic exchange rate, which can then be used to pay for eSIM services. This high burn ratio signals an active, utility-driven economy in which users consistently engage with network services and view points as a valuable incentive.
Partnerships
In the realm of AI-driven marketing and user engagement, Roam’s partnership with Mojo GoGo stands out. Through this partnership, Roam integrates AI-powered bots that facilitate verified social media interactions, such as likes, comments, and retweets, rewarding participants with Roam Points and Mojo GoGo Points. This approach not only amplifies Roam’s reach on platforms like X but also ensures transparent campaign engagement and feedback.
On the identity front, Roam leverages decentralized identity (DID) and verifiable credentials (VC) to enable secure, privacy-preserving authentication. In June 2025, Roam partnered with CARD3, a social identity protocol that combines AI and decentralized credentials. This integration allows for portable identity management and verifiable reputation across Roam’s network. Roam began supporting identification via Solana Name Service (SNS) in June 2025, enabling users to link .sol domains to onchain data, wallet addresses, and InterPlanetary File System (IPFS) content. This simplifies identity management and improves accessibility by enabling consistent, user-friendly identifiers across Roam applications.
Within the broader Decentralized Wireless (DeWi) sector, Roam’s focus on WiFi/eSIM and open standards differentiates it from competitors like Helium, which primarily targets IoT and 5G coverage. Roam’s incentive programs, decentralized identity, and emphasis on community-driven marketing position it as a flexible, user-centric alternative in the DeWi landscape.
Closing Summary
Roam’s evolution from an ambitious DeWi upstart to a maturing, globally relevant network is supported by both technical and economic innovation. The August 2025 revamp of the Roam Points mechanism marks a pivotal moment in the project’s lifecycle, reflecting the interplay between user incentives, infrastructure growth, and long-term sustainability. Unlike early-stage models that prioritized rapid expansion at any cost, the updated approach balances immediate rewards for participation with careful stewardship of the reward pool and an emphasis on real-world usage.
Roam’s strategy integrates lessons from the broader decentralized wireless (DeWi) sector while leveraging unique technological differentiators. Its adoption of the OpenRoaming framework and Solana’s composable identity stack enables a seamless, secure, and privacy-preserving user experience. Integrations with AI-driven marketing partners like Mojo GoGo demonstrate a willingness to experiment, adapt, and engage the community in innovative ways.
The impact of these changes is already observable: higher check-in rates, more distributed infrastructure deployment, and sustained user engagement. However, as the network scales and the ecosystem diversifies, continuous iteration will be vital. Roam’s model of open, composable, and user-centered growth could remain a key reference point as DeWi matures.
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Matthew is a Research Analyst in Protocol Research. He graduated from MIT with a Master's and Bachelor's in Comp Sci, Economics, and Data Science where he wrote his thesis on DeSoc. Matthew also has previous experience as an Analyst at Goldentree's crypto fund.
Matthew is a Research Analyst in Protocol Research. He graduated from MIT with a Master's and Bachelor's in Comp Sci, Economics, and Data Science where he wrote his thesis on DeSoc. Matthew also has previous experience as an Analyst at Goldentree's crypto fund.
