The future of energy isn’t just about more power — it’s about better networks. In this episode of the DePINed Podcast, we speak with Jason Badeaux, co-founder of Daylight, a company revolutionizing how we generate, finance, and distribute electricity. From rooftop solar to on-chain energy yields, Jason breaks down how Daylight is combining DePIN principles with DeFi mechanics to reshape energy infrastructure at scale.
A New Kind of Energy Network
Daylight is a decentralized energy platform tackling one of the biggest constraints of the next century: electricity. With energy demand expected to double due to AI, EVs, robotics, and reshoring of industrial capacity, Daylight is building a new kind of network — one that scales fast, installs locally, and integrates deeply with power grids. Instead of relying on centralized plants that take years to deploy, Daylight enables solar + storage systems that come online in weeks.
Energy-as-a-Subscription
The core innovation behind Daylight is its “energy subscription” model. Homeowners don’t need to purchase hardware — they get solar panels and batteries installed at zero upfront cost. In return, they subscribe to the electricity those systems produce, at rates up to 45% cheaper than traditional utilities. Daylight owns the infrastructure, manages installation, and routes energy and rewards through its protocol.
The $75M Raise
Daylight’s recent $75M round includes both equity and project financing. The equity supports team and tech growth, while the project capital funds solar + battery installations. With this, Daylight plans to deploy thousands of energy nodes — the foundation of a massive distributed grid. But the long-term goal is even bigger: build a fully on-chain, tokenized financing protocol that channels billions into energy infrastructure.
Introducing GRID: A Tokenized Energy Yield Product
Launching in early 2026, GRID is Daylight’s DeFi-native yield token. It allows stablecoin holders and DeFi users to access uncorrelated, real-world returns — generated from electricity usage across the Daylight network. Unlike traditional energy financing, this model avoids centralized banks and opens participation globally. The protocol takes fees from network activity and uses them to programmatically buy back tokens, reinforcing value for holders.
Tokenomics and Incentives
Unlike other DePIN models with constant emissions, Daylight rewards are event-driven. Homeowners benefit directly through cost savings, while token incentives will be directed to those who grow the network — via education, local outreach, and the Sunnyside ambassador program. The model focuses on decentralized growth, rewarding community-led adoption rather than pure speculation.
Vertical Integration: Infra and Capital Markets
Daylight isn’t just building hardware or software — it’s owning the full value stack. That means:
- Deploying infrastructure (solar + storage)
- Managing installations and operations
- Building the capital layer (through DeFi)
- Incentivizing grassroots community expansion
This vertically integrated model allows Daylight to scale faster, control economics, and unlock deeper value — both for users and for the protocol.
About DePINed Podcast
DePINed is a podcast exploring the frontier of decentralized physical infrastructure, hosted by Tom Trowbridge, co-founder of Fluence. Each episode features in-depth conversations with founders, builders, and investors who are shaping the future of real-world Web3 networks.
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