Having read a passage, it is evident that many entrepreneurs in the Web3 industry are too fond of discussing ideals and the future, leading to products that overlook the real needs of users. 'Web3 for the sake of Web3.'

Web3 is not lofty; it is merely a means to make the world a better place.

Roam—A pioneer in disrupting traditional telecom business models

The revolution of technology

OpenRoaming is a global WiFi roaming technology standard launched by the Wireless Broadband Alliance (WBA) and officially released in May 2020. This protocol has a disruptive impact on the mobile communications field. In simple terms: compared to the Wi-Fi we use daily (based on IEEE 802.11 standards), users only need to perform a single DID authentication to achieve seamless connectivity across all networks supporting OpenRoam, without having to ask the owner, 'What is your Wi-Fi password?' OpenRoaming currently covers nearly 200 countries worldwide, essentially allowing users to connect wherever they go.

Top-tier enterprise team

The OpenRoaming Enterprise Alliance is a global WiFi roaming technology standard and ecosystem promoted by the Wireless Broadband Alliance (WBA) in 2020. Founded in 2003 and headquartered in Singapore, WBA is a non-profit industry organization focused on promoting seamless interoperability and service experience of WiFi technology worldwide.

The team members of the OpenRoaming Enterprise Alliance include eleven leading technology companies in the field, such as Cisco, Broad, comIntel, Samsung, etc.

The only Web3 company in the alliance—Roam breaks the deadlock

In the early stages, OpenRoam's market share was only about 0.6%. Due to promotional costs and compatibility issues, only 3 million hotspots have joined OpenRoaming globally, which is insufficient coverage density compared to the vast WiFi market. In the face of OpenRoaming's low market share dilemma, Roam (formerly MetaBlox Labs), as the only Web3 project in the WBA, introduced decentralized and token economic models (DePIN), injecting new driving forces for the large-scale adoption of OpenRoaming.

One of the best things Roam has done is to achieve user growth through Web3, leveraging the community advantages of the cryptocurrency circle. As of February 28, 2025, Roam has achieved significant growth: over 1.8 million users, over 2 million self-built nodes, covering nearly 200 countries, and the number of Roam ecosystem nodes is currently experiencing rapid growth with a month-over-month growth rate exceeding 100%, making the Roam ecosystem the third largest DePIN network currently.

1. Project Overview

Roam is an innovative project based on Web3 and DePIN (Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Network), dedicated to building a global decentralized open wireless network. By integrating the OpenRoaming™ protocol, decentralized identity (DID), verifiable credentials (VC), eSIM, and hardware devices, Roam provides users with seamless and secure internet connectivity while promoting large-scale adoption of Web3 through a token incentive mechanism.

Starting from user scenarios, Roam is addressing users' pain points:

Seamless global connectivity

Roam's core function is to achieve seamless switching between WiFi hotspots through the OpenRoaming™ protocol. Users only need to complete a single DID authentication in the Roam application to automatically connect to over 3.5 million hotspots worldwide, without needing to re-enter passwords or log in.

In addition, Roam's eSIM service covers over 160 countries, allowing users to activate data packages (1-2GB free per month or purchase more data at low prices) through the application, enabling global roaming without the need for a physical SIM card.

Passive income opportunities

Roam transforms users from consumers into network builders through incentive mechanisms. Users can earn Roam Points (which can be exchanged for $ROAM tokens in the future) through the following methods:

Check-In: Connect to Roam WiFi in public places and check in to accumulate points daily.

Share WiFi: Add your home or shop's WiFi to the Roam network and earn rewards.

Deploying miners: Purchase Rainier MAX60 or Baker MAX30 miners to provide bandwidth and earn higher rewards. For example, a user in the US can earn over 1000 Points monthly and receive 2GB of eSIM data for free, breaking even within six months.

Ecosystem participation

For Web3 users, Roam is a low-threshold entry point into the DePIN ecosystem. Users can participate in network construction through the application, not only earning points but also exchanging them for $ROAM after the TGE, enjoying the potential for token appreciation.

2. Team Background

The Roam project is developed by MetaBlox Labs, a technology company established in 2021, focusing on decentralized physical infrastructure networks (DePIN) and Web3 wireless connectivity solutions. Key team members include co-founder YZ @alphacurve, co-founder and technical lead Yan Zhang: driving technological development, especially in OpenRoaming and blockchain integration, with extensive experience in telecommunications and cryptocurrencies. Co-founder and business lead Jeffrey Manner: with a background in Web3 and economic business, responsible for business development and community operations. MetaBlox Labs is expected to have a scale of 20-50 people, covering blockchain development, network engineering, hardware design, and market operations.

3. Financing situation

Roam has completed multiple rounds of financing, providing strong financial support for project development. In 2023, its seed round financing was $5 million, led by Anagram and Volt Capital, aimed at technological research and initial node deployment. In 2024, Samsung Next made additional investments, expected to be between $3-5 million, to assist hardware expansion, such as the Rainier MAX60 miner. The total financing amount is approximately $8-10 million. Investment institutions include Anagram (focusing on Web3 infrastructure), Volt Capital (early blockchain projects), and Samsung Next (fusion of hardware and Web3), showcasing Roam's attractiveness in the DePIN field.

4. Design of the economic model for circular arbitrage

The total supply of Roam tokens is 1 billion.

Token distribution

12% Team: 6-year linear unlocking to ensure long-term interests are aligned.

28% Investors + Airdrop: Supporting early participants and community promotion.

60% Mining rewards: Distributed through node operations, check-ins, and other activities, with dynamic adjustments to the release cycle.

Incentive mechanism

Roam Points: Users earn points by contributing to the network, which can be exchanged for $ROAM after the TGE.

Burning pool: Introducing a pilot mechanism where users can burn points to exchange for tokens, controlling inflation and enhancing the value of $ROAM.

Staking and reverse conversion: After the TGE, users can stake $ROAM for additional earnings or reverse convert tokens into points for consumption within the ecosystem.

Three major flywheel models: The driving engine for global network growth

Roam's economic system achieves sustainable network expansion and ecological value growth through three major flywheels: user flywheel, node flywheel, and the future AI data flywheel. These three mechanisms collaborate to form a positive cycle, driving the continuous growth of Roam's global open wireless network.

User flywheel: Overview of the positive feedback mechanism of user growth and network effects: Users connect to the OpenRoaming network through the Roam application, participate in daily activities (such as check-ins and connecting to WiFi), and earn points as rewards. Satisfied users will recommend more people to join, increasing the user base, thereby expanding the network's usage scope and coverage density. The enhancement of network coverage, in turn, attracts more users, forming a continuous growth cycle.

Operating principle: The increase in the number of users directly enhances the network's activity and attractiveness, similar to the network effects of social platforms—more users lead to higher platform value, attracting even more participants.

Specific embodiment: As of February 2025, Roam had 1.8 million users. If each user averages 2 referrals, the user base could quickly double, expanding network coverage from urban core areas to suburbs and remote areas.

Node flywheel: Overview of the collaborative enhancement mechanism of infrastructure expansion and service quality: Users become network nodes by deploying Roam hardware devices (such as the Rainier MAX60 miner), providing WiFi service and earning Roam Points rewards. The increase in the number of nodes directly expands the coverage and service capacity of the OpenRoaming network, improving user connection experience. A quality network experience incentivizes more people to deploy nodes, further enhancing network infrastructure.

Operating principle: The number of nodes correlates positively with network quality, similar to distributed computing networks—the more nodes there are, the more stable and widespread the system is, attracting more participants to invest in hardware resources.

Specific embodiment: Currently, Roam has deployed 2 million nodes covering nearly 200 countries. If the number of nodes increases to 5 million, the network coverage density will significantly improve, supporting more high-traffic scenarios (such as airports and commercial areas) with seamless connectivity.

AI Data Flywheel: Overview of the future potential mechanism for data accumulation and commercial value: Users generate anonymized '3W data' (What, When, Where) while using the Roam network. This data can be used for AI model training, such as optimizing traffic flow or supporting precise marketing. The enhancement of data value attracts enterprises to collaborate with Roam, increasing network revenue and resource input, thereby improving service quality and attracting more users and data contributions.

Operating principle: The amount of data and commercial value forms a positive feedback loop, similar to how internet platforms optimize services based on user behavior data and attract advertisers.

Specific embodiment: The current data flywheel is still in its infancy, but as the user base expands, Roam can provide high-quality datasets for smart cities or business analytics, which is expected to become one of its core competitive advantages in the future.

Circular arbitrage mechanism: Achieving maximum profit

Roam introduced a unique circular arbitrage mechanism after the token generation event (TGE), providing users with flexible earning paths through the mutual conversion of $ROAM tokens and points.

Reverse conversion mechanism: Operating method: Users can reverse convert the $ROAM tokens they hold into Roam Points, which can then be re-exchanged for more $ROAM through the 'burning pool.' Due to the high conversion rate designed in the burning pool, users can achieve token accumulation through this cycle.

Example analysis: Assuming 1 $ROAM can be exchanged for 100 points, burning 100 points can yield 1.2 $ROAM, allowing users to net earn 0.2 $ROAM with each cycle. If repeated multiple times, the earnings will gradually accumulate.

Significance: This mechanism provides users with low-risk arbitrage opportunities, enhancing the liquidity and attractiveness of the tokens.

Efficient enhancement of the sticker pool: Operating method: Users earn 'stickers' (a special type of point) through daily check-in activities, which have a higher conversion rate than ordinary points. Combined with the reverse conversion mechanism, users can maximize token earnings using the sticker pool.

Example analysis: Checking in 30 times a month can accumulate 500 stickers. If the sticker conversion rate is 20% higher than that of ordinary points, users can earn more $ROAM (such as 1.44 $ROAM instead of 1.2 $ROAM).

Significance: The sticker pool incentivizes users to continuously participate in network activities while enhancing arbitrage efficiency.

Participation path: After the TGE, users can gradually amplify earnings by holding $ROAM, exchanging points, participating in check-ins, and utilizing the burning pool for cyclical operations. This mechanism is similar to the compound interest effect in financial markets, demonstrating strong user stickiness.

Deflationary mechanism

Reduce supply to enhance scarcity: When users redeem $ROAM in the burning pool, part of the tokens or points corresponding to the value will permanently exit circulation. This burning mechanism reduces the total supply in the market, enhancing the scarcity of individual tokens.

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