What Is Sentinel?

1. What Is Sentinel?

Sentinel is a decentralized network built on blockchain that empowers users with private, censorship-resistant internet access through a global distributed Virtual Private Network (dVPN). Unlike traditional VPN services that rely on centralized servers and operators, Sentinel uses a peer-to-peer (P2P) model where anyone can offer bandwidth or use the network for secure, anonymous browsing. Sentinel’s core value lies in offering open, transparent, and tamper-proof internet privacy using blockchain and Web3 infrastructure.

2. Why Sentinel Was Created

Sentinel was developed to tackle major issues in online privacy and centralized VPN infrastructures. Traditional VPNs have several limitations—they store user logs, can be subject to data breaches, and may comply with government censorship or surveillance requests. Sentinel was created to overcome these issues by decentralizing the VPN model. It removes the single point of failure, ensures transparency in bandwidth usage and payments, and eliminates the need for trusting a third-party provider. The goal is to give users back control over their internet activity with verifiable privacy and freedom.

3. How Sentinel Works

1. Node Hosting – Anyone can run a node on the Sentinel network by offering unused bandwidth.
2. User Access – Users download a dVPN-compatible app or client to connect to the network.
3. Node Selection – Users choose from available nodes based on speed, location, cost, or privacy preference.
4. Session Encryption – Data is encrypted and tunneled through the selected node, hiding IP addresses and activity.
5. Payment via Crypto – Users pay for bandwidth using the $DVPN token.
6. Rewards for Providers – Node operators earn $DVPN tokens for providing bandwidth.

4. Key Features of Sentinel

• Decentralized VPN (dVPN) with no centralized control or data logging
• Multi-client support for Windows, Android, Linux, and CLI interfaces
• Token-based payments using $DVPN for low-cost, global access
• Open-source and fully auditable codebase
• Live node marketplace with performance metrics
• Built on Cosmos SDK for high scalability and interoperability

5. Who Can Use Sentinel?

• Privacy-focused individuals looking for secure, surveillance-free browsing
• Web3 users preferring decentralized, blockchain-native tools
• Developers integrating dVPN capabilities into applications
• Citizens in censorship-heavy regions seeking uncensored internet access
• Bandwidth providers monetizing idle internet resources

6. What Is the $DVPN Token?

$DVPN is Sentinel’s native utility token. It facilitates payments within the network, incentivizes node operators, and enables governance participation. Users use $DVPN to pay for private bandwidth on the network, while providers earn it as compensation. Token holders can also stake $DVPN to help secure the Sentinel blockchain and vote on proposals that shape the protocol’s evolution. The token ensures decentralized, transparent, and efficient operation of the Sentinel ecosystem.