Cathy Zhu, ARO - How ARO Network Is Revolutionizing Decentralized CDN with Buy-and-Burn Tokenomics (#60)
July 3, 2025 | 41:43 | Episode 60
In this episode of DePINed, host Tom Trowbridge sits down with Cathy Zhu, COO and Co-Founder of ARO Network, a decentralized content delivery network (CDN) transforming how bandwidth is used and monetized. ARO is building infrastructure to serve the rising global demand for high-speed, low-latency content delivery using decentralized hardware.
What is ARO Network?
ARO is building a peer-to-peer edge CDN—a decentralized content delivery network that aggregates unused consumer bandwidth to serve enterprise-grade streaming and data delivery services. The goal: reduce latency and cost while increasing efficiency and resilience.
ARO operates between two sides:
Consumers — Enterprises that need fast, scalable, low-latency delivery (e.g., video streaming platforms).
Contributors — Individuals running ARO software or hardware, sharing unused internet bandwidth in exchange for rewards.
This architecture creates a cost-efficient alternative to legacy CDNs like Akamai. According to Cathy, peer CDN (PCDN) solutions like ARO can reduce content delivery costs by up to 50%.
How It Works
ARO offers two contribution paths:
Software-only — Users install an image on their laptop or PC, contributing bandwidth with zero hardware investment.
ARO hardware node — A plug-and-play device priced at ~$60, ideal for non-technical users.
Users are rewarded in points during the testnet phase, which will be converted to ARO tokens at mainnet launch. The token model follows a 90% buy-and-burn structure from enterprise revenue, creating sustainable token demand and aligning incentives with contributors.
Market Opportunity & Deployment
The CDN market is massive: TikTok alone spends over $3 billion annually on CDN services, 35% of which already goes to peer delivery. ARO aims to tap into this market by starting in Southeast Asia, where it has clients secured and is focused on early hardware distribution.
Deployment strategy includes:
Working with mining and data center partners already running infrastructure to speed up supply-side buildout.
Gradually onboarding home users through hardware and software programs.
ARO plans to hit mainnet and revenue generation in Q4 2025, with an initial revenue goal of $10M+ annually, ramping up to enterprise-scale deployment over time.
Team & Backing
ARO’s founding team includes veterans from centralized exchanges, Casper Labs, and major Web2 infrastructure projects. The project is strategically backed by XNet (NASDAQ: XNET), China’s largest PCDN provider, with over 1.5M nodes and ~$140M in annual revenue.
This backing provides ARO with deep technical support, battle-tested orchestration capabilities, and client access in Asia.
DePIN That Actually Delivers
ARO represents a new generation of DePIN infrastructure: grounded in real-world usage, revenue-driven, and globally scalable. It’s a practical example of how decentralized networks can meet enterprise-grade performance demands while redistributing value to users.
Cathy emphasizes that real-world revenue, sustainable tokenomics, and long-term discipline are at the heart of ARO’s strategy—shifting away from speculation and toward utility.
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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