What is Sentinel (P2P) Crypto Coin? The Decentralized VPN Token Explained

Sentinel (P2P) isn’t just another cryptocurrency. It’s a working network that lets people rent out their unused internet bandwidth to others - all without relying on companies like NordVPN or ExpressVPN. Think of it as Uber for internet connections, but powered by blockchain. Instead of paying a big corporation for privacy, you’re paying individual node operators around the world. And if you’ve got spare bandwidth, you can earn crypto by running a node.

How Sentinel (P2P) Works

Sentinel runs on its own blockchain built with the Cosmos SDK, which means it’s fast, secure, and can talk to other Cosmos-based chains like Osmosis and Cosmos Hub. It launched its mainnet on March 27, 2021, after starting as an ERC-20 token called SENT. In 2022, the team completed a 1:1 token swap to DVPN, and then in 2023, they rebranded the ticker to P2P to better reflect its core purpose: peer-to-peer bandwidth sharing.

Here’s the simple version: When you use Sentinel’s dVPN app, your traffic doesn’t go through a central server. Instead, it gets routed through a random node operator - someone like you, running software on their home router or VPS. These operators are paid in P2P tokens for the bandwidth they provide. In return, you get encrypted, private internet access that’s hard to block or track.

Why P2P Is More Than Just a Token

The P2P token does more than just pay for bandwidth. It’s the backbone of the whole system:

• Payment: Users pay in P2P for hourly or monthly VPN access.
• Staking: Node operators must stake P2P to join the network. This locks up value and keeps bad actors out.
• Revenue sharing: 20% of what node operators earn gets redistributed to P2P stakers - so even if you don’t run a node, you can earn just by holding and staking.
• Governance: Token holders vote on upgrades, fee changes, and new features.
• Fees: All transactions on the network, like sending P2P or setting up a node, require small fees paid in P2P.

This multi-use design makes P2P more valuable than a simple payment token. It’s not just money - it’s the fuel, the security deposit, and the voting right all in one.

How It Compares to Traditional VPNs

Traditional VPNs like NordVPN or Surfshark own their servers. That means they control your data flow - and technically, they could log what you do. Even if they claim not to, you’re still trusting them.

Sentinel flips that. No company owns the network. There are no central logs. Each node operator only sees encrypted traffic going to and from your device - they can’t see what you’re doing. The protocol is designed so that even if someone runs a malicious node, they can’t decrypt your data.

That’s why Sentinel is popular in countries with heavy internet censorship - places like Iran, Russia, or parts of Southeast Asia. When governments block known VPN services, Sentinel’s decentralized nodes are harder to shut down because they’re spread across thousands of private devices.

Who Uses Sentinel?

As of December 2025, Sentinel has about 48,200 active nodes and 115,000 monthly users. The biggest user bases are in:

• Southeast Asia (32%) - where internet restrictions are common
• North America (28%) - privacy-conscious users and crypto enthusiasts
• Europe (24%) - users avoiding data tracking by advertisers

Most users are individuals, but some small businesses use it for secure remote access. Enterprise adoption is still low because the network isn’t optimized for high-bandwidth tasks like streaming 4K video or gaming yet. It’s better for browsing, messaging, and accessing blocked content.

Running a Node: Can You Earn P2P?

If you’ve got a stable home internet connection and a spare computer or Raspberry Pi, you can run a Sentinel node and earn P2P tokens. Here’s what you need:

• Linux-based system (Ubuntu or similar)
• At least 4GB RAM, 2 CPU cores, 50GB storage
• Unlimited or high-bandwidth internet (100Mbps+ recommended)
• Basic command-line skills

The setup takes 4-6 hours to sync with the blockchain. After that, you start earning. Based on user reports from Bitget’s November 2025 survey, a node with a 100Mbps connection earns between $3.50 and $8.20 per week in P2P tokens - depending on demand and how many other nodes are online.

But there’s a catch: it’s not plug-and-play. About 68% of negative reviews on exchanges like LBank mention difficulty setting up the node. You need to understand wallets, staking, and peer configurations. If you’re not tech-savvy, it’s frustrating.

Pros and Cons of Sentinel (P2P)

Where Sentinel Is Headed

Sentinel isn’t standing still. Its latest upgrade, v2.3.1 (November 2025), cut connection latency by 22%. That’s a big deal for users who need faster, smoother access.

The biggest upcoming change? Integrating with AI data markets. The team plans to let AI companies rent bandwidth from Sentinel nodes to collect real-world internet data - like how people browse, what sites load, and how content behaves in different regions. This could turn Sentinel into a major player in training AI models, opening up a whole new revenue stream.

If that works, Delphi Digital predicts node count could grow 300% by 2027. But it’s risky. If AI companies find cheaper, centralized ways to gather data, Sentinel’s edge could shrink.

Market Status (December 2025)

As of today:

• Price: $0.0001152 USD
• Circulating Supply: 22.46 billion P2P
• Max Supply: 32 billion P2P
• 24-Hour Volume: $73,207.95
• Market Cap: ~$2.58 million
• Rank: #2042 on CoinMarketCap

It’s a small coin by market cap, but its 7-day price movement was +5.80% - beating both the overall crypto market and other blockchain platforms. That suggests growing interest, even if trading volume is low.

Is Sentinel Worth It?

If you want privacy without trusting a company - and you don’t mind tinkering with tech - Sentinel is one of the best options out there. It’s real, it’s working, and it’s been around for years.

If you’re just looking to buy crypto and hope it goes up? It’s risky. Low volume means big price swings, and you might not be able to sell when you want to.

For tech-savvy users, privacy advocates, or people in censored regions, Sentinel offers something no traditional VPN can: true decentralization. For everyone else, it’s still a niche tool - powerful, but not yet simple.

Its future depends on two things: whether AI data markets adopt it, and whether it can make node setup easy enough for regular people. Right now, it’s a project for early adopters. But if it succeeds, it could redefine how we think about internet access - not as a service you buy, but as a network you help build.