Multicoin Capital Proposes 'Internet Labor Markets' to Drive the Next Wave of Crypto Adoption

According to CoinDesk, investment firm Multicoin Capital has introduced the concept of "Internet Labor Markets" (ILM), arguing that the next wave of cryptocurrency adoption will come from users earning tokens through work rather than purchasing them directly. Multicoin partner Sengupta stated that in the future, people will acquire their first cryptocurrency through labor, not through purchase. The ILM model enables users to earn token rewards by contributing work, resources, or expertise—such as data labeling, bandwidth sharing, and energy optimization. This concept evolved from Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Networks (DePIN) but places greater emphasis on active labor contributions. Blockchain infrastructure makes it possible to verify work and settle payments instantly, eliminating the need for traditional invoicing and approval processes. Sengupta noted that this model could integrate deeply with artificial intelligence, as humans collaborate with AI systems in areas requiring human judgment, such as data labeling and quality assessment.