Has something like tor, but using a blockchain to maintain the network, been attempted? The gist being that you spend tokens to route traffic through the network, and you can acquire tokens through being a node on the network, or from an exchange. It seems an obvious potential application but my google-fu is failing me.
You could also consider Spectrecoin (XSPEC). It integrates TOR and has Proof of Stake thus you are paid to secure their network when you leave your wallet open. I have been staking this and earning a fair return. I consider them a competitor of DeepOnion, albeit extremely volatile prices recently. To be fair I am more bullish DeepOnion hence the signature that I am carrying.
Here is the website if you would like to dig further.
https://spectreproject.io