Philippines Introduces First Blockchain-Powered Fleet for Enhanced Urban Mapping

In
a
groundbreaking
move,
the
Philippines
is
integrating
blockchain
technology
into
its
transportation
industry.
Digital
currency
exchange
Coins.ph,
global
ride-hailing
platform
inDrive,
and
decentralized
mapping
network
Hivemapper
have
collaborated
to
create
the
first
blockchain-powered
fleet
in
the
country.
Launched
on
December
5,
the
initiative
is
designed
to
enable
Filipino
drivers
to
earn
additional
income
while
contributing
to
a
decentralized
mapping
network.

Wei
Zhou,
CEO
of
Coins.ph,
said,
“We
want
to
empower
Filipinos
to
earn
through
the
opportunities
that
crypto
and
Web3
provide.
With
this
partnership,
we’re
transforming
how
physical
infrastructure
is
built
and
monetized.
This
exemplifies
the
power
of
blockchain
to
generate
real-world
impact
and
create
new
earning
opportunities
for
everyday
Filipinos.”

The
innovative
project
utilizes
DePIN
(Decentralized
Physical
Infrastructure
Networks)
technology,
combining
blockchain
with
traditional
ride-hailing
services.
Vehicles
participating
in
the
project
are
fitted
with
Hivemapper’s
mapping
devices,
allowing
drivers
to
collect
and
contribute
real-time
mapping
data
as
they
navigate
Metro
Manila.
This
decentralized
mapping
offers
hyper-accurate
data
that
is
vital
for
urban
planning,
traffic
management,
and
location-based
services.

Participating
drivers
earn
$HONEY
tokens
for
their
contributions
to
the
mapping
data,
offering
an
additional
income
stream
alongside
their
regular
earnings
from
ride-hailing.
The
tokens
can
be
securely
stored
and
managed
on
the
Coins.ph
platform.
Zhou
explained,
“For
drivers,
it
means
getting
paid
for
driving
around
Metro
Manila,
something
they
already
do
every
day.
Why
not
use
technology
to
turn
those
activities
into
extra
income?”

The
initiative
is
aligned
with
ride-hailing
platform
inDrive’s
mission
to
foster
community
empowerment
and
create
sustainable
income
opportunities.
Sofia
Guinto,
Head
of
Business
for
the
Philippines
at
inDrive,
said,
“This
partnership
represents
a
significant
step
towards
integrating
blockchain
technology
into
the
ride-hailing
ecosystem,
setting
a
precedent
for
innovation
and
driver
empowerment.”

The
rewards
system
is
based
on
the
quality
of
the
mapping
data
provided
by
the
drivers,
not
the
number
of
rides
they
complete,
allowing
them
to
earn
at
their
own
pace
without
the
limitations
of
strict
schedules.
However,
implementing
the
blockchain-powered
mapping
devices
brought
several
challenges
such
as
logistics
and
education.
Many
drivers
lack
familiarity
with
blockchain
technology,
potentially
limiting
their
participation.
To
overcome
this,
the
partners
have
prioritized
driver
education.

Concerns
over
privacy
were
another
critical
consideration.
Hivemapper
ensures
robust
data
privacy
by
blurring
identifiable
details
and
using
anonymous
usernames.
Ariel
Seidman,
CEO
and
Co-Founder
of
Hivemapper,
said,
“We’ve
worked
extensively
with
regulators
to
ensure
the
highest
levels
of
privacy.”

The
project
is
viewed
as
a
stepping
stone
to
broader
adoption.
Zhou
explained,
“Our
mission
is
to
empower
Filipinos
to
earn
and
build
wealth
through
crypto
and
Web3.
This
project
is
a
stepping
stone
to
expand
this
model
across
other
industry
verticals.”

The
initiative
sets
a
precedent
for
integrating
advanced
technology
into
everyday
systems,
fostering
economic
growth
and
technological
innovation,
while
also
supporting
urban
development.
The
decentralized
mapping
network
offers
immense
potential
for
addressing
real-world
challenges
while
creating
a
more
inclusive
economy.

As
the
Philippines
embraces
blockchain-powered
transportation,
the
world
watches
to
see
how
this
transformative
technology
can
be
applied
across
industries
to
create
sustainable
and
inclusive
income
opportunities.