[Finterest] How inDrive drivers earn crypto by mapping the Philippines

MANILA, Philippines – Newcomer ride-hailing service inDrive is shaking things up again, offering its drivers a chance to earn cryptocurrency by mapping out Philippine roads during their trips — and the exciting part is, you might get to join in soon.

This program is part of a three-way partnership between inDrive, decentralized mapping network Hivemapper, and local crypto exchange Coins.ph. Drivers from the ride-hailing company install Hivemapper’s specialized dashcams on their vehicles to collect mapping data as they drive. This data is fed into Hivemapper’s blockchain-powered global map, which businesses use for logistics and site planning.

“Once they have the dashcams mounted, it captures data, and then Hivemapper assesses if this data will be rewarded by a certain exam,” Sophia Guinto, inDrive’s business development head in the Philippines, told Rappler. “From there, it’s credited to them through $HONEY tokens.”

$HONEY is a specific cryptocurrency token, and in this case, it’s awarded to drivers for their contributions. These tokens can then be managed and converted to pesos using the Coins.ph app. While $HONEY isn’t a stablecoin — meaning, its value is not pegged to the Philippine peso and its value can go up and down — it’s listed on major exchanges like Coinbase, ensuring regulatory compliance.

“At any time, you can convert it in your Coins wallet,” said Jen Bilango, Coins.ph country manager, during the launch on Friday, January 10. “You decide when to convert it to peso, and it’s available 24/7.”

For inDrive drivers, it’s a welcome addition to their income streams. Drivers could earn up to P18,000 a month through the program, according to inDrive officials. Drivers are rewarded based on the quality of their mapping contributions, which are evaluated on factors such as coverage, freshness, and data quality. Coverage prioritizes mapping less-traveled areas, offering greater rewards for diversifying routes. Freshness incentivizes regularly updating the map to ensure it reflects real-world changes, with again dynamic rewards favoring less saturated areas. Data quality is also important, requiring clear, unobstructed imagery and proper dashcam mounting to ensure usable inputs for the Hivemapper network.

The program is currently live with 10 inDrive drivers in Metro Manila, with another 10 set to join next month. Drivers were selected based on their activity on the platform and their basic knowledge of cryptocurrency. (READ: Ride-hailing app inDrive launches in Cebu, offers zero commission rates for drivers)

“We want to pick the active drivers that are roaming around Metro Manila. Second is they should know what crypto is,” Guinto told Rappler. “When we picked these drivers, we actually asked them some questions about crypto, just so we know that when we hand over these dashcams to them, they will understand it.”

Drivers aren’t limited to mapping Metro Manila. They can map any road in the country, including less-traveled areas, which could even offer greater rewards when it comes to map quality. They can also map the roads at any time of the day, though lightning conditions could influence map quality.

And the good news? Hivemapper isn’t exclusive to inDrive. Anyone with a Hivemapper dashcam can start mapping and earning. This could be especially exciting as the decentralized mapping network expands further into Asia.

“You can see America, Taiwan, and some parts of Europe are well-mapped,” said Bilango. “Asia is something they really want to enter because they see a lot of opportunities and potential customers in this area.”

But before you start planning on mapping your local roads, keep in mind that this program isn’t plug-and-play with just any dashcam. Currently, only Hivemapper’s Bee Maps dashcams are compatible. Thanks to the partnership, inDrive drivers receive the older model of the Hivemapper Dashcam for free. But for anyone else interested right now, you’d need to shell out as much as $589 to get the latest dashcam model.

So, what happens to all that mapping data? Part of Hivemapper’s business model is partnering with businesses for logistics management or helping companies identify prime locations to set up shop.

“Every rideshare driver knows the pain of an outdated, inaccurate map,” said Ariel Seidman, co-founder of the Hivemapper Network. “For decades, drivers have just had to wait for big tech companies to collect fresh map data, but Hivemapper allows them to passively improve their local map and earn rewards along the way. We’re thrilled to partner with Coins.ph and inDrive, which share our commitment to making everyday driving more rewarding than ever before.”

And for inDrive, there’s even more potential: the maps developed through this program might one day improve inDrive’s own app. While the two maps remain separate for now, officials have hinted that the partnership could pave the way for integration.

“Right now, the HiveMapper maps and inDrive maps are not integrated. They’re separate. But let’s see how will this partnership take us and how it will also improve or impact us on the way we use maps inside our app. So, this partnership is a test,” Guinto said.

With Hivemapper eyeing further expansion and the possibility of dashcams becoming more accessible in the region, the opportunity to earn crypto while driving — and mapping — might eventually be an opportunity open to anyone with a vehicle. Would you try it? – Rappler.com

Finterest is Rappler’s series that demystifies the world of money and gives practical advice on managing your personal finances.