For many years, companies like Uber and Airbnb have monopolized the sharing economy as central intermediaries. They match supply and demand, process payments, and make profits from transaction fees.
today, Decentralized physical infrastructure networks DePIN uses blockchain incentives to coordinate real-world services like navigation, mapping, and asset sharing without relying on a single controlling company. Instead of companies owning the network, users collectively build, operate, and profit from the network.
While most projects are still early, The DePIN sector has reached a combined market value of over US$24 billion with over 423 active projects supporting 41.8 million devices worldwide. Here are five DePIN projects that will really shake up Uber and Airbnb in 2026.
Key takeaways
- DePIN projects like Peaq, DIMO, Hivemapper, Helium, and Dtravel are building true alternatives to Uber and Airbnb by allowing users to own the network and earn from it.
- These platforms support millions of devices, generate revenue, and lower costs by eliminating central intermediaries.
- In 2026, DePIN is shifting the sharing economy towards community ownership, where users become stakeholders rather than just customers.
1. Peaq Network and Eloop (community-owned ridesharing)
Peaq is one of the closest frameworks to a fully decentralized Uber-like platform. It is a layer-one blockchain designed for machines, vehicles, and robotics. Peaq enables decentralized coordination of mobility services (including ride-hailing services and autonomous vehicles) and support Machine-to-machine paymentsCommunity-owned fleets are allowed.
It oversees up to 10,000 transactions per second (TPS) with plans to exceed 100,000 TPS in future upgrades. Peaq is partnering with Eloop, a car-sharing service based in Vienna, which has tokenized a fleet of more than 100 Tesla cars. Using Peaq’s self-sovereign machine identity system, users purchase a partial stake in the fleet and Earn a token from the revenue generated Every time a car is rented. The initial token sale raised over €1.6 million with minimal marketing spend, with proceeds going directly to fleet expansion.
How it works
- Blockchain identities are assigned to devices and vehicles
- Smart contracts manage interactions and payments
- Communities can jointly own infrastructure, such as fleets
2. DIMO (Decentralized Vehicle Data Network)
DIMO focuses on ownership of vehicle data, an important part of the mobility platforms that automakers like Tesla, Ford, and GM have dedicated to training their AI models and vehicle software.
By connecting a compatible DIMO device or app, drivers can create their cars as an NFT, manage their data, and sell them directly to companies, including insurance companies, fleet managers, and ride-sharing services.
DIMO has connected more than 280,000 vehicles to its network and has partnered with Smartcar, AutoPi and NATIX. Insurers use DIMO data to assess risks, while ride-sharing platforms use it to check fleet health.
How to use:
- Install a DIMO-compatible device or OBD dongle in any vehicle manufactured after 2008.
- Connect via the DIMO mobile app and create your car as an NFT to prove ownership of its data.
- Choose what data you want to share, with whom, and at what price, then earn DIMO tokens accordingly.
DIMO isn’t a ride-hailing app yet, but it lays the foundation for decentralized Uber alternatives where drivers own their digital identity and history.
3. Hivemapper (Decentralized Alternative to Google Maps)
Uber’s routing engine runs on high-quality map data. Cell folders You’re building a decentralized alternative to that data layer.
Running on the Solana blockchain, Hivemapper offers HONEY tokens to drivers who install an AI-powered dashboard camera in their cars in exchange for collecting 4K images at street level. This feeds into a community-owned mapping network already used by logistics companies and autonomous vehicle software, including Volkswagen’s trial of a robotaxi fleet in collaboration with Uber.
Within two years of its launch, Hivemapper has mapped hundreds of millions of kilometres. Its open-access maps reduce reliance on Google, suggesting a direct competitor to the mapping layer infrastructure that powers Uber.
How to set up:
- Purchase a Hivemapper Dashcam (available for around $300) and attach it to your car’s windshield.
- Download the Contributor app and pair it with your dashcam via Wi-Fi.
- Drive your usual routes and earn HONEY tokens for verified and accepted photo submissions.
4. Helium (infrastructure layer for decentralized mobility)
Ride-sharing apps and short-term rental platforms rely on a reliable wireless connection. Helium is a decentralized alternative to the communications infrastructure that provides it.
Uber’s service relies heavily on mobile data, GPS tracking, and real-time communication. Helium offers a cheaper community wireless network where hosts deploy hotspots and earn rewards. Proof of Coverage is used to reward users with HNT tokens for providing verified wireless coverage and processing data transfers.
The network operates more than 400,000 active hotspots across 191 countries (including underserved areas where traditional networks are weak), and its Helium Mobile service has surpassed 2 million registered users on a $20 per month unlimited data plan.
How to start:
- Purchase a compatible 5G Helium hotspot or small cell from approved manufacturers.
- Set it up in your home or business location to start providing wireless coverage.
- Earn HNT tokens automatically to get coverage and use verified data in your area.
Helium enables a decentralized mobility stack where centralized communications providers like Uber are no longer needed.
5. Dtravel (Decentralized Airbnb)
Created as a decentralized autonomous organization and developed in conjunction with Binance, Dtravel allows landlords to list short-term rentals and accept reservations using smart contracts.
It addresses the unilateral policy changes, high service fees, and tamper-evident reviews often encountered with Airbnb. Transactions are settled via cryptocurrency, while reviews are stored using blockchain technology. There is no board of directors. Instead, decisions regarding platform governance are made collectively by TRVL token holders. The transaction fees charged by the platform are much lower than those charged by Airbnb, and there is no need to rely on a third party to enforce the terms of use for both parties.
How to register:
- List your property on the Dtravel platform through its Web3 interface, without the need for central approval.
- Set your rates, availability and house rules directly through the platform.
- Participate in platform governance decisions by holding and using TRVL tokens.
Bottom line
DePIN has succeeded in disrupting the status quo with a clear path to continued expansion. Projects like Peaq, DIMO, Hivemapper, Helium, and Dtravel are generating real revenue, connecting hundreds of thousands of devices and mapping routes at a fraction of traditional costs. They’re on pace to have similar numbers as Uber and Airbnb, eliminating the challenges of centralized services.
In 2026, the goal is to build a competitive infrastructure layer beneath established industry players that enables community members to own, operate and earn. For platforms that have long treated users as products rather than partners, this shift is unprecedented and at a rapid pace.
