MILESTONE | ‘To Date, We Have Over 430,000 Data Nodes Across Africa,’ Says Co-Founder of XYO, a DePIN Location Data Solution

In a press release, XYO shared with BitKE how the company is working to address the global data bias by increasing data nodes from Africa – a vastly under-represented country digitally.

XYO recently announcement its new Dual Token Layer 1 blockchain after transitioning away from the Ethereum Layer 2 ecosystem.

XYO is shaking things up with the launch of its new Layer 1 blockchain featuring an innovative consensus mechanism dubbed Proof of Perfect. Unlike traditional models, this approach empowers decentralized nodes to deterministically choose the right chain to build on – no guesswork involved. It does this by algorithmically scoring chain tips based on their ‘perfectness,’ taking into account factors like validity, freshness, and alignment with protocol rules.

The result?

A more efficient, streamlined process that skips the need to process the entire chain history – and all without the heavy energy costs tied to conventional consensus systems.

AI systems are only as good as the data they’re trained on, yet most of this data comes from digital-first countries, creating a global imbalance. When AI is trained on narrow, incomplete datasets, it reinforces systemic inequalities, produces flawed insights, and excludes billions from the benefits of emerging technologies. As IBM points out, data bias isn’t just a technical issue – it’s a human one, with real-world consequences in healthcare, finance, agriculture, and beyond.

We use data everyday, from AI to receiving personalised google search and advertisement results. Within this, 65% of organisations now suffer from data bias, distorting AI outputs and overlooking the lived realities of billions.

XYO, a leading decentralized data protocol, is tackling this problem head-on. Through its DePIN (Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Network) model, XYO empowers individuals across Africa to contribute location-based data via mobile nodes—and earn crypto in return.

“To date, there have been 434,998 XYO data nodes across Africa, and together they’ve earned millions in XYO. I’m excited to hear all their individual stories. Africa is at the heart of our expansion strategy, and we see huge potential for the entire DePIN ecosystem.” – Markus Levine, Co-Founder of XYO

The COIN mobile app lets you create and make money off your data, earn rewards, and redeem for XYO and more. Users can create data through activities such as passive location verification, completing location based tasks and surveys, engaging in unique partner offers, participating in mobile gaming, and more. Join in-app challenges, connect with other users, and earn digital assets while contributing to a decentralized physical infrastructure network (DePIN).


As AI and Web3 evolve, XYO’s approach is a powerful example of how mobile-first populations across Africa are reshaping the global data economy – from the ground up.

DePIN, an abbreviation for ‘decentralized physical infrastructure networks,’ is gaining traction, in Africa and globally, as a widely embraced use case for blockchain and decentralized technologies.

This use case entails using blockchain to run and maintain decentralized networks of physical hardware such as sensors, wireless infrastructure, energy grids, and other applications.

Through the strategic use of cryptocurrency tokenomics and blockchain technology, DePIN incentivizes and orchestrates the operation of peer-to-peer (P2P) hardware infrastructure networks. This innovative approach is already actively employed to kickstart and sustain tangible real-world services across the continent.

DePIN employs cryptocurrency rewards as incentives for individuals to engage in physical infrastructure networks allowing them to develop organically from the grassroots level rather than being dictated from a centralized authority.

Historically, the establishment and operation of physical infrastructure networks have been costly and complex endeavors, typically undertaken by well-established corporations or governments possessing ample financial resources.

In DePIN networks, individuals engage by utilizing either their personal hardware or specialized hardware tailored for the network. This can encompass a variety of devices, spanning from hard drives and wireless network nodes to in-car tracking devices.

Look out for an exclusive BitKE interview with XYO dropping soon.