Grab, Southeast Asia’s leading superapp, has entered a strategic partnership with Natix, a Solana-based DePIN (Decentralised Physical Infrastructure Network) project, to collaborate on next-generation mapping and autonomous driving technologies.
Announced on 6 May, the partnership will integrate Natix’s blockchain-powered data infrastructure with Grab’s AI-enhanced mapping systems and in-vehicle camera technology.
The collaboration highlights Grab’s expertise in crowdsourced mapping and Natix’s innovative incentive model, which rewards users for contributing decentralised visual data—marking a step forward in the evolution of geospatial intelligence:
“This partnership brings together the best of both worlds.”
Grab’s mapping service, GrabMaps, wrote in a LinkedIn post on Tuesday:
“By combining GrabMaps’ AI-powered mapping technology with Natix’s decentralized data network, we’re enabling real-time, high-fidelity map updates across the globe.”
As part of their collaboration, Natix will introduce VX360, a device developed on Grab’s hardware platform that enables Tesla drivers to capture and share 360° vehicle imagery, as announced by GrabMaps on LinkedIn.
It added:
“This rich visual data powers fresher maps and provides critical training and validation datasets for autonomous driving and physical AI applications.”
In addition to Natix, GrabMaps has forged partnerships with industry leaders such as Loqate, Bing Maps, and Mappls, advancing hyperlocal location mapping technology, according to its official website. https://grabmaps.grab.com/
Natix argues that traditional centralised mapping methods, such as Google Street View and TomTom, are costly, inefficient, and often suffer from limited coverage and infrequent updates, forcing companies to make significant investments for map maintenance.
To address these challenges, Natix has developed an on-street camera network that enables crowdsourced data collection in real time, allowing users to contribute valuable insights on road conditions and changes at a fraction of the cost.
Natix co-founder and CEO Alireza Ghods said:
“Google has started tapping into this model by asking users to submit road updates, but the data remains proprietary. It is expensive to access and only available in the territories that companies pay for. A blockchain-based incentivization system provides better results in terms of frequency, participation, and coverage.”
Natix said in the announcement:
“We’re giving Tesla drivers access and storage for their vehicle’s camera feed — while earning rewards for contributing 360° imagery that will be used for better mapping solutions and to power physical AI.”
According to Ghods, the system is designed to track critical events like accidents, roadwork, and traffic signs by leveraging AI pipelines to efficiently extract relevant data, adding:
“Some are internal efforts, and now we plan to tap into Grab’s AI capabilities as they have cutting-edge technology already built for this need.”
Grab’s latest partnership with Natix marks another significant step in its expanding use of blockchain and cryptocurrency technologies.
This follows the company’s March 2024 collaboration with payments firm Triple-A, which allows Grab customers to pay for services using five major cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin, Ether, and Circle’s USDC stablecoin.
Grab’s efforts are further supported by SoftBank, the Japanese investment giant known for its strong investments in cryptocurrency and AI.
The announcement comes on the heels of Grab’s impressive financial performance, reporting $773 million in revenue for Q1 2025, reflecting an 18% year-over-year growth.
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