Inside Nodle’s mission to turn smartphones into nodes or earning tools, and what it really takes to build through bear markets.
What does it take to build a real product in Web3, one that serves everyday users and survives beyond the hype? We sat down with Micha Benoliel, CEO and co-founder of Nodle, who shared his reflections on building in Web3 from the ground up. His insights reveal not only the vision that guides Nodle, but also the resilience required to bring meaningful infrastructure to life amid one of the most turbulent industries in tech.
This story goes beyond tokens and protocols. It's about values, endurance, and the steady pursuit of a better digital future, even when the road ahead isn’t fully visible.
"You have the map, and then you have the road. The map is your vision, your roadmap. But the road? That's the reality. And it’s always different than you expected."
The Map: Reimagining value in Web3
Nodle's map started with a bold mission: to make participation in the digital economy possible for anyone with a smartphone. The founding idea was simple but radical. What if your phone could become a node in a global network, earning you value in return for passive contributions like Bluetooth or location signals?
“We were thinking, how do we make crypto accessible to anyone with a smartphone? Bitcoin was great, but not everyone could mine it. We wanted to build something for mobile users, something usable by billions.”
The goal was to build foundational infrastructure from day one, giving users a real stake in the value they help create. Nodle positioned itself as a response to the shortcomings of Web2: platforms hoarding profits, opaque data practices, and a lack of financial inclusion.
From the outset, decentralization, privacy, and real-world utility were not just features. They were non-negotiables. “The community and the users need to feel that they own a piece of the infrastructure,” Micha said. That belief drives Nodle’s network design, tokenomics, and UX decisions to this day.
The Road: Navigating technical and regulatory complexity
Of course, having a mission is one thing. Executing it across bear markets, chain migrations, and legal complexities is another. Since 2018, Nodle has evolved across multiple blockchain ecosystems. First Stellar, Substrate, then Polkadot, and now Ethereum via zkSync.
“We had to migrate multiple times. Every time, it meant bringing our users from one chain to another. That’s incredibly hard, but we always prioritized user experience. Even if someone didn’t understand wallets or Web3, they could still use our Nodle Cash App.”
Each move came with tradeoffs, technical rewrites, and difficult transitions. But Nodle’s focus never drifted from real-world usability. The aim was always to design tools for everyone, not only Web3 natives, but everyday users who might never have touched a crypto wallet before.
Navigating regulatory complexity added another layer to the journey. Nodle began in the US and continuously adapted to evolving compliance frameworks, all while staying true to its decentralized ethos.
“What’s hard is that everyone focuses on token price. But when you're building real services used by real companies, you can’t chase the hype. You have to stay focused on product and utility.”
That clarity became Nodle’s compass through volatile markets and distractions.
Building for utility, not attention
Nodle is one of the rare crypto projects where the product came first, long before the hype. Its smartphone-powered DePIN network serves enterprise clients, enabling real-time connectivity from the ground up.
On the user side, there is the wallet with the Nodle Cash App and the Click App, an ethereum camera app, both offer a privacy-first experience. Click App allows anyone to capture tamper-proof media like photos and videos from your phone with zero-knowledge proof, verifying authenticity without needing to understand blockchain tech.
“Whether it's our Nodle Cash App participating in building the network or the Click App, we always asked ourselves, what service are we delivering to users? What problem are we solving for them? How do we improve the experience? That’s what matters.”
That philosophy, building tools that are intuitive, secure, and purposeful, is at the heart of Nodle’s product strategy.
“The best for a team working on developing innovative products is when they want to use it themselves, because that's what keeps people the most excited, because they work on something that they are using themselves.”
Endurance as strategy
For Micha, surviving in Web3 comes down to one word: endurance. “You compete with people smarter than you, with more money than you. What makes the difference is your capacity to work harder for longer hours and keep going.”
But endurance isn’t just about hustle. Micha compares founders to high-performance athletes. To win long-term, you need to understand and manage your own energy.
“You have to know when you’re at your peak, and when you're not. When not to take a meeting. When to step back and wait. That’s how you maintain high performance over years.”
That internal discipline, paired with transparency, learning, and adaptability, carried Nodle through multiple cycles.
The Road ahead: Where AI meets Web3
Looking ahead, Micha believes the next phase of Web3 will quietly embed itself into mainstream systems. From payments to authentication, blockchain infrastructure will become invisible but essential.
And the real convergence, he believes, is happening with AI.
“AI is a tidal wave. And AI agents will need Web3, payment rails, decentralized identity, and proof systems. It’s already happening.”
To prepare for this, Nodle is already thinking about identity and trust in a machine-first world.
“You are going to have to know your agent as well as you know your customer. So the KYC, KYB is becoming also KYA. Know your agent.”
Why Nodle stands out
In a sea of short-lived projects and overhyped promises, Nodle remains a grounded example of what Web3 can be when it prioritizes product, people, and purpose. Our mission, democratizing access to crypto by turning smartphones into nodes and earning tools, remains not just relevant, but essential in today's evolving digital economy.
“We are still in the early days. Everything has been an experiment until now. But I believe the killer apps are still ahead, and Nodle is building towards that.”
The road may twist and turn, but Nodle’s map has stayed true. For builders who care about lasting impact, that kind of clarity might just be the most important tool of all.
Download the Nodle App: Download here to start earning with your smartphone and explore real-world Web3 in action.