Exclusive: Geodnet CEO Mike Horton on blockchain-powered GPS

Exclusive: Geodnet CEO Mike Horton on blockchain-powered GPS originally appeared on TheStreet.

In a world where GPS often means “good enough,” Geodnet is aiming for precision — down to the centimeter.

In a conversation with TheStreet Roundtable’s host Malak Albaw, Geodnet co-founder and CEO Mike Horton broke down how his company is doing more than building infrastructure. It’s laying the groundwork for a decentralized, blockchain-incentivized GPS network that actually works where it matters — in farms, fields, and even future robot highways.

“We’re not just improving location accuracy — we’re rewriting how global positioning systems should work,” Horton said.

Geodnet is built on a network of over 7,000 GNSS reference stations — what the team calls “satellite miners.” These geodetic-grade antennas provide Real-Time Kinematic (RTK) correction data to users, enabling 1–2 cm precision, a massive leap from standard GPS.

The twist? It’s powered by blockchain.

“Station operators earn GEOD tokens when they send us high-quality correction data,” Horton explained. “It’s a performance-based incentive — better data, better rewards.”

This model isn’t just gamified infrastructure — it’s a real economic system where accuracy pays.

Who’s paying? Farmers, Enterprises, and the USDA

While Geodnet incentivizes supply with tokens, it’s also seeing growing enterprise demand. Over 20,000 clients, including U.S. government agencies like the USDA, pay to access Geodnet’s correction service.

With subscription fees ranging from $2,000–$5,000/year, Horton says customers using Geodnet are seeing a 50%+ cost reduction compared to traditional correction providers like Trimble.

“We’re not undercutting — we’re optimizing,” Horton said. “We’re leveraging decentralization to make premium services more accessible.”

Big picture

Geodnet is part of a broader DePIN (Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Networks) trend. In a space often plagued by speculation, it stands out for doing the opposite — turning tokens into incentives for real-world infrastructure.

“DePIN isn’t just a buzzword. It’s what happens when blockchain gets its hands dirty and starts building things that actually matter,” Horton said.

Exclusive: Geodnet CEO Mike Horton on blockchain-powered GPS first appeared on TheStreet on Jun 10, 2025

This story was originally reported by TheStreet on Jun 10, 2025, where it first appeared.

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