Cascade
#22 - Micha Benoliel: From Burning Man to the Decentralized Internet a Vision for Sovereign Connectivity
Micha Benoliel's not just building a crypto network—he’s chasing a decades-long dream to make global connectivity free, sovereign, and owned by the people.
His company, Nodle, turns every smartphone into a low-energy base station—quietly building one of the largest decentralized wireless networks on the planet. No cables. No towers. No telecom monopolies. Just phones, sensors, and incentives.
But to really get Micha’s story, you have to go back.
He’s been hacking communications for 20+ years. In 2004, he helped Skype connect to mobile and landlines before anyone thought that was possible. By 2012, he was building mesh networks at Burning Man to help people message each other without cell service. That prototype became FireChat—a peer-to-peer messaging app that would go viral during the Hong Kong Umbrella Movement. No internet required. Just phones bouncing Bluetooth signals.
10 million people used it. And then? He got pushed out of his own company.
He didn’t stop.
Now with Nodle, he’s picking up where he left off—this time with crypto and edge tech. Phones become infrastructure. Users get paid in tokens just for participating. Enterprises already use it to recover stolen vehicles in Europe, track motorcycles in Africa, and monitor drivers for insurance underwriting.
And he’s just getting started.
What’s coming next? Messaging. Stablecoin payments. And AI agents. Yes—Micha’s building a wallet where you can earn, message, and eventually ask AI to handle your crypto interactions for you. He’s already shipped an AI-powered photography coach in Nodle’s camera app, and he’s building more into the core wallet experience.
The longer you talk to him, the more it clicks: Micha isn’t just building an app—he’s laying down the rails for a sovereign communication and financial layer, where billions of people can earn, transact, and connect—without middlemen.
He’s done it without paid installs. Without hype. Just product, persistence, and deep conviction.
This one stuck with me. In a world of overfunded noise, Micha’s quietly building something foundational. Not just for crypto. For infrastructure. For freedom.
And if he’s right—one day, your phone won’t just be a screen in your pocket. It’ll be your node, your wallet, your ID, your bank—and your link to a new kind of network: open, global, and owned by you.
Learn more about Micha and his company below:
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