Decentralized Cameras, Real Infrastructure: Building Physical AI Interview with Alireza Goetz, CEO of Natix Network
More than $1 billion has poured into DePIN (Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Networks) in the past 18 months, as investors bet on a future where crowdsourced devices.
Capital alone doesn’t build infrastructure. Execution does.
Alireza Goetz is the co-founder and CEO of Natix Network. Backed by a PhD in wireless communications and years of experience in location-based systems, he’s building what may become the world’s largest decentralized camera network. Natix combines edge AI and the Solana blockchain to power real-time mapping, traffic insights, and physical-world data—contributed by everyday smart
phones.
We spoke about what it really takes to go from concept to traction in the DePIN space—and why infrastructure is the ultimate test of whether Web3 can deliver on its promises.
Esther Katz (Host): Hello, hello, and happy Friday, everyone. Welcome to Real Talk AI. I'm Esther Katz, deep tech strategist and your host. And today I'm joined by Alireza Goetz, co-founder and CEO of Natix Network.
Natix is building the largest decentralized camera network in the world using AI and blockchain—specifically the Solana protocol—to power crowdsourced mapping and physical infrastructure. From partnering with Grab to redefining what “drive-to-earn” means in the DePIN space, Alireza is shaping how AI interacts with the real world.
We'll dive into physical AI, decentralized data networks, and what it takes to scale frontier infrastructure in Web3. Welcome, Alireza.
Alireza Goetz (Guest): Thank you, Esther. Thank you for having me. Happy to be here and looking forward to our talk.
Esther: Let’s start with a few words about yourself. What is DePIN, and how did you get into this space?
Alireza: So a few words about myself—I’m the co-founder and CEO at Natix. I studied wireless communication and hold a PhD in the field. My specialization was localization algorithms—basically, how to determine the position of objects using signals, which is very relevant to mapping and sensing today.
After university, I worked in automotive and location-based services, then founded Natix. We actually started with a more centralized product: AI software that turns cameras into smart sensors. But after a few years, we saw that the future would be decentralized. That’s how we entered the DePIN space.
Esther: For our audience, can you define DePIN?
Alireza: Sure. DePIN stands for Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Networks. These are networks that rely on physical devices—cameras, routers, sensors, vehicles—to generate data or provide services, and they use blockchain for coordination, rewards, and ownership.
In our case, users install the Natix app or integrate our SDK, and their smartphones effectively become part of the decentralized camera network. They collect data about roads, cities, traffic, infrastructure—and get rewarded for it. It’s a new way to scale physical infrastructure without relying on centralized capital expenditure.
Esther: So the core innovation is crowd-infrastructure via everyday devices?
Alireza: Exactly. Think of it as Uber for sensors, but no central company owns the fleet. People contribute hardware they already own—their smartphones—and get paid for helping build a map or train an AI model. It democratizes infrastructure and data collection.
Esther: Let’s zoom into the use case. What does a Natix user actually do? Walk me through the user journey.
Alireza: Imagine you're commuting to work. You have the Natix app running in the background. As you drive, your phone’s camera captures video. We process it locally using edge AI to detect potholes, traffic signs, road markings, and objects of interest. The processed data—not the video itself—is anonymized and uploaded to our network.
In return, you earn rewards in the form of NATIX tokens. These tokens can be used or traded, and they reflect your contribution to building the world’s most up-to-date digital map. It’s completely opt-in, privacy-safe, and passive.
Esther: So it's like drive-to-earn meets open-source infrastructure?
Alireza: Exactly. It aligns incentives between individuals and cities, between drivers and AI companies. Anyone can benefit from contributing, and the data is open to be used in urban planning, autonomous navigation, insurance analytics—you name it.
Esther: There’s a lot of excitement around DePIN but also skepticism—especially around scalability and real-world traction. What does traction look like for Natix right now?
Alireza: We’re live in 171 countries. We’ve processed over 65 million images, and more than 60,000 people have downloaded the app. That’s not just crypto-native users; it includes rideshare drivers, delivery couriers, and urban mobility companies.
We also partnered with Grab in Southeast Asia to pilot our system at scale, and the feedback has been excellent. The key metric we track is not just downloads—it’s “kilometers mapped.” That’s what ultimately brings value.
Esther: The partnership with Grab is huge. Can you share more about how that came about and what the learnings were?
Alireza: Grab has a massive footprint in Southeast Asia, and they’re interested in better mapping, traffic prediction, and infrastructure data. Their team understood the value of decentralized networks right away. The pilot involved integrating our tech into their drivers’ phones to passively collect road insights.
One learning was how important battery optimization is. Drivers don’t want their phone dying mid-shift. So we optimized our edge AI stack to consume less power and run efficiently. Another learning: rewards need to be stable and understandable. If you want long-term participation, you have to design the tokenomics to feel reliable.
Esther: That’s a great segue into token design. How do you think about NATIX tokens as an incentive mechanism?
Alireza: At a high level, the NATIX token aligns all stakeholders—data contributors, validators, and data consumers. Contributors earn tokens by providing verifiable data. Validators earn by ensuring data quality. Consumers spend tokens to access high-quality data feeds.
Our goal is to create a circular economy where the value of the data directly funds the rewards of contributors. Unlike speculative tokens, this is a utility-driven model. The token represents access to real-world infrastructure, and its value grows with usage.
Esther: What’s the hardest part of building a DePIN project right now?
Alireza: Incentive alignment. People talk a lot about tokenomics, but very few understand behavioral economics. You can’t just put out a whitepaper and expect people to join. You need to craft user journeys that are intuitive, satisfying, and rewarding in the long term.
Also, educating users is hard. Crypto-native users get it fast. But if you’re targeting drivers or everyday users, you have to abstract away the blockchain complexity. It should feel like any other app: install, drive, earn.
Esther: There’s a broader shift from cloud AI to edge AI. How does Natix fit into that trend?
Alireza: We’re right at the center of it. Our entire system is edge-first. The processing happens on the phone—detection, filtering, anonymization. Only metadata and insights are uploaded. That saves bandwidth, protects privacy, and scales better.
The future of AI is ambient and embedded. You don’t want to stream every frame to the cloud. You want smart devices that understand their environment in real time. That’s what we’re building with Natix.
Esther: There’s also a hardware renaissance happening in DePIN. Are you planning to go beyond smartphones?
Alireza: Definitely. We’re building SDKs for dashcams, drones, scooters, even city infrastructure. Our long-term vision is to power a decentralized vision layer for the physical world. Smartphones are the entry point, but any camera can join the network.
We already see interest from OEMs and IoT companies. As the SDK matures, we’ll expand to new form factors.
Esther: If you look 3–5 years out, what does success look like for Natix?
Alireza: A global real-time map of the physical world, owned by the people who built it. A network that cities, companies, and AI models rely on every day. Millions of contributors, not just users but stakeholders.
If we can prove that decentralized infrastructure is cheaper, faster, and fairer to scale than centralized alternatives, we’ll have made a lasting impact. That’s what we’re aiming for.
Esther: Any final thoughts for builders entering the DePIN or physical AI space?
Alireza: Focus on real utility. Hype fades. Products that solve actual problems stick around. And remember: decentralization is not the goal—it’s the method. Your goal is impact. Use the tools that help you get there.
Esther: Thank you, Alireza. This was one of the most grounded and insightful conversations we’ve had on Real Talk AI.
Alireza: Thank you, Esther. It was a pleasure.
Esther Katz is a deep tech go-to-market strategist who takes breakthrough products from 0 to 1. She hosts Real Talk AI, where builders speak plainly about what it takes to implement AI in the real world. Subscribe for weekly conversations with the people driving real change in business and technology.