DePINs, Crypto Rewards & AI Tooling | Jesse Adams, Co-founder of Uprock

How do you build a DePIN network with 2.7M+ devices, zero CAC, and data streams optimized for AI—without draining batteries or compromising user trust?In this episode of The Index, Alex Kehaya sits down with Jesse Adams, serial entrepreneur and co-founder of Uprock, to unpack how they’re building the world’s first mobile-first DePIN for AI.Jesse’s journey spans building an adult app store, launching an encrypted browser (Tenta, acquired), and now scaling Uprock—a decentralized physical infrastructure network designed to deliver real-time, geo-distributed data for AI/ML. Instead of relying on always-on proxies, Uprock’s task-based architecture wakes mobile devices only when needed, performs lightweight actions (like scraping or uptime checks), and puts them back to sleep—keeping performance high and energy use low.We explore:Why location-specific data is critical for LLMs and autonomous agentsHow Uprock scaled to 2.7M devices with zero paid acquisitionTheir crypto micropayment model for rewarding bandwidth contributionAI-driven dev workflows for code review, QA, and marketing at speedIf you're building in DePIN, Web3 infra, or AI tooling—this convo is packed with ideas from the frontier.🔗 Open beta: uprock.com 🐦 Follow Jesse: @jesseshappyhourShow LinksThe Index X ChannelYouTube