The sMiles mobile app, released in 2020, originally let users earn Bitcoin for everyday activities like walking and shopping. However, sMiles has now added a Pokémon Go-style map that directs users to physical places where they can obtain small amounts of Bitcoin. This new feature motivates users to explore beyond their regular routines to win crypto prizes.
The new Bitcoinverse feature in the sMiles app for iOS and Android displays a real-world map scattered with hidden satoshi stashes, the smallest Bitcoin unit. Users simply follow the large orange Bitcoin icons and can claim the crypto rewards when close by.
The classic Pokémon motto “Gotta catch ’em all” gets a new spin when the reward is actual Bitcoin instead of Pokémon. While the Bitcoin payouts through Lightning Network may be small, Bitcoinverse could motivate sMiles users to explore and find the hidden crypto stashes.
As explained by sMiles co-founder Ig Berezovsky to Decrypt, Bitcoinverse is sponsored by advertisers who can promote their business by funding locations on the map. The app visibly identifies any sponsors and links to their website.
According to Berezovsky, Bitcoinverse has begun rolling out to sMiles’ approximately 140,000 users. So far, the reward spots seem concentrated in major US and European city centers. For instance, the US Midwest currently has three locations in downtown Chicago and one in downtown Kansas City only.
According to Berezovsky, sMiles intends to expand Bitcoinverse’s capabilities over time with features like in-store deals and surveys to enable deeper advertiser engagement. The aim is a self-sustaining ecosystem rewarding users for participating while directing them to brands, benefiting companies.
Berezovsky stated to Decrypt that Bitcoinverse can improve the opaque traditional advertising model by strengthening loyalty between brands and customers who feel grateful.
