Nomadz

Nomadz is a Solana-native travel booking aggregator that lets users book accommodation at B2B rates, pay with USDC, and build a persistent on-chain travel identity through gamified quests, XP, and NFT rewards.

Core Mechanism

Nomadz operates as a crypto-native layer on top of existing accommodation inventory. Rather than building its own hospitality supply, the platform aggregates access to over 2.6 million properties worldwide at wholesale B2B rates — pricing that is typically 60% below what travelers pay on mainstream booking platforms. Users interact with that inventory through a Solana-based interface that replaces the standard booking flow with a Web3 experience: wallet authentication, USDC settlement on-chain, and a recorded travel history that accumulates into a permanent on-chain profile.

Each booking is not just a transaction but a data point in the user's Nomad ID — a Solana-native identity built on Metaplex Core. Nomad ID functions as a composable travel passport: it tracks verified trips, accumulates experience points (XP), and stores earned badges and achievements. This makes the user's travel history legible to other protocols, communities, and event organizers within the Solana ecosystem.

Key Features

Nomad ID and Gamification. Phase 0 launched in April 2025, introducing the foundational gamification layer: on-chain profiles, Nomad ID, quests, XP, badges, and leaderboards. The system was built with a Metaplex DAO grant specifically for on-chain identity and progression mechanics. An updated Nomad ID powered by Metaplex Core shipped in November 2025, deepening the on-chain infrastructure. Users who complete travel quests unlock NFT Suitcase loot boxes, converting real-world travel into in-protocol rewards.

Accommodation Booking. Nomadz V2 launched in December 2025 with USDC payment support and the platform's B2B pricing model fully integrated. Users pay via USDC on Solana or via Stripe for fiat fallback. USDC payments carry an additional 5% discount, creating a direct financial incentive for on-chain settlement over traditional payment rails.

AI Itinerary Planning. The platform includes an AI planning layer to assist users in structuring trips, surfacing relevant accommodations, and organizing multi-stop itineraries — reducing friction for digital nomads managing longer stays across multiple destinations.

Events and Community Coordination. Nomadz supports encrypted meeting accommodation for community events, positioning the platform as coordination infrastructure for DAOs and crypto communities traveling together. The team has served as official travel partner for Breakpoint 2025, Solana Crossroads, APEX, and Solana Temple.

Mobile and Flight Aggregation. Development of a Seeker Mobile version began during participation in the Solana Mobile Hackathon, which Nomadz won in September 2025. The mobile-native booking flow is being prepared for the Solana dApp Store. A flight aggregator is in development, targeted for Q1–Q2 2026.

Tokens and Assets

Nomadz does not have a native token as of early 2026. The platform uses USDC as its primary settlement currency on Solana, leveraging Solana Pay for payment infrastructure. NFTs issued through the platform — including badges and NFT Suitcase loot boxes — serve as proof-of-travel artifacts and in-protocol achievement records rather than as tradeable financial instruments. XP and Nomad ID data live on-chain via Metaplex Core and are designed to be composable with other Solana applications.

Team

Nomadz was founded in March 2022 by Ivan Maltsev and Vlad Poltavets, two Ukrainian entrepreneurs. The founding round drew participation from Solana Foundation — the foundation's first investment in a Ukrainian startup — alongside investors from the Solana ecosystem including Kumeka Team, Circle, Metaplex, Solana Labs, and Mad Lads. The project also received backing from XFounders accelerator.

The team expanded through 2025, adding Kushal as Product Manager, Edison as Community Manager, Sofia as a travel agent, and Beeman as Technical Advisor. Part of the team relocated to Dubai in late 2025.

By the end of 2025, Nomadz had over 10,000 registered users and more than 1,000 active platform profiles.

Security and Audits

No public security audit reports have been disclosed. The platform's payment infrastructure relies on established Solana primitives — USDC via Circle, Solana Pay — rather than novel smart contract logic for fund custody, which limits but does not eliminate protocol-level risk. Users should apply standard due diligence before conducting bookings through any crypto-native travel platform.

Solana Ecosystem Fit

Nomadz sits at the intersection of real-world utility and on-chain identity — two areas that have seen sustained developer attention on Solana. Its integrations span the core Solana stack: Metaplex Core for NFT-based identity, Solana Pay for payment rails, SNS for naming, Privy for wallet abstraction, Jupiter Exchange for potential token conversion, and Circle's Alliance Program for USDC access.

Beyond protocol integrations, Nomadz has embedded itself into the Solana social layer. Partnerships with MadLads, IslandDAO, and Superteam, combined with event coordination for major Solana conferences, have made the project visible to the communities most likely to use crypto-native travel tools. Physical activations — a sailing season across the Balearic Islands and a Tour de Sol cycling event across 3,000+ km of Spain — signal a commitment to translating on-chain identity into tangible shared experiences.

The Solana Foundation's convertible grant and Metaplex DAO grant position Nomadz as a legitimately supported project within the ecosystem's grant infrastructure, not merely an independent startup claiming Solana affiliation.