The Mobility Open Blockchain Initiative (MOBI) was formed 2 years ago, in May 2018 in order to explore blockchain for use in a new digital mobility ecosystem that could make transportation safer, more affordable, and more widely accessible. Upon formation, MOBI was actively working with companies accounting for over 70% of global vehicle production in terms of market share.

About MOBI

MOBI is a global nonprofit organization working to improve mobility using blockchains, distributed ledgers, and related technologies. MOBI and its partners are creating simple ways of identifying vehicles, people, and trips to streamline mobility transactions by promoting secure protocols for vehicle to vehicle (V2V) and vehicle to infrastructure (V2I)

communications and payments.

MOBI is an open, inclusive organization with corporate partners from diverse industries working with governments, NGOs, academics, and private foundations. Corporate members range from some of the world’s largest companies down to new startups raising their first funding. MOBI’s diverse membership reflects a variety of benefits afforded by participation in the MOBI community. For example, large automakers and insurers can accelerate innovation and lower their R&D costs thru access to new technology, innovative startups, and predictable industry standards; tech companies, startups, and the blockchain developer community get access to scale, customers and network effects; government agencies, transit authorities, and academics get insight into policy development and spending priorities. Regardless, all members get a seat at the table and an inside view of the revolutionary changes, opportunities, and impacts afforded by blockchains and distributed ledger.

Some of the founding members included BMW, Ford, General Motors, Renault, Bosch, ZF as well as major companies (Accenture, IBM) and blockchain industry groups (Consensys, Hyperledger). Since then, MOBI has grown and now consists of 88 members.

Ripple joins MOBI

Ripple is now one of the 88 MOBI members.

The Ripple page on MOBI was created or last edited a few days ago:

“Ripple is a real-time gross settlement system, currency exchange and remittance network created by Ripple Labs Inc., a US-based technology company. Released in 2012, Ripple is built upon a distributed open source protocol, and supports tokens representing fiat currency, cryptocurrency, commodities, or other units of value such as frequent flier miles or mobile minutes. Ripple purports to enable secure, instantly and nearly free global financial transactions of any size with no chargebacks.”

MOBI members enjoy a wide range of benefits and opportunities specifically designed for an audience dedicated to promoting smart mobility through blockchain and distributed ledgers.

Among the highlights of membership are participation in MOBI’s working groups, access to the MOBI vehicle identification (VID) standard, networking and sponsorship opportunities at MOBI’s colloquiums and an invitation to the MOBI innovation platform.

MOBI is pleased to connect global mobility providers with blockchain innovators as well as government and non-government agencies, and institutions to collaborate on the development of blockchain-enabled vehicle data and mobility services applications.

MOBI’s approach to ecosystem development is open and inclusive, inviting stakeholders from across the entire mobility value chain to establish a “minimum viable network”. This includes automakers, public transportation and toll road providers, other forms of transportation, technology firms, blockchain firms, academic institutions, startup innovators, and regulatory bodies across the globe.

Ripple is expanding its reach and actively seeking additional usecases for XRP. The MOBI initiative will certainly help steer Ripple towards that direction.