MAPS.ME to Organic Maps/Open Source Release

In 2015, MAPS.ME was released as open-source software under the Apache 2.0 license. In their official announcement, the team expressed support for the idea of free software and its potential to support humanitarian and crisis response work. The move was positively received in the OpenStreetMap community. However, while the code was made public, the development process itself remained centralized and controlled by the company. Decisions were made internally, and the infrastructure used for development remained private. After several years without achieving profitability, the company decided in late 2020 to sell MAPS.ME again—this time to a fintech group reportedly connected to FTX, a cryptocurrency exchange later involved in legal troubles. The new owners attempted to integrate digital payments into the app and, for a time, attracted a large waitlist for a digital wallet feature. However, the changes did not go as planned.