DASH Partnerships, Privacy Coins Surge, and Tip Earnings Decline in Delivery Sector

• ABM installed in-route pantograph EV charging for Alexandria's DASH, supporting the city's electric bus fleet electrification.
• Privacy coins surged in 2025 as regulatory pressures intensified, with Dash and Monero reaching record highs in early 2026.
• New York City found that DoorDash and Uber's interface changes led to an estimated $550 million drop in delivery worker tip income since late 2023.

The Alexandria DASH project, facilitated by ABM, represents a key step in expanding the city's electric bus infrastructure. By enabling in-route charging, the initiative supports continuous bus operations, reduces downtime, and lowers emissions. The project is the first phase of a broader electrification plan for DASH's public transportation system.

Privacy coins have seen a dramatic market performance in 2025 and 2026. Dash and Monero surged by more than 100% in early 2026, driven by regulatory concerns and demand for financial privacy. Zcash also saw strong gains, though it lagged behind Monero in market capitalization. Analysts are monitoring the sector's sustainability amid regulatory scrutiny and potential legal actions.

New York City's Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) reported that DoorDash and Uber reduced delivery worker tip income by over $550 million following app interface changes in late 2023. The changes moved tipping prompts to after checkout, making it less visible to users. As a result, average tips per delivery dropped from $3.66 to $0.76. This led to an estimated $5,800 annual loss in tip income for delivery workers.

What Drives Privacy Coin Rallies in 2025 and 2026?

The surge in privacy coin prices in 2025 and early 2026 coincided with growing regulatory pressures. The U.S. passed the GENIUS Act, and the EU implemented the Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA), both requiring crypto service providers to collect user data. These developments increased demand for privacy-focused technologies, including Monero, Zcash, and Dash.

Monero and Zcash are two of the leading privacy coins, each with distinct characteristics. Monero uses advanced cryptography to obscure transaction details, while Zcash employs zero-knowledge proofs to allow optional privacy. Zcash's development team is more identifiable than Monero's, and some speculate it might be connected to Bitcoin's pseudonymous creator, although this is not confirmed.

Analysts are watching how new regulations, such as the U.S. CLARITY Act and Dubai's privacy token bans, may impact the sector. These laws could shape the future of privacy-focused assets and determine whether the current price momentum is sustainable.

What Are the Implications of Tip Earnings Drops for Delivery Workers?

The DCWP report highlights that DoorDash and Uber reduced delivery worker tip earnings through app interface design changes. These changes allegedly used "dark patterns" to make it harder for consumers to locate the tipping option at checkout. The average tip per delivery dropped from $3.66 to $0.76, leading to an estimated $554 million loss in tip income for delivery workers.

DoorDash and Uber have denied the report's findings, stating that tipping should remain a consumer choice and that tips are fully retained by delivery workers. The companies have also sued the city of New York to block new labor laws that require tipping at checkout, arguing they infringe on their First Amendment rights. According to reports, the companies are challenging these regulations.

The debate over tipping practices in delivery services reflects broader concerns about fair compensation and worker rights. The city's Department of Consumer and Worker Protection is committed to enforcing new worker protection laws and ensuring that delivery workers receive fair pay and are not subjected to practices that undermine their ability to earn tips. The city's report details these concerns.

What Is the Significance of Alexandria's DASH EV Charging Project?

The Alexandria DASH project is a key example of how cities are expanding their public transit systems with electric buses and supporting infrastructure. The ABM-installed pantograph charger enables in-route charging, reducing downtime and extending the operational range of DASH buses. This project supports Alexandria's broader electrification goals and contributes to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The project was completed under the NASPO ValuePoint cooperative purchasing agreement, a national program that allows public entities to streamline the procurement of infrastructure solutions.

By leveraging this program, Alexandria was able to implement the project efficiently and at a competitive cost. The installation of in-route charging infrastructure is part of a multi-phase plan for DASH, which serves over 15,000 riders daily and 5.3 million riders annually. Future phases may include additional in-route or depot charging assets to support further electrification of the fleet.