HTC Announces It is Building a Blockchain-Powered Smartphone

HTC is building a blockchain native phone called 'Exodus'.

| May 17, 2018 08:58 AM EST

Created: May 17, 2018 08:58 AM EST

HTC has just announced it is building a blockchain native phone. The tech company quietly made the announcement via a Medium post by HTC's Decentralized Chief Officer, Phil Chen.

Check out Phil Chen's (@philchen913) post on the vision for HTC Exodus, the World's First Native Blockchain Phone: https://t.co/HzlC4TVgeB
— HTC Exodus (@htcexodus) May 15, 2018

The phone will be called Exodus and it will have a universal wallet and hardware support for cryptocurrencies and decentralized apps. The Exodus phone will initially support bitcoin, ethereum, and other major networks, but more partnerships are expected to be announced at a later date.

Phil Chen outlines vision for blockchain phone in blog post

In the blog post by Chen, he says: "The HTC Exodus is the first native blockchain phone dedicated to bringing end consumers the best decentralized application (DApp) experiences, including a built-in secure hardware enclave, and helping underlying protocols expand their base of dedicated nodes, thus expanding the total blockchain ecosystem."

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HTC who have recently laid off staff might be turning to the blockchain technology as a way to save the company. They aren’t the first company to create a blockchain phone, that honor goes to The Finney, created by Sirin Labs.

The phone lets people store and use digital currencies while avoiding transaction fees. The Finney is priced at $999, no price has yet been announced for the Exodus.

HTC has vision to reimagine decentralized device use

What might be the most interesting thing about HTC’s foray into the decentralized phone is Chen’s desire to totally rethink the way we understand the personal phone experience. He says: "I want to see a world where the end consumers can truly own their data (browsing history, identity, assets, wallets, emails, messaging, etc) without the need for central authorities. There is a lot of work ahead of us, but I believe the mobile hardware layer can contribute significantly to our new decentralized world."

Chen returns to HTC after two years at Horizons Ventures. His new job title is Decentralized Chief Officer, a role specifically designed to focus on blockchain & cryptocurrency initiatives within the company.

Are the masses ready for blockchain smartphones?

HTC has a long history with innovation, since 2008, they have reportedly shipped over 100M smartphone devices. They created the world’s first Android smartphone as well as the first Facebook phone. However many are skeptical that the blockchain phone is what will save the company.

Via: HTC, Phil Chen via Medium