A look at the Blockchain and Web3 smartphones you can buy in the future
Of CNBCTV18.com IST (updated)
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Blockchain phones offer crypto storage, a gateway to the metaverse, and support for decentralized applications (dApps). Some of these phones will also allow you to mine cryptocurrencies and host a blockchain node.
We do everything on smartphones these days. It is almost as if we have become inseparable from these minicomputers. Therefore, for blockchain to see the next level of mainstream adoption, people should be able to access blockchain-related products and services on their phones.
This was the central premise occupying the mind-space of the crypto industry when blockchain phones first hit the market in 2018. Top smartphone manufacturers began to foray into this nascent market, introducing feature-heavy blockchain phones.
These devices lay the foundation for today’s newer web3 and crypto phones. But what are blockchain smartphones and how do they work? Let’s find out!
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What are blockchain phones?
A blockchain phone is a device that gives you all the functionality of a typical smartphone, while making it easier for you to hold and spend your cryptocurrencies.
They typically offer crypto storage, a gateway to the metaverse, and support for decentralized applications (dApps). Some of these phones will also allow you to mine cryptocurrencies and host a blockchain node.
Previous blockchain phones
Perhaps the first blockchain phone to hit the market was the HTC Exodus 1, which was announced in October 2018. Among other things, the phone had a crypto hardware wallet and could also run a full Bitcoin node.
A few months later, Israeli-based Sirin Labs launched Finney. The phone was named after Hal Finney, a computer programmer who received the world’s first bitcoin mining reward. Like Exodus 1, Finney also had a built-in hardware wallet that allowed users to store private keys in an ultra-secure manner.
The phone also had a built-in token conversion tool, allowing users to easily exchange one type of crypto for another.
The next notable addition to the smartphone lineup was Samsung’s KlaytnPhone. Launched in 2019, the phone was a unique handshake between Samsung and the Klaytn blockchain.
Therefore, when you buy the phone, you also receive a free amount of Klay tokens. The phone, which was a blockchain version of the Galaxy Note 10, also had a built-in crypto wallet and built-in dApps.
Upcoming blockchain phones
The first waves of blockchain phones set the tone for upcoming devices. Since then, many crypto- and web3-focused smartphones have come and gone, each with their own unique features.
The blockchain industry has also developed rapidly in the past couple of years, and newer smartphones are expected to have even better features and specifications.
Here’s a look at three highly anticipated upcoming blockchain-based smartphones.
Solana’s SAGA
On June 23, Solana announced the launch of its smartphone SAGA, becoming the first web3 company to enter the smartphone market. Priced at USD 1000, SAGA has an Android OS and a built-in crypto wallet. It is equipped with 12 GB of RAM, 512 GB of storage and a 6.67″ OLED display.
Additionally, it features the Solana Mobile Stack, which allows developers to build mobile-first experiences for web3.
HTC Desire 22 PRO
HTC surprised everyone by announcing its Web3 Smartphone soon after SAGA’s launch. It has a built-in web3 wallet and supports crypto and NFT transfers on Ethereum and Polygon blockchains.
Priced at USD 500, the HTC Desire 22 is equipped with Android OS and Viverse, an HTC platform to access the metaverse. It has 8GB of RAM, 128GB of storage and a 6.6′ IPS LCD screen.
Nothing Phone
Ethereum scaling solution and layer-2 blockchain, Polygon has partnered with consumer technology company Nothing to introduce web3 capabilities in its upcoming smartphone, the Nothing Phone (1). The first product of this handshake was a collection of NFTs called Black Dot NFTs.
Those who bought these NFTs received several benefits, such as early access to new products. The Nothing Phone (1) will give users access to Polygon platform apps and games and a user identity solution called Polygon ID that uses zero-knowledge credentials.
While the popularity of these phones will depend on the mass adoption of cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology, it is easy to imagine a future where all smartphones are blockchain-based. However, when this future will come is uncertain.
First published: IST
