HTC Exodus Phone to Support Crypto Wallet, CryptoKitties, Instead of Native Blockchain

Electronics giant HTC will not be releasing a smartphone with a native blockchain network for crypto trading between users as previously announced, The Verge reported July 10.

Instead, the company will introduce a smartphone containing a cryptocurrency wallet and CryptoKitties, the Ethereum-based decentralized application game.

On May 15, the Taiwan-based electronics firm had first unveiled its blockchain smartphone project, the HTC Exodus, that would reportedly include support for both the Bitcoin and Ethereum networks.

The Verge wrote in May that the company planned on creating a product with "a native blockchain network that uses Exodus phones as nodes that support cryptocurrency trading between users."

Phil Chen, the creator of HTC Vive and HTC's head of business and corporate development, said at the time that he envisioned a product that would allow customers to "Truly own their data without the need for central authorities," Cointelegraph reported.

Speaking to The Verge this week, Chen said that a phone that allowed users to own their identity is still in the future, and the Exodus - set to be released in 2018 - will include just a native crypto wallet and CryptoKitties.

Chen also mentioned that HTC is planning to incorporate crypto mining on mobile, noting that they are already exploring opportunities by checking out different consensus protocols and may issue a white paper on the project later on this year.

The Verge notes HTC's shipping numbers are down in 2018: having shipped more than 2 million products in the first quarter of 2017, the company shipped just 630,000 devices in the first quarter of this year.

The Verge notes that while the cost of the HTC Exodus is expected to be announced by the end of Q3, Chen noted that its price would be "Comparable" with the Finney, which has an expected price of $1,000.

In March, Chinese tech giant Huawei was reported to be seeking a license for the SIRIN OS technology, developed by Sirin Labs, in order to release their own phone featuring blockchain-based DApps.