HTC Will Start Shipping the 'Exodus' Blockchain Phone in December

A decade after launching its first Android device, global consumer tech giant HTC is officially releasing its first blockchain-enabled phone.

The early-access version of the HTC Exodus is now available for pre-order, the company announced Tuesday, and must be purchased with cryptocurrency.

Dubbed the EXODUS 1, the device can only be bought using bitcoin or ethereum, and will start shipping by December.

HTC's decentralized chief officer, Phil Chen, told CoinDesk that the company is hoping to get feedback from the blockchain community about the early-access version in order to improve upon the device.

"Recent figures show that there are around 35 million wallets out there at the moment. The HTC EXODUS 1 is about getting the consumer used to owning their own keys and going from there to develop the EXODUS into a device that can be for the broader market."

HTC has not yet released any information about when the device might see a wider launch to the general public.

Further, to protect users who might lose their phone or otherwise forget their keys, HTC has built a "Social Key Recovery" process.

HTC also intends to release application program interfaces for third-party developers, allowing them use the EXODUS 1 to protect keys and sign transactions.

Also in the works are plans to push a software development kit for its wallet for partners who will help HTC expand its blockchain ecosystem.

EXODUS 1 image courtesy of HTC. The leader in blockchain news, CoinDesk is a media outlet that strives for the highest journalistic standards and abides by a strict set of editorial policies.