It looks like blockchain-enabled smartphones could be here to stay, judging by the short-spacing between the announcements of two new entries to HTC’s Exodus range of phones. Exodus 1 – Binance Edition is the latest of these models.
Announced November 12, ‘Binance Edition’ is a limited-run promotional model of the flagship Exodus 1 in partnership with the popular international cryptocurrency exchange. Exodus 1 was the first device in the range to be released (last year). The first batch of phones on sale could be purchased only with bitcoin.
Less than a month ago: the Exodus 1s was revealed. With a reduced price point, it fits in as the entry-level member of the Exodus range and appeals to the more price conscious cryptocurrency enthusiast. The 1s can run a full bitcoin node, and was purchasable with a wider range of popular tokens compared to its predecessor.
“We are excited to be supporting the Binance Chain and its DEX, which provides our community with the biggest spread and most liquid crypto exchange along with the trust minimization principle of empowering users to own their private keys and manage their personal bitcoin node comprehensively.
We believe this combination and our partnership will usher in a completely new paradigm of digital asset exchanges and corresponding interactions”
Phil Chen (HTC, Decentralized Chief Officer)
Whilst the hardware specifications resemble that of the standard model, the Exodus 1 Binance Edition sits somewhere above the standard Exodus 1 phone in terms of native features. It includes native support for Binance DEX (decentralized) in the Zion Vault wallet app, and comes with Binance wallet and Trust wallet apps pre-installed.
Cosmetically: the Binance Edition is to feature a unique digital wall-paper and physical phone casing. Those among the first 500 to purchase the Exodus 1s Binance Edition are eligible to receive an ‘Early Adopter’ bonus compensation: $100 value in BNB (the native exchange token of Binance).
In recent Binance news: the exchange released a statement earlier this month detailing a formal arrangement with the Ministry of Digital Transformation in Ukraine, where it would act in an advisory role for governmental authorities. Last month, CEO Changpeng Zhao said to CoinDesk that he believed Russia to be the “key market” of Binance.
Other ‘blockchain phones’ available on the market right now include the Samsung Galaxy S10 and FINNEY from Sirin Labs’.
“Smartphones will play a key role in the mass adoption of crypto and smartphones are the most natural devices for a hardware wallet that is simple to use and always with you…
Crypto, on the other hand, will make every smartphone both a POS terminal and payment device, cutting out most other middlemen.
The implications are profound and far-reaching, and the most innovative smartphone makers are racing to integrate crypto use for mass adoption and seamless usability. We are delighted to support and work with HTC EXODUS to help people access crypto anywhere and anytime.”
Changpeng Zhao (Binance, CEO)
