What is a Blockchain Phone? The HTC Exodus explained

The HTC Exodus will be HTC’s new smartphone, but it will be slightly different to what they’ve done before. The HTC Exodus will be a ‘blockchain phone’, which means it’ll come with a number of blockchain related features, such as a cryptocurrency wallet built straight into the device.

In fact, the HTC Exodus essentially will be the cryptocurrency wallet. This means that cryptocurrency enthusiasts can keep their funds secure at all times by physically keeping hold of their phone.

In concept, the HTC Exodus and other blockchain phones seem interesting, but how will they be perceived by the public? Can the already-struggling HTC really pull things back with future tech like cryptocurrency and what is their overall plan with the HTC Exodus?

I’ve tried to answer as many of these types of questions as possible and have also provided an overview on what we can expect from the HTC Exodus, which is slated for release this Autumn.

HTC Exodus’ Cryptocurrency Features

It seems that HTC has a future vision for how mobile devices and cryptocurrency will be partnered together. For now, the HTC Exodus is essentially a concept piece. It will come with two major cryptocurrency features.

The first feature is a cryptocurrency wallet. It won’t be an online wallet, so you’ll have your currency safe with you so long as you have access to your device. When you want to make a transaction, you’ll of course need the internet to approve the transaction, and the internet for your wallet balance to be updated.

No news has been shared about what cryptocurrency can be stored in the wallet, but it’s likely to be have support for both Ethereum and Bitcoin.

The second feature will be the inclusion of a collectible cryptocurrency based game called CryptoKitties. With this game, you can breed kittens, trade them, and even sell rare kittens for cryptocurrency.

When two kittens breed in CryptoKitties, they’ll give birth to a randomly generated unique kitten. Everything is verified on the blockchain, so no two kittens are alike and there’s no way to cheat the system or duplicate kittens.

For most casual users, CryptoKitties is just a fun little game on the side, but some people are very serious about trading, breeding, buying and selling kittens.

For now, that seems to be all that makes the HTC Exodus a ‘blockchain’ phone. In the future, HTC wants blockchain phones to be the portal for holding onto your digital identity.

HTC believes that in the future, your phone could hold your passport, driving license, wallet, and other important documents. It will only be unlockable by you which makes it more secure than paper documents.

Right now, all of that is nothing more than a concept, which makes the HTC Exodus far from being close to reaching HTC’s original vision.

There’s also concern behind what happens when you lose your device. If your cryptocurrency wallet is the phone, what happens if it breaks? I’m sure HTC will have suggestions in mind for creating hardware backups, but this is less than ideal.

Most people that use hardware wallets will keep them somewhere secure, such as a safe. C

Carrying your hardware wallet with you is somewhat counterproductive. Unlike a real cash wallet, a cryptocurrency hardware wallet can break. If it breaks, and you do not have a backup, you’ll lose your money and there will be no way to recover it.

All HTC Exodus Details Known So Far

With the cryptocurrency details out of the way, there’s still a lot more to learn about the HTC Exodus.

Firstly, the HTC Exodus will be running Android. This means that besides the cryptocurrency wallet, there may not be that much on the software-side that sets it apart from previous flagship HTC devices.

We do not know about physical specifications, but it is rumored that the HTC Exodus will cost $1,000. (Roughly £750.)

At this price, I hope that the HTC Exodus has specifications that allow it to compete with other high end devices.

The HTC Exodus’ high price means it’ll be going up against the Google Pixel 3, the Galaxy Note 9, and the new 2018 iPhone range.

At this price, HTC will have to work very hard to create a device that has a high quality camera, a great display, and other top tier features. The new HTC U12+ perhaps shows a rough idea about what we can expect from the Exodus.

I don’t think that the cryptocurrency features will bring enough interest to the HTC Exodus. It needs to be a good phone through and through first, otherwise, it’s potentially going to be even more money down the drain for HTC.

But perhaps HTC’s goal isn’t to create short term profit. Perhaps the Exodus is a first concept for what they believe will be the future of mobile phones and cryptocurrency. Their strategy may be to get in there early and found the next milestone in mobile technology.

It’s a risky game to play, especially considering HTC has struggled so much in recent years. I’m unconvinced the HTC Exodus will be an immediate hit, but i’m equally as excited about HTC at least trying to do something a little different.

What are your thoughts? I’d love to have a chat with you all about the HTC Exodus, so send me a message and I’ll respond.