Charlie Lee, the co-founder of Litecoin and former Director of Engineering at cryptocurrency platform Coinbase, has announced that he is to be an advisor to HTC for the Exodus smartphone.
Planned for an autumn release, the Exodus is designed to be the first smartphone “dedicated to decentralized applications and security.” After manufacturing 100 million mobile devices, HTC say that this is its attempt to “reshape the internet” and “make decentralization a reality.”
The device will contain a variety of features aimed at the cryptocurrency user. HTC describes Exodus as running “the Switzerland of Protocols” to achieve blockchain interoperability andeach phone will act as a node on the Bitcoin and Ethereum networks. The Exodus will also function as a universal wallet for all of a user’s crypto holdings.
According to Lee, he met with the HTC Exodus team last week and was “really excited” that the device will “support LTC and Lightning Network on Litecoin natively.” He has signed on as an advisor for the project as he thinks that a “secure crypto phone that makes LN [ie Lightning Network] simple” is the key to securing mass adoption of the technology. He also notes that the Exodus will still offer Bitcoin natively.
Met the HTC Exodus team last week and was really excited to hear the phone will support LTC and Lightning Network on Litecoin natively! I will be an advisor as I see having a secure crypto phone that makes LN simple is needed for mass adoption.
P.S. No, they will not remove BTC. https://t.co/WQcygPVst0
— Charlie Lee [LTC⚡] (@SatoshiLite) 30 July 2018
Phil Chen, Chief Crypto Officer on the project for HTC, publicly welcomed Lee to the project. He said that he was “privileged” to be working with both Lee and Elizabeth Stark, the cofounder of Lightning Labs, and that he was “excited to be on this journey” with them.
Privileged for the Exodus Phone to be working with @SatoshiLite and @starkness. Excited to be on this journey with you. @edithyeung @dominic_w https://t.co/JwRefIEPIP
— Phil Chen (@philchen913) 30 July 2018