On September 16, 2019, Bitcoin.com, one of the oldest and most established cryptocurrency innovators with over 4.5 million wallet holders worldwide, announced a long-term strategic partnership with leading telecommunications manufacturer HTC. The collaboration is designed to drive innovation and adoption of crypto technologies, with the flagship HTC EXODUS 1 smartphone becoming the first phone to provide Bitcoin Cash (BCH) support without requiring users to download a separate wallet from an app store.
Pre-Installed Bitcoin.com Wallet on HTC Flagship
Under the terms of the agreement, the Bitcoin.com wallet app is pre-loaded on the EXODUS 1. Existing EXODUS 1 users can also obtain the wallet by updating their device software. This integration significantly lowers the barrier for BCH usage, enabling seamless peer-to-peer electronic cash transactions. Phil Chen, Decentralized Chief Officer at HTC, stated: “The EXODUS vision has always aligned itself towards public blockchains and its fundamental transformative nature of the future of money and the Internet. The Zion Vault is happy to support BCH natively in hardware for security to go hand in hand with the BCH blockchain as an alternative to dominant payment rails and platforms.”
Executives Express Enthusiasm
Bitcoin.com CEO Stefan Rust remarked: “There are so many synergies between Bitcoin.com and HTC. We are very excited to be on this incredible journey together.” Roger Ver, Executive Chairman of Bitcoin.com, added: “Bitcoin.com’s partnership with HTC will enable Bitcoin Cash to be used as peer-to-peer electronic cash for all the EXODUS users around the world.” The two companies also outlined future plans, including offering special discounts when paying for phones in BCH and selling EXODUS phones on store.bitcoin.com, along with many other collaborative initiatives.
Background on HTC EXODUS and Zion Vault
HTC’s Project EXODUS is a smartphone solution designed to power the decentralized web. With more than 20 years of experience creating foundational technology for mobile and virtual reality, HTC is now investing in blockchain technology to usher in a new era of secure data storage and transactions. The Zion Vault, a private vault on the blockchain, allows users to conduct crypto transactions, view and manage collectibles, and maintain full ownership of their private keys. Supported assets include bitcoin, ether, litecoin, stellar, selected ERC-20 tokens, and ERC-721 collectibles.
This partnership represents a significant step in bridging traditional hardware manufacturing with the crypto ecosystem. By embedding native BCH support directly into a flagship smartphone, both companies aim to accelerate the adoption of digital cash for everyday payments, making cryptocurrency more accessible to mainstream consumers worldwide.