HTC, the electronics giant, has announced a new privacy-focused portable 5G blockchain router that enables users to run a full Bitcoin node.
https://t.co/xQfeE0RPGQ — LibertyBTC (@BtcLiberty) March 5, 2020
It has been reported that due to arrive by mid-year, the Exodus 5G Hub follows on from the success of the Taiwanese manufacturer’s Exodus 1 phones, which also have the ability to run nodes.
However, the Hub provides 5G connectivity to all Internet-enabled devices and uses Zion Vault software to enable users to store Bitcoin, Ethereum (including ERC-20 and ERC-721 tokens), Binance Coin, Litecoin and Stellar. The software offers security features including social recovery for private keys, meaning that users can break up, encrypt and share their recovery phrase among trusted friends.
While many users probably won’t want to run their own Bitcoin node on 5G, Zion Vault offers the ability to help secure the Bitcoin network by recording and verifying transactions.
Likewise, the device resembles a smart home device with its 5-inch screen and is packed with privacy-focused apps including encrypted email service ProtonMail, blockchain-friendly Brave Browser, and decentralized VPN Incognito.
HTC says that the device is more private than Amazon Alexa or Google Nest and is “the ultimate safeguard against the collection of data by big tech companies in your home”.
Phil Chen, the Decentralized Chief Officer at HTC, said:
“Exodus is about ownership. Owning your keys, owning your data, owning your privacy. Exodus is the shield against the onslaught of big tech and its assault on the privacy of your home. By using the Exodus 5G Hub, you have more control and ownership of your data than ever before.”
The specs are similar to a mobile phone, with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 processor, 4GB of memory, a MicroSD slot, a nano-SIM slot, a Gigabit Ethernet port, and a 7,660mAh battery.
Thus, the original HTC Hub was priced at $600 but pricing has not yet been revealed for the forthcoming version which is due to land in the second quarter.
Source: cointelegraph.com