Samsung
Samsung

Samsung Finally Adds Bitcoin Functionality to Its Blockchain Smartphones

Multinational electronics manufacturer Samsung has added Bitcoin (BTC) functionality to its blockchain-powered smartphones. 

Samsung’s decision to integrate Bitcoin protocol features has come several months after the South Korean firm’s flagship Galaxy S10 range was introduced in March 2019. The Galaxy S10 features a “Blockchain Keystore” for storing cryptoassets and allows transactions with Ether and ERC-20 compliant tokens.

Bitcoin Features Added to Samsung’s Smartphones

Samsung has now added Bitcoin functionality to its smartphones’ developer kit (SDK) for several models including S10e, S10, S10+ and S10 5G. The company’s Note10 and Note10+ devices also support the Bitcoin protocol.

Samsung’s SDK can be used by Android devices to connect blockchain addresses to the Blockchain Keystore, monitor the Keystore status, and sign digital currency transactions.

The Blockchain Keystore SDK will let Android programs communicate directly with the crypto-focused keystore found on the latest Galaxy devices. As explained, this will allow users to sign cryptocurrency transactions, while directly referencing blockchain addresses.

At present, the SDK is still under development, as its production version has not been released. Presumably, this is why Samsung has not made any big announcements about the new features. 

Blockchain Keystore SDK Still In Development Stages

The Blockchain Keystore SDK is currently available to software engineers through an application process. Samsung is planning to offer full access to the new tools by the end of this year. 

As mentioned on one of Samsung’s FAQ pages:

“Official version of Samsung Blockchain SDK will be announced by the end of 2019. In the meantime, developers can request a partnership to use the beta version of the Samsung Blockchain SDK.”

The blockchain-related features of Samsung’s smartphones are only available in a select few areas, including the US, Canada, the UK, Germany, Switzerland, Spain, and South Korea.

Samsung Keysore Lists 17 dApps

The updates to the SDK also support a native digital currency (klay) of the Klaytn blockchain, which was recently introduced by Kakao, a South Korean messaging app provider. During the past week, Kakao’s blockchain-focused subsidiary GroundX has revealed that it may be launching a wallet for klay, called Klip. The GroundX team also announced its partners for its first decentralized app (dApp).

Currently, Samsung’s Keystore lists 17 different dApps, and the giant electronics firm is also working on creating its own blockchain network based on the Ethereum protocol. Samsung is also reportedly considering launching its own crypto token.