A quirky new entrant to the smartphone market has emerged, this time tailored for the gaming and crypto crowd. XProtocol, an Ethereum layer-3 network focused on entertainment, has unveiled its forthcoming Android-powered gaming smartphone called XForge. Priced at $299, the XForge aims to blend gaming with blockchain technology in ways not seen before, positioning itself as the world’s first “DePIN phone”—a device integrated with decentralized physical infrastructure networks.
With its impressive 256GB of storage, 12GB of RAM, and a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor, XForge is built for high-performance gaming. But it’s not just about the specs. XProtocol, currently operating on Coinbase’s Base layer-2 network, is embedding its phone with blockchain capabilities designed to enable users to earn rewards and participate in airdrops. This adds an entirely new dimension to mobile gaming—one that combines entertainment with potential financial rewards.
The term DePIN (decentralized physical infrastructure networks) reflects the technology that XForge is set to embrace. In simple terms, it refers to a network of physical devices like smartphones or nodes that work together, powered by blockchain. XProtocol’s vision is that XForge handsets will one day be integral to running its network, supported by its software and the Xardian Nodes that help process transactions on the chain.
XProtocol has lofty goals beyond its initial release. While currently built on Base to handle its high transaction needs, the company has plans to shift to its own layer-1 network in the future to gain more control and scalability. This would enable XProtocol to expand more freely as it grows, without the constraints of a third-party network.
The timing of XForge’s release aligns with a wave of similar products entering the market. Solana Mobile, a subsidiary of Solana Labs, is also set to release the Seeker, a smartphone that’s poised to offer blockchain rewards and similar crypto functionality, albeit at a higher price point of $450. The Seeker, like XForge, is being promoted as a way to earn through participation in blockchain ecosystems, with features like airdrops and community rewards tied directly into the device’s selling points.
While the competition is heating up, XProtocol is adding a unique twist to its sales strategy. The company announced that the first 10,000 purchasers of the XForge phone would receive a free node. Node licenses, which allow users to validate transactions on decentralized networks and earn tokens, have been a popular way for blockchain projects to incentivize participation. This concept has been a hit in blockchain gaming and is now finding its way into mobile infrastructure, with XProtocol aiming to create a broad network of users who are not just gamers, but also active participants in its blockchain.
XProtocol’s testnet is already live, and the company expects to launch its mainnet by the end of the year. Over 5,200 nodes have already been sold, with node operators earning a share of the network’s tokens over a 48-month period. This structure mirrors similar node-based models used by Ethereum-based networks like Xai and Hychain, but the integration with a gaming smartphone is a novel addition to the mix.
The company has also garnered attention from prominent investors. In July, XProtocol secured $800,000 in a strategic funding round, bringing its total raised capital to $5.2 million. The round attracted significant backers, including Dragonfly, Caballeros Capital, and even gaming hardware giant Razer, alongside Singapore-based Saison Capital. This demonstrates the growing convergence between gaming hardware companies and blockchain projects, as they explore new ways to combine decentralised technology with gaming platforms.
Though the XForge may be a niche product right now, it represents a growing trend in the fusion of entertainment, blockchain, and mobile technology. Smartphones optimised for gaming and integrated with blockchain reward systems could become a key driver in the next phase of mobile gaming’s evolution, particularly for users who are interested in both gaming and cryptocurrency. The idea that your phone could not only run the latest games but also passively earn rewards through participating in a decentralized network is likely to appeal to a wide audience.