Solana developer says new crypto phone is 'crazy', but it already has $65 million in pre-orders

Steven Laver is currently the lead software engineer on Solana Labs' efforts to transform the crypto experience, by bringing blockchain capabilities to users.

It's called Chapter 2 and it's scheduled to launch in early 2025. Pre-orders for the new device are priced at $500, and Solana says it already has more than 130,000, or $65 million in pre-orders. .

However, at first glance, Steven Laver does not seem like the person who would lead the boldest project in cryptocurrency. He didn't even work in the crypto space until early 2022. The 43-year-old software engineer worked on BlackBerry in the 2000s and later helped develop the Windows Phone app store at Microsoft.

Chapter 2 is Solana's attempt to liberate cryptocurrency from the desktop and the dominance of Apple and Google application platforms. Silicon Valley powerhouses have long made it difficult for crypto-friendly mobile developers, by charging hefty fees or banning crypto apps from their platforms. In a world where investing, shopping, banking and everything else happens on smartphones, cryptocurrencies are still struggling to gain a foothold. Last year, Solana tried its hand with Solana Saga which worked on Android. Customers bought about 20,000 units, worth $600 each, too low compared to the target of 50,000. $SOL