Kik is getting ready to roll out its Kin cryptocurrency to its mobile messenger in a big way.
The company has announced a new tipping feature, powered by the Kin Blockchain.
Starting today, Kik users will be able to send cryptocurrency tips to moderators and admins.
In fact, some sharp-eyed Redditors have alreadybeenspottingthe tipping widget in the wild.
It’s free, every week, in your inbox.
It will also be limited solely to Android (sorry, iPhone owners).
The initial rollout is 1,000 public groups, a spokesperson told Hard Fork.
A public group has a maximum capacity of 50 users so this has a potential reach of 50,000.
How tipping actually works
Using the tipping feature is pretty straightforward.
Currently, it only works for admins and moderators.
So if an admin happens to use an iOS machine, the feature wont work.
Admins with grey icons are iOS users.
Admins shouldnt expect to live off tips though.
All tipping transactions will be done in the native token.
The company says it expects the native token will be available in a number of exchanges upon launch.
There is no clear timeline for this though.
Blockchain purists will be disappointed to find out the native Kin Blockchain is not entirely decentralized yet.
The platform is running on aDelegated-Proof-of-Stake (DPoS)consensus mechanism, similar to the oneutilized by EOS.
Needless to say, there are some advantages that come with less decentralization: speed is one.
The Kin Blockchain currently processes 120 transactions per second, a spokesperson told Hard Fork.
By comparison the Bitcoin internet can handle about 7 transactions per second, and Ethereum about 15 to 20.
This comes with certain risks of centralization and conflict of interest.
Unfortunately, Kin couldnt reveal its validating partners yet.
This group of partners will be called the Kin Federation.
Earlier this year, Kikoffered $3 million to developersinterested in building for the Kin ecosystem.
Until then, Kik seems perfectly satisfied with running smaller-scale pilots with Kin.
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