Earlier this month, NODO reported that Jambo, a web3 infrastructure startup focused on emerging markets, launched a $99 smartphone it believes will accelerate web3 adoption in its core markets including Africa. Latest announcements from the company reveal that the Jambophone, as the hardware device is dubbed, will come preinstalled with a web3 wallet powered by the fast-growing Aptos blockchain network.

Petra. the Aptos-compatible wallet, will enable users to hold digital assets including Bitcoins and stablecoins, which continue to be Africa’s most-favoured cryptocurrencies. In Nigeria, for example, interest in Bitcoin and stablecoins surged between June 2022 and July 2023, in line with a decline in the naira value. Petra is one of six wallets built on the layer 1 blockchain network Aptos, with a mobile app that has been downloaded over 10,000 times, according to Google.

“Petra being accessible on the phone on day one provides users a simple and secure way to manage digital assets and engage with Web3 apps on Aptos. This showcases the practical benefits of Aptos's high-performance blockchain—offering low-cost transactions and fast processing times essential for communities with limited access to traditional financial services,” reads a joint statement from both companies.

Jambo says its smartphone will onboard GenZ communities in developing economies into DeFi, gaming, and microwork opportunities—a bet on the potential of its preinstalled super app. A suite of partner applications will also introduce users to other blockchain networks, ecosystems, and dApps—Just as Petra unlocks the Aptos ecosystem.

"Aptos Foundation’s partnership with Jambo hits home for me as an African. I’m proud of the shared goal to expand access to Web3 across Africa, Southeast Asia and Latin America. For too long, Web3 has deprioritised emerging markets. This partnership signifies a turning point in the deployment of meaningful tools and resources that will lead to ubiquitous access to this transformative technology," said Bashar Lazaar, Head of Grants & Ecosystem, Aptos Foundation.