Topics web3

JAMBO (J): JamboPhone — The World’s Most Accessible Web3 Smartphone

Beginner
web3
Explainers
Altcoins
Jan 21, 2025

Emerging markets of Africa, Southeast Asia and Latin America have been at the forefront of crypto adoption for several reasons, including crypto-friendly regulatory environments, the affordability of crypto finance compared to the traditional financial system, and, in some markets, the instability of local fiat currencies. These regions are also home to 2.7 billion people, making them highly attractive to web3 ventures and projects.

One web3 project that has decisively adopted expansion into emerging markets is Jambo (J), a venture that aims to create the world's first decentralized, crypto-based mobile network. Jambo sells affordable smartphones, called JamboPhones, packed with crypto apps and features to consumers in Africa, Southeast Asia and Latin America to drive the uptake of mobile-focused decentralized finance (DeFi), decentralized gaming and other blockchain technology applications in these regions.

The project taps into the consumer potential of these fast-growing markets and promotes financial inclusion, facilitating the affordable uptake of crypto technologies in populations long neglected by traditional banking and entertainment sectors.

Key Takeaways:

  • Jambo (J) is a blockchain-based project that aims to build the world's first mobile-focused decentralized network servicing the emerging markets of Africa, Southeast Asia and Latin America.

  • The Jambo project sells an affordable smartphone, JamboPhone, that’s packed with crypto apps and reward opportunities, opening access to crypto finance and other spheres to consumers in more than 120 countries.

  • The platform's upcoming J token will be used to facilitate payments, distribute rewards and enable governance processes.

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What Is JamboPhone?

Jambo (J) is a blockchain venture that aims to create the world’s first decentralized mobile network and expand mobile-first crypto use to the emerging markets of Africa, Southeast Asia and Latin America. Jambo markets and sells an affordable smartphone, JamboPhone, with preinstalled crypto apps and solutions to consumers in over 120 countries. Users in emerging markets, who often lack access to traditional banking and payment products, can enjoy decentralized applications (DApps) supported by JamboPhone. Likewise, crypto users interested in other areas, such as gaming, can also gain access to mobile-focused DApps via the smartphone.

As of January 2025, JamboPhone is priced at $99, significantly lower than a typical smartphone, with an additional shipping cost of $30. It comes with preinstalled DApps, and lets users earn loyalty points and crypto rewards by participating in various quests, campaigns and activities. The rewards are typically paid out in the USDT stablecoin. JamboPhone DApps usually allow transactions in USDT, ensuring rate stability for users who reside in markets with highly volatile fiat currencies.

JamboPhone's arrival on the market was announced in February 2024 as a cooperative venture between Aptos Foundation, the entity behind the Aptos (APT) blockchain, and Liberia-based Jambo Technology (Hakuna Matata Chill LTD), a provider of digital financial services to consumers in African markets. At that time, Jambo Technology outlined its plans to use Aptos's infrastructure to power the Jambo ecosystem. Jambo’s co-founders are James Zhang and Alice Zhang, siblings from the Democratic Republic of Congo. James Zhang is the individual steering the JamboPhone project and acting as its CEO.

In September 2024, the project unveiled JamboPhone 2, a new version of its smartphone, along with plans to expand to the Solana (SOL) blockchain, chosen for its high speed and low transaction costs.

Now in its second version, JamboPhone is packed with additional features, such as JamboGPT, an AI chatbot fine-tuned for cryptocurrency domain knowledge, and rewards in Solana’s version of the USDT stablecoin, SPL USDT.

With its rich features and crypto-focused applications, the affordable JamboPhone is a key initiative to help drive the digital economy and crypto adoption in Africa and other emerging economies. As of mid-January 2025, the platform already boasts more than 7 million crypto wallets, achieved in less than a year since JamboPhone smartphones became available to consumers worldwide.

JamboPhone Web3 Connectivity

JamboPhone connects to web3 via its wallet solutions and other built-in DApps. Aptos continues to provide the infrastructural foundation for web3 connectivity, while Solana is envisioned to help the project leverage additional functionality, thanks to its great scalability, high throughput and low transaction costs. Additionally, Solana features a more diverse and extensive ecosystem of DApps than Aptos, which should help JamboPhone offer more choices and features to its users.

What Is the JAMBO Crypto Token (J)?

Jambo recently announced the planned launch of its native token, J. According to the project's communications, the launch of the J token is slated for January 2025. As of the time of this writing on Jan 16, 2025, J has yet to be launched, with a planned total supply of 1 billion.

The token will be launched on Solana, leveraging that blockchain's technical superiorities and transaction affordability. J will have a diverse range of functions:

  • Reward early adopters and active contributors to the platform's ecosystem growth. 

  • Use for payments, airdrops and other activities within the DApps linked to JamboPhone. 

  • Governance is also mentioned as one of the token's future functions.

The Jambo project has announced a series of campaigns to distribute 100 million J (10% of the token's supply) to eligible users. As of Jan 16, 2025, these campaigns are ongoing and will have eligibility snapshots taken on Jan 20, 2025. 

There are different ways to earn J tokens within the airdrop campaigns. One way to qualify for rewards is to buy a JamboPhone 2 handset. Users can also earn JPoints — loyalty points on the platform — by completing quests on the JamboApp, a super app that provides access to various crypto solutions and reward opportunities.

Another way to earn points and crypto rewards is to participate in EarnDrop campaigns, designed to encourage the use of various games and other apps accessible via JamboPhone.

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Where to Buy JAMBO (J)

The J token is already available on Bybit’s Pre-Market Trading platform ahead of the token’s public launch. J will also be listed on Bybit’s Spot market as part of a swap pair with USDT, starting on Jan 21, 2025. 

Additionally, you can take advantage of Bybit’s campaign dedicated to the J token for the chance to grab a share of the 2 million J prize pool. Under the terms of the campaign, new users who complete identity verification can earn J rewards by accumulating a deposit volume of at least 200 J, or depositing at least 100 USDT and trading 100 USDT worth of J via their first trade with Bybit. At the same time, existing users can also qualify for rewards by trading at least 500 USDT worth of J on Bybit’s Spot market. This Jambo token campaign is valid through Feb 4, 2025, 9 AM UTC. 

Closing Thoughts

The Jambo project contributes to the financial empowerment of users in developing economies, making decentralized financial services and crypto payments accessible, enabling users to earn crypto rewards and connecting mobile technology with the world of web3. Easily accessible digital assets are a critical factor for overall economic growth in these regions, and Jambo’s platform is definitely making a positive impact in this area.

The JamboPhone's affordability and innovative solutions are likely to help drive the mass adoption of crypto services in emerging economies. By simplifying access to crypto in these regions, Jambo is championing financial inclusivity in the web3 industry.

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