Viber to issue its own cryptocurrency

As noted by the cryptocurrency and technology media, Viber owner and Rakuten leader Hiroshi Mikitani has announced his intention to issue the new Rakuten Coin. The mission of this new cryptocurrency is to improve financial system and to upgrade the retail sphere, Mr. Mikitani says. The narrative about improving financial networks is used by many other cryptocurrency developers as well.

The coin supply will be limitless. This differs from Bitcoin, at the press time its circulating supply makes 16,903,087 BTC whereas the maximum supply set by the developers is 21,000,000 BTC.

Technology observers note that this initiative follows the similar project of the rival Telegram messenger. As already outlined in Bitnewstoday’s previous reports, the blockchain-based Telegram Open Network will have its own coin called Gram.

The in-chat digital currency payment option is a natural alternative for in-chat fiat payments which are already installed in many chat platforms.

WhatsApp, another major messenger, has not yet announced any similar initiatives, but it might do so if the rivals’ projects turn out to be successful.