Established in Argentina during an economic crisis, Amanu's founder, Gianluca Minoprio, witnessed how traditional banking could fail users. This influenced his goal to create a unique crypto wallet, merging traditional finance with blockchain technology.
After gaining multiple accolades at the Consensus 2024 hackathon, Amanu is redefining what a crypto wallet represents. The platform will soon offer features like sending payments via messaging apps, contactless transfers using ultrasound, and managing transactions seamlessly without gas fees.
One major barrier to crypto wallet adoption is the complexity of seed phrases—a series of random words needed to access funds. Amanu addresses this by introducing biometric signatures, thus eliminating seed phrases.
"The only way to trigger the signature is through your authorization," explains Minoprio. "Amanu could be closed source, yet users would understand key management because authorizations are required every time." This innovative approach challenges traditional wallets like MetaMask, which store private keys at the software level. However, concerns remain about wallet recovery for lost or damaged devices—an important issue for any biometric system.
Is this a fundamental shift? Amanu's expansion beyond basic wallet functions prompts questions about the future of crypto payments. Its integration of messaging and simplified key management might require a complete rethinking of digital wallets. The company's name, derived from amanuensis—a historical figure who preserved knowledge—indicates its aim to bridge complex blockchain technologies with everyday usage.
In a space dominated by established wallets, Amanu's success relies on whether it can genuinely address user challenges without complicating the experience. As Minoprio notes, "If you pitch a feature and users aren't excited, it's easy to pivot your focus."
With a vision to make crypto payments as easy as texting, Amanu's upcoming feature allowing crypto transactions via text is set to bottle the market's attention. This bold reimagining seeks to reshape how digital payments are approached.
