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Interest in NPXS tokens is up as Pundi X, the token’s creator, unveiled the prototype for its much-awaited blockchain phone.

The Pundi X team showcased the prototype phone – known as the XPhone – at the Consumer Electronics Show, which began yesterday in Las Vegas. Although it can be used as an ordinary Android smartphone, it also comes with a blockchain mode, which uses the Pundi X blockchain for encrypted calls and texts. First announced in October of last year, the XPhone is slated for release in Q3 of 2019.

Pundi X creates everyday solutions for cryptocurrency. The phone is their most high-profile project, but the company has also created smart devices for retail businesses to begin accepting digital assets – like NPXS – as payment. The first purchase in Norway with XPOS, Pundi X’s cryptocurrency card reader, was also made yesterday evening.

In a blog post, the company said: “CES is the perfect place for us to showcase our blockchain tech via the XPOS, XPASS card, XWallet app, and the XPhone Prototype as examples of how blockchain is already changing the ways in which we spend, share and communicate.”

What do we know about the blockchain phone?

Pundi X are reportedly reticent on the XPhone’s specifics, but have explained that the phone acts as a node in a network of other phones on the Pundi X blockchain. Crypto Briefing’s Brian Penny was on the floor at CES, and was one of the many attendees getting a sneak peek at the device from Pundi X’s Zac Cheah.

Spent about an hour tonight chatting with @zibin about @PundiXLabs… He handled a lot of really tough questions, and we got some hands on time with their new phone. Here's a clip from #ces pic.twitter.com/m6zAbeDAcd — Crypto Briefing (@crypto_briefing) January 7, 2019

Investor excitement has grown, causing NPXS to surge in the past 24 hours. The market cap jumped up by $15m between 15:00 and 16:00 GMT, an hour or so before CES opened its doors to the public. Data suggest investors used Ether (ETH) to buy NPXS tokens; trading volume between NPXS and ETH increased from around $7,000 to $150,000.

This may not be the final design for the XPhone, admitted Marcus LeBlanc, Pundi X’s acting manager of Global Support, to PC Magazine. Nor is it easy to separate facts from hype, for a device which has not yet reached the public.

But yesterday was the company’s first opportunity to showcase the viability of the device. In a sector where promises remain unfulfilled, investors are pleased that one company might actually deliver the goods.