Born in 2001 in Argentina, as the country began to experience a devastating economic crisis, Amanu founder Gianluca Minoprio saw first-hand how traditional banking systems can fail their users. This experience shaped his mission to create a new type of crypto wallet, aiming to bridge the gap between traditional finance and blockchain technology.
After achieving multiple wins at the Consensus 2024 hackathon in Texas last May, Amanu is now challenging conventional notions of what a crypto wallet should be (if you are interested in applying for the EasyA hackathon at Consensus Hong Kong 2025, please go here) . The startup is developing a suite of features that go far beyond traditional wallet functionality: users will soon be able to send encrypted payments via their keyboard through any messaging app, make contactless transfers via ultrasonic technology and manage transactions without having to deal with gas fees or having to pay. choose a blockchain.
One of the biggest barriers to adoption of crypto wallets remains the complexity of seed phrases – the string of random words that users must store securely to retrieve their funds. This fundamental challenge led Amanu to reimagine wallet security beyond the non-custodial core. Amanu’s wallet uses biometric signatures, completely eliminating seed phrases.
This series is brought to you by Consensus Hong Kong. Come experience the most influential event in Web3 and digital assets, from February 18 to 20. Sign up today and save 15% with code CoinDesk15.
“The only way to trigger signing is by your authorization,” says Minoprio. “The interesting thing about Amanu is that it could be closed and you would still know how the key is managed, because every time we want to trigger the key you have to accept it.”
This represents a significant change from traditional wallets like MetaMask where private keys are stored at the software level. However, questions remain about crucial features such as wallet recovery if a device is lost or damaged – an essential consideration for any hardware biometric system.
A fundamental change?
Expanding beyond core wallet features raises questions about the future of crypto payments. Is Amanu’s experimental approach – combining messaging, contactless payments and simplified key management – a sign that crypto’s unique properties are forcing us to rethink digital wallets entirely? Or will these features eventually converge on more traditional wallet interfaces?
The name of the project gives a clue to its ambitions. Derived from “amanuensis,” the name of a medieval monk who preserved his knowledge by copying texts, Amanu is meant to serve as a bridge between complex blockchain technology and everyday users. “Today’s modern amanuenses are the builders of the blockchain because we are the few who know how to read and write inside it. [the blockchain]”, explains Minoprio.
In the crowded crypto wallet space, where established players already control large user bases, Amanu’s success will depend on whether its innovative features actually solve user problems or simply add unnecessary complexity . As a result, the company’s development approach is ruthlessly user-centric. “If you present the feature to people and they’re not excited, you can quickly decide what to focus on or not,” notes Minoprio.
After seven months of development, Amanu’s vision of making crypto payments “as easy as sending a text message” is about to face its first major test with the upcoming launch of its feature enabling users to send cryptos via SMS. Whether this reinvention of the crypto wallet will resonate with mainstream users remains to be seen, but it represents a bold experiment aimed at pushing the boundaries of digital payment systems.
